Workplace Violence Prevention & Victim Support Resources
American Nurses Association (ANA):
Incivility, Bullying, & Workplace Violence Position Statement
The American Nurses Association (ANA) Position Statement of Incivility, Bullying, & Workplace Violence articulates the ANA position with regard to individual and shared roles and responsibilities of registered nurses and employers to create and sustain a culture of respect, free of incivility, bullying and workplace violence.
American Nurses Association (ANA):
Reporting Incidents of Workplace Violence Issue Brief
The American Nurses Association (ANA) convened a Professional Issues Panel to develop policy and identify strategies to address barriers to nurses and other health care workers reporting violence and abuse, and to strengthen "zero-tolerance" policies. The goal of the #EndNurseAbuse Panel was to:
Identify the barriers to effective reporting of violent and abusive incidents.
Investigate workplace zero-tolerance policies for strengths and weaknesses and seek to understand the effectiveness of such policies.
Develop policy recommendations to address barriers to reporting.
Identify strategies to strengthen zero-tolerance policies.
The Panel developed valuable resources for leaders and organizations to draw attention to the barriers health care professionals face in reporting workplace violence. The Issue Brief: Reporting Incidents of Violence provides an overview on the numerous barriers to reporting workplace violence, including the perception that violent incidents are routine, a lack of agreement on definitions of violence, and other barriers. The Brief provides guidance on creating a culture that supports reporting as well as mechanisms to support zero-tolerance policies. Lastly, it outlines primary, secondary, and tertiary recommendations for workplace violence prevention.
ANA is grateful for the tremendous work of the Professional Issues Panel on #EndNurseAbuse for their commitment and dedication to this critical problem.
Emergency Nurses Association (ENA):
Workplace Violence
Violence in emergency departments has reached epidemic levels and emergency nurses are particularly vulnerable. In fact, the healthcare industry leads all other sectors in the incidence of nonfatal workplace assaults, and the emergency department is a particularly vulnerable setting. It’s currently a felony to assault an emergency nurse in 31 states, and we’re working hard to make it a felony in all 50 states.
ENA believes emergency nurses have the right to education and training related to the recognition, management, and mitigation of workplace violence. The mitigation of workplace violence requires a “zero tolerance” environment instituted and supported by hospital leadership.
These resources were designed to help emergency nurses conduct and participate in research and quality improvement initiatives aimed at preventing, mitigating, and reporting workplace violence.
Emergency Nurses Association (ENA):
Toolkit for Mitigating Violence in the Workplace
The ENA Toolkit for Mitigating Violence in the Workplace, created in collaboration with the American Organization of Nurse Executives (AONE), designed specifically for the emergency department manager or designated team leader to develop and implement a comprehensive plan that addresses your needs related to managing violent behaviors in the emergency department and protecting your staff.
International Public Safety Association (IPSA):
Mental health minute: What color are you today?
This article from IPSA discusses the importance of assessing the mental health of healthcare workers and first responders and how the Mental Health Continuum Model and the Stress Continuum Model can be utilized to measure the mental wellness of a facility.
International Crisis Incident Stress Foundation, Inc. (ICISF)
The mission of the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation, Inc. (ISISF) is to provide leadership, education, training, consultation, and support services in comprehensive crisis intervention and disaster behavioral health services to the emergency response professions, other organizations, and communities worldwide.
USA Mental Health First Aid
Mental Health First Aid is an 8-hour course that gives people the skills to help someone who is developing a mental health problem or experiencing a mental health crisis. The evidence behind the program demonstrates that it does build mental health literacy, helping the public identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental illness.
National Association of Crime Victim Compensation Boards (NACVCB):
State Crime Victims Compensation Programs Directory
The State Crime Victims Compensation Programs Directory is a list maintained by NACVCB of links to the Websites of state crime victim compensation programs. You can find out specific information about each program's benefits, requirements, and procedures from clicking on the links.
The National Center for Victims of Crime:
Crime Victim Compensation
Crime victim compensation is a government program to reimburse victims of violent crimes- such as assault, homicide, rape, and, in some states, burglary - as well as their families for many of their out-of-pocket expenses. Every state has a crime victim compensation program.
For information about your state program, visit the National Association of Crime Victim Compensation Boards.
The National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL):
Find a Lawyer Directory
The National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL) is the preeminent organization in the United States advancing the mission of the nation's criminal defense lawyers to ensure justice and due process for persons accused of crime or other misconduct. A professional bar association founded in 1958, NACDL's thousands of direct members in 28 countries - and 90 state, provincial and local affiliate organizations totaling up to 40,000 attorneys -- include private criminal defense lawyers, public defenders, active U.S. military defense counsel, law professors and judges committed to preserving fairness within America's criminal justice system.
NOLO: Should I Hire a Workers' Comp Attorney, or Can I Handle My Own Case?
Nolo, formerly known as Nolo Press, is a publisher in Berkeley, California, that produces do-it-yourself legal books and software that allows people to handle simple legal matters such as making wills or writing business partnership contracts.
This article discusses which work-related injuries you can probably deal with on your own—and the situations when you’ll need help from a lawyer to get the benefits you deserve.
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA):
Workplace Violence Website
The OSHA Workplace Violence website provides information on the extent of violence in the workplace, assessing the hazards in different settings and developing workplace violence prevention plans for individual worksites.
The Office for Victims of Crime (OCV):
Help for Crime Victims
The Office for Victims of Crime (OVC), one of six components within the Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice.
Led by Director Darlene Hutchinson Biehl, OVC is committed to enhancing the Nation’s capacity to assist crime victims and to providing leadership in changing attitudes, policies, and practices to promote justice and healing for all victims of crime.
Established in 1988 through an amendment to the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) of 1984, OVC is charged by Congress with administering the Crime Victims Fund (the Fund). Through OVC, the Fund supports a broad array of programs and services that focus on helping victims in the immediate aftermath of crime and continuing to support them as they rebuild their lives. Millions of dollars are invested annually in victim compensation and assistance in every U.S. state and territory, as well as for training, technical assistance, and other capacity-building programs designed to enhance service providers’ ability to support victims of crime in communities across the Nation.
Silent No More Foundation
Silent No More Foundation began as a call to action: healthcare workers shouted in unison that we will be Silent No More in the face of Healthcare Workplace Violence. Join us, and be #SilentNoMore.
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA):
PTSD: National Center for PTSD - Psychological First Aid (PFA) Online Training
Learn how to assist people in the immediate aftermath of disaster and terrorism. Psychological First Aid (PFA) Online Training is for individuals new to disaster response who want to learn the core goals of PFA, as well as for experienced practitioners who want a review of PFA. PFA Online also offers a Learning Community where participants can share experiences, receive guidance, and obtain resources.