Jan 2026

Violence is not part of your job!

Violence against nurses and health care workers in Alberta is rising, and it is having serious consequences for both worker safety and patient care. United Nurses of Alberta (UNA) reports that four in ten nurses experienced physical violence at work in 2025, while six in ten faced non-physical violence such as threats and verbal abuse. These incidents are widely underreported and are often the result of systemic failures, including chronic understaffing, overcrowded hospitals, long wait times, and insufficient community-based care. Recent assaults on health care workers underscore the urgency of the problem and highlight the need for immediate action to ensure nurses can provide care in safe, respectful environments.

Across Canada, nurses’ unions are demanding stronger protections and accountability. Organizations in Ontario, Manitoba, and British Columbia have launched public campaigns and advocacy efforts to make it clear that violence is not “part of the job.” Nationally, the Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions has called violence against nurses a public safety crisis requiring coordinated government action. In Alberta, UNA continues to press the provincial government and employers to invest in prevention, enforce occupational health and safety laws, improve staffing levels, and install violence-prevention infrastructure. Protecting nurses is essential to protecting patients and sustaining a safe, effective public health care system.

Click HERE for the new spotlight on Violence Against Nurses