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<\/div>\nReported assaults on nurses jumped 5% across the United States in 2023, according to a new report, raising questions for workers\u2019 compensation insurers and potentially adding to calls for legislation from Congress.<\/p>\n
Press Ganey, a company that analyzes health care data and surveys patients and workers, released a report<\/a> last week that shows that the rate of reported assaults climbed from 2.59 per 100 nursing personnel in 2022 to 2.71 last year \u2014 a record high.<\/p>\n The rise may be partly due to increased reporting of incidents, but the numbers are concerning, the company said: Almost 17,000 assaults last year, nationwide. The Press Ganey surveys also showed that, overall, health care workplace safety culture and awareness is improving.<\/p>\n Becker\u2019s Hospital Review reported that nurse and physician groups are pushing for two bills that could address the danger to health workers. Senate Bill 1176<\/a>, sponsored by Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wisc., would require the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration to issue a workplace violence prevention standard, mandating that hospitals develop prevention plans.<\/p>\n Another bill in Congress, S 2768<\/a>, the Safety from Violence for Healthcare Employees Act, would stiffen penalties for assaults on health workers. Both bills were introduced last year and have yet to see votes in committees.<\/p>\n The American Nurses Association has reported that 13% of missed work days by nurses are due to workplace violence.<\/p>\n Topics<\/span> Trends<\/a> <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Was this article valuable?<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n