Karen Coughlin is advocating for legislation that addresses workplace violence in healthcare facilities. She believes it need to be mandatory for these facilities to assess the threat things connected with workplace violence and make a program with input from direct care employees on how to address it. This program need to be reevaluated annually. Moreover, there need to be reporting mechanisms in location so that information can be collected and shared with the Division of Public Overall health. At the moment, hospitals are reluctant to report incidents, but there need to be penalties and reporting specifications to assure accountability. Victims of workplace assault need to also be offered time off to address the challenge if they choose to press charges. Coughlin supports legislative bills that would improve penalties for workplace assaults against healthcare workers.

Whilst Massachusetts does not presently have laws generating workplace violence against healthcare workers a felony, 32 other states do. In total, 38 states have laws addressing workplace violence against healthcare workers and nurses. Coughlin emphasizes that the presence of a measurable and enforceable workplace violence prevention system leads to improved high quality of care, decreased incidents of violence, and a much more comfy function atmosphere. This, in turn, assists with employees recruitment and retention. Coughlin believes that healthcare workers need to really feel supported and have the capability to function by way of workplace violence incidents with the assistance of administrators, employers, and colleagues.