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Violence Should Never Be Part of the Job
July 2, 2025
Every nurse accepts that the work is hard. But no nurse should accept that violence is just “part of the job.” Yet across Newfoundland and Labrador, nurses continue to face verbal and physical assaults every day — often with little support and no systemic protection.
“The amount of violence that nurses see daily — verbal, physical — it’s just not acceptable. And that’s another reason why so many nurses are leaving the profession. They’re leaving young because they see what’s happening.”
— Jessica Chaulk, RN
The emotional toll is pushing nurses out of the profession far too early. They’re not leaving because they lack passion — they’re leaving because the environment is unsafe, unsustainable, and unsupported.
“We know in our profession what needs to happen. We need to have safe patient staffing — that’s what needs to happen. That means appropriate nurse-to-patient ratios, acuity-based models, and a combination of all those factors.”
— Jennifer Hiscock, RN
Safe nurse-to-patient ratios are one of the most effective tools to prevent nurse burnout and retain experienced nurses. But safe staffing levels are more than just a workforce issue — they’re a safety issue. When nurses are overextended, the risk of missed complications rises, and the risk of harm to both patients and healthcare providers escalates.
RNUNL has also called for the establishment of an independent Health Sector Safety Council, enforceable staffing standards, and an end to excessive mandating. The union maintains that the violence healthcare workers face is unacceptable, and the government must do more to support health care sector workers. It should not fall on the nurse — while caring for a patient — to press charges if they are assaulted in the work place.
“No other critical profession would be forced to work this way,” said Yvette Coffey. “But somehow, for a profession dominated by women, this is acceptable? It’s not just unsafe. It’s unjust.”
On March 3, then-Health Minister John Haggie announced in the House of Assembly that between April 2023 and December 2024, 761 Registered Nurses were recruited to the province.
While recruitment is critical for maintaining safe staffing levels, no amount of hiring can compensate for a revolving-door system that fails to ensure safe working environments for nurses and patients alike.
📩 Have you witnessed or experienced violence at work?
Email communications@rnunl.ca to share your experience.
Together, we can fight for a healthcare system that protects those who care for others.