Recent studies have reported alarming rates of physical and verbal abuse against nurses in the workplace, one finding that 64% were abused in a 4-week period. Patients are usually the aggressors. Most victims don't file formal reports; fewer than half discuss the incident with a colleague. Eight studies findings showing the incidents in various settings are presented in a sidebar and potential solutions are discussed.
Judges' Comments: This story gets high marks for shining a light on a subject that doesn't seem to get a lot of attention: workplace violence directed at nurses. It's clearly written, concise and covers a lot of ground, from flagging a serious problem to offering advice for victims.