Health care work can be tough for everyone on a team, from frontline staff to managers and health entrepreneurs. Violence, infection and stress are major risks in this industry. How can health care workers protect themselves? Here are three ways you can stay safe while doing the job you love.
- Learn How to Handle Violence
Violence against health care employees is a growing problem. In 2021 and 2022, health care staff were almost five times more likely to experience violence at work compared to other industries. Violence increased further still, as 81.6% of nurses experienced workplace violence in 2023, and almost 50% of nurses reported an increase in such incidents on their unit compared to the previous year.
Workplace violence in the health care setting can range from verbal abuse to physical assaults. If you work in this industry, you can protect yourself and lower your risk by:
- Taking part in de-escalation, self-defence and conflict resolution training.
- Being aware of your surroundings and potential risks at all times.
- Learning the warning signs of potential violence.
- Knowing how to use security equipment, such as panic buttons or emergency alarms.
- Reporting any incident — however small — via the appropriate channels.
Health care leadership should also minimize workplace violence by investing in security measures — like secure entry systems and metal detectors — establishing clear reporting and response policies, and encouraging a zero-tolerance approach. It’s also important to offer support services for health care staff who have been affected by violence.
2. Protect Yourself From Infection
The nature of health care work means staff are at risk of infection. This was brought into sharp focus during the COVID-19 pandemic, when up to 180,000 health care workers died between January 2020 and May 2021.
A related risk is the handling of hazardous drugs, which puts an estimated 8 million U.S. health workers at risk. Additionally, there is daily risk from biological hazards. Frontline staff need proper personal protective equipment (PPE) to stay safe. Your employer must provide you with PPE that meets the standards set by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), which are outlined in several detailed regulations and recommendations.
Due to the pandemic, respiratory protection has become commonplace, but other PPE is vital, too. Depending on your role, you may need eye, face, hand, head and foot protection.
Hand protection is key for frontline health care staff due to the risks of cuts, punctures and exposure to hazardous substances. In 2024, 64% of severe injuries reported to OSHA were finger injuries, so wear the correct hand PPE to protect both yourself and your patients.
Practising good hand hygiene at all times is another way to protect yourself against infection in a health care setting. Cleaning and disinfecting patient areas is essential and should be part of your daily routine.
Health care leadership plays a big role in protecting against infection. Management should establish a safety culture, provide proper equipment and staff training, and lead by example.
3. Reduce Workplace Stress
Health care providers work in an environment that can be hugely rewarding, but it is also a very stressful profession. Studies have shown that health care staff have increased suicide risk compared to other professionals, and recent research shows that nearly half of all health workers experience burnout. The emotional and psychological demands of the job can be tough, so supporting mental health is crucial for provider safety and retention.
If you work in the health care industry and are feeling stressed, you are not alone. Reach out to colleagues, managers, trusted allies, professional counselors, friends and family. In addition to seeking the support you need, there are some other things you can do to protect yourself from stress and burnout. Try:
- Normalizing the conversation around stress and not being afraid to talk about how you feel.
- Taking care of your physical needs by getting enough sleep, eating well and exercising regularly.
- Practicing mindfulness, self-care and meditation, which has been shown to be effective in reducing stress in the nursing community.
- Engaging in activities outside of work that bring you a sense of fulfillment and calm.
Health care leadership and management have a responsibility to foster a supportive environment for staff. They can implement peer support and mentorship systems, offer resilience training, encourage regular breaks, and set manageable shift schedules.
Helping Health Care Providers Be Their Best
Working together, individual health care providers and management professionals can use a range of strategies to protect staff from violence, infection and stress. There is no golden solution to turn this demanding career into an easy ride. However, through a combination of both personal and corporate responsibility, health care staff can thrive at work without undue cost to their safety and well-being.