Minnesota nurses' study: perceptions of violence and the work environment
Nancy M Nachreiner1, Susan G Gerberich, Andrew D Ryan
1University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
Industrial Health
|December 7, 2007
Summary
Nurses face high rates of work-related violence. Perceptions of the work environment, including stress and administrative support, differ significantly between nurses who experience assault and those who do not.
Area of Science:
- Healthcare
- Nursing
- Occupational Safety
Background:
- Work-related violence is a significant global issue disproportionately affecting nurses.
- Understanding the prevalence and contributing factors to nurse assault is crucial for improving healthcare settings.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the rates of work-related violence experienced by nurses in Minnesota.
- To compare the perceptions of the work environment between nurses who have experienced assault and those who have not.
Main Methods:
- A large-scale survey of 6,300 randomly selected nurses in Minnesota.
- A nested case-control study comparing assaulted nurses (cases) with non-assaulted nurses (controls).
Main Results:
- Annual rates of physical and non-physical assault were 13.2 and 38.8 per 100 nurses, respectively.
- Assaulted nurses reported higher work stress, acceptance of assault, witnessing violence, and taking corrective measures.
- Non-assaulted nurses perceived higher morale, respect, trust, and administrative action against assault.
Conclusions:
- Nurses frequently experience work-related violence, with significant differences in work environment perceptions.
- Addressing employee safety, morale, and retention is vital, especially during nursing shortages.
- Findings can inform interventions to reduce physical assault risk in healthcare.
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