'The stress is still there': Workplace violence top of mind for nurses in the Triangle

RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- Workplace violence is top of mind as a survey in 2022 finds the number of workplace violence incidents in North Carolina are rising at an alarming rate.

"The stress is still there," NCNA President Bonnie Meadows said.

In 2022, nearly 50% of nurses said they witnessed violence at work and more than half of them reported that they themselves were victims.

Meadows, who is also a practicing nurse, said the industry is still dealing with nursing burnout and shortage. She's concerned how workplace violence is having an impact on the trend.

"Workplace violence has been a factor in that shortage," Meadows said. "When you have to be fearful of your life, or what might happen to you as a nurse and you have seen things in in the news where nurses have been hurt or threatened, then you begin to wonder, is the same thing going to happen to me?"

Here in the Triangle, hospital systems are addressing their staff's safety, including UNC Health, who released the following statement in response to a man allegedly attacking two workers at UNC Rex in March.

"UNC Health Rex can't comment on a specific patient or incident involving our employees due to privacy laws.

One of our top priorities is protecting the health and safety of our employees, and Rex continually strives to ensure we provide a safe working environment.

Unfortunately, violent situations and threats of violence against health workers have become more common across the country.

Our hospital leaders work closely with our security team and law enforcement to protect our workers and pursue legal action when necessary."

Duke Health said some of the ways they're addressing workplace violence are by training new staff on de-escalation strategies and requiring visitor screening and installing metal detectors at hospital entrances.

"We're no more unique or different than anyone else," Duke Health's Terry McDonnell said. "We also have response teams that can proceed out when we've got a situation that is escalating. So all of this together is all in service of helping us create as safe an environment as we can for our staff."

State legislators have also been working to pass legislation that protects health care workers in hospital settings and increase criminal penalties for assaulting personnel.

"When health care workers feel like they are protected in these spaces, then that helps them to understand, "OK, I can do the work that I need to do and feel safe," Meadows said.

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