Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
A chilling X-ray view of the hospital bed rail used in a violent attack on an EMT, exposing the fragility of healthcare worker safety.Burnsville Today
A violent attack on an EMT and other hospital staff at Ridges Hospital in Burnsville, Minnesota was captured on video. The patient, who was on a mental health hold, struck EMT Rob Madsen in the head with a bed rail, leaving him with serious injuries that required brain surgery. The incident highlights the growing problem of workplace violence against healthcare workers, which has increased in recent years.
Why it matters
Attacks on healthcare workers like this one are becoming more common, raising concerns about staff safety and the ability to provide quality care. Understaffing, lack of safety protocols, and the increasing number of patients in acute behavioral health crises are contributing factors that need to be addressed.
The details
The video shows the patient running into the hallway and striking hospital support staff with a bed rail. EMT Rob Madsen was then hit in the back of the head, suffering a serious injury that required brain surgery and 25 staples. In total, four people were injured, including two nurses. The patient who attacked Madsen later died while in the custody of the Dakota County Sheriff’s Office.
The attack occurred in February 2026.Madsen underwent brain surgery and had 25 staples in his head following the incident.
The players
Rob Madsen
An EMT who was attacked by a patient at Ridges Hospital, suffering a serious head injury that required brain surgery.
Benjamin Baker
A nurse advocate with the Minnesota Nurses Association who says workplace violence against healthcare workers is a growing problem.
Ridges Hospital
The hospital in Burnsville, Minnesota where the attack on Madsen and other staff occurred.
Dakota County Sheriff’s Office
The law enforcement agency that took custody of the patient who attacked Madsen, and later reported the patient’s death as a natural cause.
Minnesota Nurses Association
A union that advocates for nurses and supports legislation to address workplace violence and staffing issues in healthcare.
Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›
What they’re saying
“It was a bang, and I knew I was hit hard. He hit hard in the back of my head, and when I was on the ground, and then I just saw the blood running and just pooling right around.”
— Rob Madsen, EMT
“Workplace violence is really common. It’s everything from verbal abuse to spitting on staff to physical attacks.”
— Benjamin Baker, Nurse Advocate, Minnesota Nurses Association
“I feel like there’s, I call it correlation, but it’s probably causation, between the number of staff that you have on a unit, specifically nurses, and the ability for those nurses to deescalate and prevent from violence occurring. And so, as hospitals decrease nursing staff. It is correlated, I think, to violence increasing.”
— Benjamin Baker, Nurse Advocate, Minnesota Nurses Association
What’s next
The Minnesota legislature has recently passed new laws requiring hospitals to submit violence preparedness plans, and the Minnesota Nurses Association is supporting legislation to establish minimum nurse-to-patient ratios to help address the issue of workplace violence.
The takeaway
This attack highlights the growing problem of violence against healthcare workers, which has been exacerbated by factors like understaffing, lack of safety protocols, and the increasing number of patients in acute behavioral health crises. Addressing these systemic issues through policy changes and increased investment in healthcare worker safety is crucial to protect those on the frontlines of patient care.