Over the past two decades, as nurses we have experienced an increase in violence in our workplaces. Every day we go to work knowing that we may be verbally or physically abused. Nurses in every health care sector are being punched, kicked, spat on and sworn at. It is time to speak up, and say clearly and emphatically: “Violence is not part of our job!” This is the take-home message of CFNU’s discussion paper, Enough is Enough: Putting a Stop to Violence in the Health Care Sector.
It is the CFNU’s position that all health care workers should have a right to work in safe workplaces which are free from all forms of violence, bullying, harassment and abuse – whatever the form and whatever the source. The CFNU is calling on governments, employers, unions and other health care stakeholders to
come together because we all have an interest in tackling this problem.
