Who is at Risk?
Healthcare workers accounted for 73% of all nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses due to violence in 2018. Workplace violence incurs substantial costs, particularly in healthcare. In 2014, a hospital system reported that 30 nurses required treatment for violent injuries, costing $94,156 ($78,924 for treatment and $15,232 for lost wages). Adjusted for inflation, this equates to approximately $125,500 in 2025 dollars.
Cost of Violence in Health Care
Beyond direct expenses, workplace violence results in indirect costs, such as:
- Caregiver fatigue, injury, and stress: These factors are associated with a higher risk of medication errors and patient infections.
- Reduced patient satisfaction: Hospitals with fewer dissatisfied or burned-out nurses tend to have higher patient satisfaction.
- Staff turnover: Workplace violence contributes to caregiver attrition. The average cost to replace a registered nurse ranges from $51,000 to $72,000, covering separation, recruitment, hiring, orientation, training, and lost productivity. Some estimates also account for lost productivity during the transition period.
Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.
1-4. Which of the following is an indirect cost of workplace violence in healthcare?
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