Workplace violence prevention and recovery in the emergency department: A nurse’s perspective – Sarah-Marie Baumgartner, RN

In this episode of Caring Greatly, Sarah-Marie Baumgartner, RN, talks about ways nurses can protect themselves in the emergency department (ED )and other healthcare settings and how organizations can reduce the likelihood of both physical and verbal assault on care team members. She shares a pragmatic approach to zero tolerance that focuses not on zero-incidences of violence, but on zero tolerance for a lack of communication, training, resources, policies and procedures to help decrease workplace violence. In all of her work, Sarah Marie encourages innovation, collaboration and outside-the-box thinking. 

With almost 20 years of experience and leadership in various nursing departments, Sarah-Marie currently works as a bedside nurse in the ED. She is also a member of her hospital’s Workplace Violence Committee, AONL and the International Association of Healthcare Security and Safety, serving on the Board of Directors for the Association’s Great Lakes Chapter. As the host of The Security Nurse Podcast, she amplifies important conversations about workplace violence prevention, de-escalation strategies and advocacy for holistic healthcare. Sarah-Marie is passionate about fostering a safer and more supportive environment for both patients and care team members, ensuring that compassion and trauma-informed leadership and care extend beyond the bedside. An instructor of the SPEAR self-defense system, Sarah-Marie is an educator first and foremost. Throughout her work, she shares insights, knowledge, research and captivating stories that connect the dots between safety, health and human connection in healthcare.  

Sarah-Marie Baumgartner is a leader who cares greatly.