20/10/2026
More than half of nurses surveyed have had objects thrown at them. Half have been grabbed. At least 40 per cent have been punched, slapped, kicked or scratched. Almost one in five has been threatened with a weapon.
One nurse described a patient jumping on her back and strangling her. Her hearing went, then her sight. She still doesn’t know how she got free.
This is what “zero tolerance” looks like on the ward. Zero tolerance is total tolerance.
Nurses don’t need another poster. They need:
• Security staff with real powers to act
• Safe staffing so no one is left alone with a violent patient
• Proper legal protection for every nurse, not just some
• Police who take our complaints seriously
If this has happened to you, you’re not alone, and it is not part of the job.
Report it, and tell us. NPAA is taking these stories to government in Queensland, WA and Victoria.
📖 Read the article: https://hubs.la/Q04BG1WC0
📖 Read more: https://hubs.la/Q04BG1Xt0