Violence against nurses widespread in Croatia, survey finds

As many as 75 percent of nurses and medical technicians in Croatia have experienced some form of verbal or physical violence in the workplace, according to a survey titled Perspectives of Croatian Nursing, conducted by the Croatian Chamber of Nurses among 3,042 respondents.

The most common form is verbal violence (58%), while 17% of respondents reported experiencing physical assault, CE Report informs via the Croatian Chamber of Nurses' official website.

Despite this, half of nurses (49%) do not report violence at all. When they do report it, nurses most often turn to their direct supervisor, hospital director, or the Ministry of the Interior.

The study by the Council also found that half of the nurses who reported violence to management were dissatisfied with how their complaints were handled (49%). This indicates that the problem is not only the presence of violence, but also how healthcare institutions respond to it.

“When we compare the data from the ‘Perspectives of Croatian Nursing’ survey, conducted in December 2024, with the 2018 study on violence, we see that the share of our members who have been exposed to verbal or physical violence, as well as those who do not report it, is declining. However, the results of the new study also confirm that violence remains a widespread and systemic problem. The low level of satisfaction with post-report procedures, along with the high rate of non-reporting, clearly points to the need to strengthen clear protocols, protection, and support for employees exposed to violence. The healthcare system must be a place of zero tolerance for violence, and we expect hospital managements to focus on building an effective institutional response in all cases of violence and discrimination,” said Mario Gazić.

Violence against nurses and technicians in healthcare institutions most often comes from patients and their families, and less frequently from other healthcare workers.

In addition to violence, the survey also revealed a concerning level of insecurity among nurses and a relatively high perception of discrimination. Only 42% of respondents feel physically safe at work, while as many as one-third (33%) said they had been discriminated against in the workplace in the past year.

Although the share of nurses reporting violence has decreased compared to the 2018 survey—from 89% to 76%—the results still show that violence remains a widespread and serious problem in the healthcare system. The Council stresses the need for clearer protection protocols, stronger institutional responses, and greater support for nurses and technicians who report violence.