Healthcare leaders track countless metrics – patient satisfaction scores, length of stay, readmission rates, and financial indicators. Yet one of the most critical metrics often remains unmeasured: safety-related behaviors and perceptions among staff and patients.

When we discuss safety in healthcare, conversations typically center around clinical outcomes and patient harm events. While these...

In healthcare environments, personal protective equipment (PPE) is non-negotiable. No responsible clinician would examine a patient with a highly contagious disease without donning the appropriate gloves, gown, mask, or even powered air-purifying respirators when necessary. These physical barriers protect healthcare workers from biological threats that could cause serious harm.

But what about...

“Performing Under Pressure: Staying Calm While Managing Distress in Others” — Episode 23

Co-host: Marcus—former healthcare security director

Co-host: Natalie—nurse practitioner and clinical team leader

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When healthcare organizations assess workplace safety risks, their focus typically lands on patient-to-staff violence, environmental hazards, or procedural errors. Yet one of the most pervasive safety threats often goes unaddressed in traditional safety initiatives: lateral violence—the disrespect, hostility, and aggression that occurs between colleagues.

As we observe National Safety Month this...

“Staying Safe Starts with Your Voice” — Episode 22

Co-host: Marcus—former healthcare security director

Co-host: Natalie—nurse practitioner and clinical team leader

Subscribe to our podcast on Apple Podcasts

Most healthcare organizations have meticulously developed protocols for nearly every physical safety concern. There are specific steps to follow for needle sticks, detailed procedures for patient falls, and precise methods for handling hazardous materials. When it comes to verbal abuse, however, many institutions offer little more than general advice to "stay calm" or "be professional."

As we...

In healthcare environments, unpredictability is often the spark that ignites workplace violence. When patients, families, or even staff don't know what to expect—or when responses to similar situations vary dramatically—tension rises and the potential for conflict increases exponentially.

As we observe National Safety Month this June, it's worth exploring how consistency in communication serves...

In healthcare settings, first impressions aren't just about customer service—they're critical safety moments that set the tone for everything that follows. Those initial 10 seconds of contact between a healthcare provider and a patient or visitor can determine whether an interaction proceeds smoothly or escalates into conflict.

As we observe National Safety Month this June, it's worth examining...

When most healthcare organizations discuss safety, the conversation typically revolves around physical hazards—needle sticks, patient falls, medication errors, and other tangible risks that can be counted, measured, and tracked. These physical risks are essential to address, but they represent only part of the safety equation. 

The less visible threats—sharp words, emotional attacks, and verbal...

Poor communication doesn't just cause confusion—it creates risk. In healthcare settings, communication breakdowns contribute to approximately 70% of sentinel events, according to The Joint Commission. Yet despite this clear connection, many organizations still treat communication and safety as separate domains, addressing them through different training programs and departmental responsibilities.