Over the past two years, the ED team at Cape Coral Hospital strengthened workplace violence prevention through a comprehensive, layered approach. Key initiatives include implementation

Cape Coral Hospital Emergency Department

of a weapons detection system, staff duress buttons and armed security officers to enhance immediate safety and response capabilities. The team also adopted the Broset Violence Checklist to proactively identify patients at risk for aggressive behavior; conducts routine safety huddles to improve situational awareness; and uses an Orange Flag process to identify patients with a history of violence. Together, these measures have improved staff safety, risk recognition, communication and response readiness.

Over the past three years, the team intentionally fostered employee engagement through a strong shared governance model and a culture of staff empowerment. Achieving Magnet Designation reflects the organization’s commitment to nursing excellence and professional practice. Shared governance is embedded throughout the hospital and within the ED, ensuring staff have a voice in clinical practice and operational decisions. The Unit Based Council celebrates team successes, supports process improvement initiatives and promotes staff-driven solutions. By actively engaging front-line team members and valuing their input, retention strengthened and RN turnover decreased from more than 8 percent to less than 4 percent.