Minnesota Nurses' Study: Perceptions of Violence and the Work Environment.

The article presents a study which identifies the rates of violence against nurses in Minnesota, and the perceptions of these nurses on their work environment. Analysis of the responses of nurses who experienced assault to non-assaulted nurses reveals that the annual rates of physical and non-physical assault per 100 nurses were 13.2 and 38.8. Findings suggest that employee safety, morale, and retention are particularly important in light of the nursing shortage.