MARCH 2026 | 43 THE OKLAHOMA BAR JOURNAL Statements or opinions expressed in the Oklahoma Bar Journal are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the Oklahoma Bar Association, its officers, Board of Governors, Board of Editors or staff. data needed to develop effective interventions.12 Nursing leaders have little evidence about how to mitigate the negative effects of violence against nurses.13 COMPREHENSIVE REFORM Despite attempts to curb workplace violence, incidents continue to increase.14 The problem is escalating and requires a fundamentally different approach. Comprehensive reform would address multiple dimensions: 1) Stronger enforcement of existing laws and accountability from law enforcement agencies 2) Enhanced workers’ compensation benefits that adequately reflect nurses’ actual wages and the traumas they experience 3) Mandatory workplace violence prevention programs with measurable outcomes 4) Improved reporting systems that ensure incidents are documented and addressed 5) Cultural change within health care institutions to eliminate the expectation that violence is simply “part of the job” 6) Collaboration among facility management, nurses, lawmakers, patients and families to establish universal standards for how nurses will be treated while caring for patients Reimagining nurse protection would require all stakeholders to work together for meaningful change. Outstanding care requires collaboration, dedication and a willingness to rethink old assumptions. CONCLUSION Everyone is a consumer of health care. We all have a vested interest in taking care of the people who care for our health needs. Nurses are being assaulted at alarming rates, suffering physical injuries, psychological trauma and financial hardship as a result. While laws exist to protect them, enforcement is inconsistent at best. Workers’ compensation provides inadequate support, particularly when compared to the benefits afforded to other first responders. A culture of acceptance and underreporting perpetuates the problem, leaving nursing leaders without the data needed to develop effective interventions. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Layla J. Dougherty brings an interdisciplinary perspective to law and health care as both an attorney and a critical care nurse. After nearly two decades of legal practice, she became a registered nurse in 2018, later completing her BSN and MSN. She serves as counsel to the Chapter 13 trustee for Oklahoma’s Eastern District, teaches critical care nursing and consults nationally on matters involving elder abuse and health care fraud. She is also an advocate for workplace safety and violence prevention for nurses and other health care workers. ENDNOTES 1. Mercer University. (May 22, 2024). “Why Are Nurses Important in Healthcare? The Role of Nurses Explained,” https://bit.ly/3Oy2d7D. 2. S. Zhang, Z. Zhao, H. Zhang, Y. Zhu, Z. Xi and X. Xiang. (2023). “Workplace violence against healthcare workers during the COVID19 pandemic: A systematic review and metaanalysis,” Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 30, 54316-54331. https://bit.ly/4kwoxL1. 3. M. Mustafa Al-Qadi. (2021). “Workplace violence in nursing: A concept analysis,” Journal of Occupational Health, 63(e12226), 1-11. https://bit.ly/4ty3VpW, page 1. 4. American Nurses Association. (March 22, 2024). “ANA, ENA & ACEP sound the alarm on violence against nurses,” [News release]. https://bit.ly/3Oy33kN. 5. A. Markovitz and C. Grimes, (Sept. 1, 2022). “Violence against healthcare workers is at an alltime high,” Forbes. https://bit.ly/4atr2sR. 6. M. Crouch and C. Ledger. (Nov. 6, 2023). “Cursed at. Shoved. Punched. Bitten. Violence against doctors and nurses is rising. A new N.C. law aims to help protect them,” North Carolina Health News. https://bit.ly/3ZpbBwP. 7. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. (January 2024). Patient Experience, Patient Safety, and Provider Well-Being: Associations and Paths for Quality Improvement. https://bit.ly/4rsxKqx. 8. S. Zhang, Z. Zhao, H. Zhang, Y. Zhu, Z. Xi and X. Xiang. (2023). “Workplace violence against healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic: A systematic review and meta-analysis,” Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 30, 54316-54331. https://bit.ly/4kwoxL1. 9. M. Crouch and C. Ledger. (Nov. 6, 2023). “Cursed at. Shoved. Punched. Bitten. Violence against doctors and nurses is rising. A new N.C. law aims to help protect them,” North Carolina Health News. https://bit.ly/3ZpbBwP. 10. C. Wakeman. (2010). “Reality-based leadership: Ditch the drama, restore sanity to the workplace, and turn excuses into results,” JosseyBass, page 14. 11. S. Kafle, S. Paudel, A. Thapaliya and R. Acharya. (2022). “Workplace violence against nurses: A narrative review,” Journal of Clinical and Translational Research, 8(5), 421-424. 12. J. E. Arnetz. (2022). “The Joint Commission’s new and revised workplace violence prevention standards for hospitals: A major step forward toward improved quality and safety,” The Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Patient Safety, 48(4), 241-245. https://bit.ly/4aqrsAo. 13. M. McCollum, K. McLaughlin, J. Garcia, A. Santos and J. Lesandrini. (2024). “Empowering nurses in an era of workplace violence: A pilot study,” Nurse Leader, 22(3), 251-257. 14. American Nurses Association. (March 22, 2024). “ANA, ENA & ACEP sound the alarm on violence against nurses,” [News release]. https://bit.ly/3Oy33kN.
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