April 2026 Workplace Violence Awareness Month

In recognition of Workplace Violence Awareness Month this April, VNA has made our members-only Workplace Violence Toolkit and 2026 March Member Webinar, Advocacy Beyond the Bedside, available to everyone at no cost. Please utilize or share these free resources to raise awareness and advocacy around workplace violence in healthcare settings. Scroll down to access these resources!

2026 VNA March Member Webinar, Advocacy Beyond the Bedside

This webinar spotlights real-world examples of how nurses advocate for their patients, peers, and within their organization. Presented in a panel discussion format, it highlights practical, situational advocacy and timely issues, reinforcing VNA’s ongoing commitment to empowering nurses of all generations and specialties to use their voices to drive meaningful change.

Content Advisory: The material in this session includes topics of violence and traumatic events. While these testimonials are an important tool for navigating and improving healthcare advocacy, we recognize they may be difficult for some individuals. Participants are encouraged to step away at any time and resume when ready.

Event Moderator
Dr. Halima Walker, DHA, MSN, RN, CCRN, NEA-BC
VNA Commissioner on Government Relations & VNA Piedmont Chapter Government Relations Chair

 Dr. Halima Walker is a nurse leader, educator, and healthcare administrator with a strong commitment to equity, workforce development, and community centered care. She serves as Nursing Director at Region Ten Community Services Board in Charlottesville, Virginia, where she provides clinical and strategic oversight across behavioral health, crisis services, residential programs, and outpatient settings, leading nursing practice, policy development, regulatory compliance, and quality improvement initiatives. Dr. Walker holds a Doctorate in Healthcare Administration and brings a systems level perspective to nursing leadership, with expertise in nursing operations, workforce strategy, and interdisciplinary collaboration. Her scholarly and programmatic work has included the development of the Identity Empowerment RN Mentorship Program, a structured mentorship model focused on professional identity formation, self efficacy, and leadership development for nursing students and early career nurses. In addition to her administrative role, she is an experienced nursing educator teaching across secondary, community college, and university settings and is recognized for her ability to translate complex clinical and administrative concepts into practical learning experiences. Dr. Walker also serves as Commissioner on Government Relations for the Virginia Nurses Association, where she advocates for policies that strengthen the nursing workforce and improve access to care across the Commonwealth, while remaining deeply committed to mentorship, service, and community engagement.  

Speaker 1
Angela Romero, MBA, BSN, RN
Nurse Manager at Riverside Health
Advocacy Focus: Workplace violence prevention, internal policy change, and legislative advocacy

Angela Romero, a lifelong Virginia resident, is the Nurse Manager of a 24-bed Medical-Surgical unit at Riverside Health. With 13 years of nursing experience—6½ of those in leadership—she led her team to earn the system’s first PRISM Award in 2023. Her unit also recently marked an impressive milestone: ten years with zero CAUTIs. Angela holds a BSN and an MBA, chairs Riverside Regional’s Evidence-Based Professional Advancement Council, and is an active member of multiple nursing organizations. She currently serves as President of the AMSN Hampton Roads Chapter, following four years as President-Elect. Beyond infrastructure and outcomes, Angela is a fierce advocate for workplace safety and psychological well-being. When a violent incident impacted her team, she stood by her nurses for six months of court proceedings—until justice was served. Her advocacy extends to the policy arena. Angela participated in the Virginia Nurses Association’s Lobby Day to support House Bill 2269 and later represented nursing at the national level during AONL’s Day on Capitol Hill. There, she met directly with U.S. Senators and Members of Congress to champion the SAVE Healthcare Workers Act, embracing the vital role nurses play in shaping healthcare policy.

Speaker 2
Dr. Holly Wirth, DNP, RN, NE-BC, CNE, SCRN, PMGT-BC
Clinical Nurse Educator, Neuroscience Service Line at Inova Health
Advocacy Focus: Supporting nurses experiencing abuse outside the workplace, building internal support systems, and fostering organizational culture change after workplace tragedies

Dr. Holly Wirth is dedicated nursing leader with 25 years of healthcare experience, specializing in neurology and stroke care. Dr. Wirth is a Clinical Nurse Educator for the Neuroscience Service Line at Inova Health System, overseeing educational programs across multiple care sites. She has also created innovative training pathways and led her team through comprehensive education programs, improving patient outcomes in epilepsy, stroke and neurosurgery. In addition to her clinical expertise, Dr. Wirth enjoys speaking on epilepsy care and neuroscience nursing education, with podium presentations at local, regional and national conferences.

Nursing Continuing Professional Development Disclosures
The Virginia Nurses Association is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.

Criteria for successful completion include watching the entirety of the recorded webinar and completing the evaluation. This activity will expire on December 31, 2026.

VNA's Workplace Violence Toolkit

Empowering Nurses: A Toolkit to Address Workplace Violence

Data from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) reveals a stark truth: healthcare workers, including nurses, are at an elevated risk of workplace violence. Healthcare settings account for nearly 75% of workplace violence incidents in the private sector, with nurses among the most affected. According to data from Press Ganey, more than 5,200 nursing personnel were assaulted in the second quarter of 2022. On average, two nurses were assaulted every hour, which is about 57 assaults per day.

This toolkit is a valuable resource for individual nurses, empowering them to recognize, prevent, and respond to workplace violence effectively, fostering safer and more supportive work environments.

explore the toolkit

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