Our nation's emergency departments.

• Position: HEALTH BEAT

Our nation's emergency departments are places to receive treatment for injuries but, for thousands of nurses, they are the sources of injury. A study by the Emergency Nurses Association, Des Plaines, III., found that more than half of emergency nurses report experiencing physical violence on the job, including being "spit one," "hit on," "pushed and shoved," "scratched," and "kicked." One in four has endured such episodes more than 20 times in the past three years. One in five nurses has experienced verbal...