4015.2-25: Breaking the Silence after Workplace Violence: Balancing Justice vs. Compassion

The presentation will highlight the complex process involved in pressing charges after patient assault and provide the opportunity to discuss and debate common problems associated with pressing charges from the perspective of both workers seeking justice and offering compassion to patients.

Presenters:  Joanne DeSanto Iennaco, PhD, APRN, PMHNP-BC, PMHCNS-BC, FAAN, FFNMRCSI; Kristen Kichefski, DNP, MBA, RN, PMH-BC, NEA-BC; Jennifer McIntosh, PhD, APRN, PMHNP-BC, CNE, NEA-BC

Disclosures:  The APNA planners and faculty have no relevant financial relationships to disclose. Off-label uses will not be discussed during this presentation.

Session Length:  15 minutes

Target Audience:  RN, APRN

Learning Outcome:
Upon completion of this presentation, the participant will be able to:

• Discuss the decision-making processes involving seeking justice vs. compassion in pressing charges after patient assault (PCAPA).

Key Takeaway(s): 

• Many states have legislation supporting worker's right to press charges, and in some HCW assault is elevated to a felony.
• The process and procedures involved in making a complaint, charges being pressed, and legal action being taken are complex and raise many dilemmas for workers.

Keywords:  Workplace Violence, Healthcare Worker Assault, Legal Aspects

Nursing Continuing Professional Development:
0.25 contact hours.  * In order to receive contact hours, you must: Listen to the entire presentation, complete the reflection activity, evaluation, and honor statement before the expiration date. Once all steps are successfully completed, a certificate will be generated online and available for you to print immediately. Contact hours cannot be awarded unless all required components are completed. 

The American Psychiatric Nurses Association is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.

Release Date:  January 14, 2026
Access to this course will end:  December 1, 2028

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