Emergency department workplace violence: Clinician-endorsed strategies informing prevention mandates

State legislation such as the Pennsylvania Healthcare Worker Violence Prevention Act would mandate hospital reporting of workplace violence (WPV) incidents and require committees that advance safety measures.

Since it is unknown what interventions should be prioritized by hospital committees if such legislation were passed, we described strategies that hinder or facilitate the prevention and de-escalation of WPV.

Qualitative, descriptive study using individual and focus group interviews with emergency department (ED) nurses and physicians (n = 23) at a level I trauma center ED in Pennsylvania between August 2023 and February 2024.

Five clinician-informed themes were identified: a) clinical protocols, b) clinician conflict in addressing WPV, c) social vulnerability in emergency care, d) resources and throughput, and e) the presence and responsibility of security.

Priority interventions included WPV clinical protocols; holding hospital administrators accountable to support clinician decision-making during WPV events, safe nurse staffing levels, and cross-disciplinary training of security personnel.