The Registered Nurses’ Union (RNU) says violence is unacceptable in the workplace no matter where it happens.

RNU President Yvette Coffey says nurses continue to face high rates of violence in the workplace, adding there’s a culture in health care that violence is tolerated.

“If it’s not OK to go to a store in St. John’s and physically assault someone without being charged, it’s not OK to (do that) in a health care institution either,” says Coffey.

She says police and management should support workers who need to file reports, and police must charge people who assault their members.

Coffey says continued incidents of violence are having an impact on retention and recruitment.

“When you hear stories of registered nurses being assaulted, having their noses broken in the workplace, that’s certainly a deterrent.”