If it just happened
Emergency? Call 911- 1Get to safety and call for help. Call 911 or your facility's emergency code if anyone is in danger or seriously hurt.
- 2Get checked for injuries, especially if you were hit in the head, felt dazed, have a headache or vision changes. Those can be signs of a concussion.
- 3If you were bitten or scratched and skin was broken, wash the area and ask about exposure follow-up.
- 4Report the assault to your charge nurse or supervisor and file a written incident report. Keep a copy.
- 5Write down the patient room or client address, time, what happened, any warning signs beforehand, and who responded.
- 6Note whether a security team, alarm, or staffing plan was in place.
General information only — not medical or legal advice.
Reporting it and the claim process
Assaults by patients happen in emergency departments, psychiatric units, memory care, long-term care and home health. Workers sometimes feel pressure not to report, or worry about the patient. Reporting is a record of what happened to you; it is not the same as filing criminal charges, which is a separate choice.
Your report should describe the assault and every injury you notice, including lifting or twisting injuries from restraining or dodging. If you develop symptoms later, like headaches or back pain, add them to your report.
Each state sets its own deadlines for reporting and filing. Ask your employer who handles workers' compensation claims and check with your state's workers' compensation agency soon. If your facility has a workplace violence committee or a safety reporting system, ask whether you should file there too.
Keep a folder with your incident report, medical records, any security reports and a log of time missed. If you choose to make a police report, keep that number too.
Getting medical care
A licensed clinician can evaluate your injuries and decide what care fits. Depending on what happened, people may be seen in urgent care, occupational medicine, spine care, concussion care or behavioral health. Mention every place you were hit, kicked, scratched or bitten, and any twisting while restraining or avoiding the patient. Back and shoulder strains are common in these incidents.
Tell the clinician it happened at work. Many facilities route staff injuries through employee health first, and some states have rules about which provider you see, so ask. For home health aides, there may be no employee health office; ask your agency how care is arranged.
If you are prescribed medication, ask the pharmacy and adjuster how work-injury prescriptions are handled. Home delivery is often available.
Prescribed medication? Learn about prescription home delivery, common medications after work injuries, or find pharmacies near you. Your doctor and pharmacist decide what is right for you.
When people often talk to an attorney
- You have a head injury, ongoing headaches or memory and concentration problems.
- You have anxiety, nightmares or fear of returning to work after the assault.
- You are discouraged from reporting, or told that being hit is part of the job.
- Your claim is denied or care for emotional effects is questioned.
- A staffing agency, security contractor or another party may share responsibility.
- You cannot return to bedside or client care.
Learn more: what a workers' comp attorney does. Many offer a free first consultation; fees in workers' comp are often regulated by the state.
Recovery and going back to work
Follow your care plan for physical injuries, and take any concussion instructions seriously. Do not rush back to full duty if you are still having symptoms. Headaches, light sensitivity, irritability or trouble concentrating after a blow to the head are worth reporting to your clinician.
Ask about restrictions and a different assignment while you recover, such as another unit or non-patient tasks. Share restrictions in writing. Some facilities offer a different unit, a buddy system, or extra security for a time.
Many healthcare workers feel shaken, guilty or on edge after an assault. Ask about peer support or an employee assistance program, and tell your clinician how you are feeling. If you have thoughts of harming yourself, call or text 988.
Questions to ask
- Where do I file the incident report, and can I get a copy?
- Should I go to employee health or urgent care first?
- Doctor, should I be checked for a concussion?
- Can I be assigned to a different unit or client while I recover?
- Is peer support or counseling available?
- Pharmacist or adjuster, how do I fill work-injury prescriptions, and is home delivery an option?
- Attorney, can emotional effects after an assault be part of my claim?
- Is there a workplace violence or safety committee I can report to?
Frequently asked questions
What should a nurse or aide do after being assaulted by a patient?
Get to safety, get your injuries checked, and file a written incident report. Ask about concussion and bite or scratch follow-up. Keep copies of everything.
Is being assaulted by a patient covered by workers' comp?
Injuries from a patient assault at work are generally the kind of event workers' comp addresses, depending on your state. Emotional injuries may be treated differently. Ask your state's agency.
Do I have to press charges against the patient?
No, reporting the injury at work is separate from deciding about a police report. That choice is yours. You can ask questions first.
I was told getting hit is part of the job. Should I still report it?
Yes, reporting the assault in writing is still important. A report creates a record of your injuries. If you feel pressured not to report, people often talk with an attorney.
What are signs of a concussion after being hit?
Headache, dizziness, confusion, nausea, vision changes or memory problems can be signs. Only a clinician can evaluate it. Get checked promptly.
Can I get counseling after a patient assault?
Many employers offer employee assistance or peer support, and behavioral health care may be part of a claim in some states. Ask your employer. Talk with your clinician about how you are doing.
Related situations
Industries where this often happens
Prescriptions.plus is an educational portal. We are not a pharmacy, law firm, medical provider, insurer or claims administrator, and nothing here is medical or legal advice. Educational purposes only. Workers' compensation rules and deadlines vary by state — check with your state's workers' compensation agency. Medical emergency? Call 911. Hurt outside of work? Personal-injury legal help: attorneys.plus (coming soon).