Health workers share what it's like being assaulted on the job

Embargoed until: Publicly released: 2026-05-08 00:01

New Zealand

Photo by Mulyadi on Unsplash

A nurse has shared her experience of being stabbed, burned, and held captive by a patient who threatened to be kill her, only to find out that her resulting PTSD diagnosis stopped her from accessing certain work options and income insurance. She says the attack "dismantled the very fabric of my life," and that even after the attack there were missed opportunities to address staff safety. The authors of the NZ Medical Journal viewpoint article say that as police scale back their involvement in mental health emergencies, more health staff will be at higher risk of violence at work. They suggest we need to keep better track of assaults in healthcare, and strengthen health and safety laws to clarify who is responsible for managing the risk of violence.

News release

From: NZMJ

The paper describes the jolt of being assaulted by patients while working in healthcare. There are major consequences when staff are injured by patients—physical and psychological. There are important implications for the public when violent incidents are under-reported. Sickness, high turnover and lowered morale are detrimental to patient care. Healthcare organisations like Health New Zealand – Te Whatu Ora must learn from the lived experience of the healthcare workers and prioritise healthcare workers’ health is more than just policy. It is also resolve and intention to strengthen systems that support and protect staff.

Journal/
conference: NZMJ

Organisation/s: Te Mana Taki Hauora – Health Action Trust

Funder: RM has received payment or honoraria for presentations from the University of Canterbury, The University Auckland, RMIT (Melbourne) and community groups (e.g., Shine, Women’s Refuge, SASS). RM is the chief victims advisor to the New Zealand Government—paid role. LN has received consulting fees for contracted clinical work at Health New Zealand – Te Whatu Ora, payment for forensic psychiatry expert testimony and support for attending meetings and/or travel from The University of Auckland continuing medical education funding.

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