More than a quarter of NSWNMA members were physically assaulted in a six-month period.
More than one-third of NSWNMA members did not report episodes of workplace violence in the six months before a union survey was taken.
Only 62.78 per cent of 497 members answered ‘Yes’ when asked, “Have you reported all violent incidents?”
The survey was conducted in the lead-up to national Safe Work Month in October.
NSWNMA General Secretary Brett Holmes said members in the public health system had repeatedly told the union that reporting systems were inadequate and open to manipulation.
Worse, members had complained that managers instructed them not to report issues, Brett said.
“Vital changes to transparency around reporting and support from management are urgently needed,” he said.
Ninety-three per cent of NSWNMA members experienced verbal aggression and threats at work in the six months prior to the survey.
More than half (50.55 per cent) were on the receiving end of physical intimidation and almost 28 per cent had been spat on.
More than a quarter (26.5 per cent) were victims of physical assault, 11.2 per cent had been threatened with a weapon and 2.73 per cent had been sexually assaulted.
Three-fifths of members (59.91 per cent) said unsafe staffing levels were a contributing factor in work-related violence.
The biggest risk factors were “behavioural conditions” (64 per cent) and “providing care to people who are in distress, afraid or ill” (61 per cent).
One in four nurses (24.84 per cent) said lack of training in de-escalation strategies contributed to violence at work.
“From Narrandera in the state’s south to Ballina in the north and everywhere in between, nowhere is excluded from these issues,” Brett said.
“Our mental health nurses at sites such as Cumberland Hospital in Sydney’s west continue to be treated like punching bags, yet issues such as working in isolation or faulty personal duress alarms still remain.
“It’s become a very sad situation and one the Berejiklian government must start taking responsibility for, otherwise nurses and midwives will continue to walk away from the profession.”
NSWNMA survey on workplace violence
93% of NSWNMA members experienced verbal aggression and threats at work
26% were victims of physical assault
11% had been threatened with a weapon
60% said unsafe staffing levels were a contributing factor in work-related violence