Health care professionals need changes that make their workplaces safer and solutions to the problems underlying the increase in ED workplace violence. Below is information to assist you when contacting your lawmakers about enacting state and federal laws that protect health care workers and mitigate factors behind the violence.
The case for legislative action is clear, as outlined in “When Emergency Physicians Regularly Fear Violence at Work, It’s Past Time for Change” and “ENA Survey: 56 Percent of ED Nurses Assaulted in the Past Month.” Through ongoing conversations with lawmakers, as well as advocacy events like ENA Day on the Hill and ACEP’s Leadership and Advocacy Conference, the voice of emergency nurses, physicians and other health care professionals can be heard.
In the 119th Congress, most of ENA’s and ACEP’s legislative priorities pertaining to workplace violence will likely move through the House Education and Workforce Committee, chaired by Rep. Tim Walberg, R-Mich., and the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, chaired by Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La.
Calls to action
ENA and ACEP continue to advocate for legislation at the state and federal level intended to combat the problem of workplace violence against health care professionals.
The Save Healthcare Workers Act (H.R. 3178/S. 1600) would allow federal authorities to charge those who assault hospital personnel with a federal crime and a prison term of up to 10 years. Track the bills’ status in the House and Senate.
Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act (H.R. 2531/S. 1232) would require hospitals to address violence prevention at their facilities and set national standards. Track the bills’ status in the House and the Senate
Encourage your lawmakers to support H.R. 2531/S. 1232 with an ENA Action Alert.
Progress has been made: The Workplace Violence Map shows which states have enhanced penalties for workplace violence against emergency nurses.
This page will continue to be updated as new relevant legislation is introduced in the 119th Congress.
Become an ENA Grassroots Advocate – Find fact sheets, Action Alerts for directly contacting lawmakers on individual bills and more.
Background videos – Hear from nurses and physicians who have been affected by workplace violence and are calling for change.
2024 Congressional Briefing – ENA, ACEP and American Hospitals Association representatives led a congressional briefing calling for legislation that mitigates workplace violence in emergency departments. (Includes link to video)
State of Emergency Nursing 2023 - Members of ENA and ACEP joined forces on Capitol Hill to call for action to mitigate workplace violence against health care workers. Watch the full video here or click on the following excerpts to hear veteran ED health care professionals. (May 2023)
- Christian Stone , BSN, RN, CEN, EMT-B: “Nothing prepared me to walk into a shift every day to get screamed at, spit on, and swung at, cursed out, kicked, threatened by patients and their families.”
- Heidi Gilbert, MSN, RN, CEN, SANE-A, TCRN: “We need to be protected. We need impactful legislation and real support from our organizations. A safe environment to care for our patients is the bare minimum we expect.”
- James Phillips, MD, FACEP: “Our system is truly on the brink. We need to create a culture of safety in our hospitals, so that these places, once regarded as safe havens and houses of healing for our patients, perhaps begin to heal themselves.”
Day on the Hill 2022: View the complete press conference
“In Case of Emergency” – Nurses share their stories in excerpts from this award-winning documentary.
No Silence on ED Violence 