Workplace violence reported by Canadian nurses

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• Healthcare Management
• Occupational Health

Background:

• The Quebec health-care system faces a significant nursing shortage, contributing to a stressful work environment.
• This shortage has been linked to an increase in workplace violence experienced by nurses.
• Nurses in acute-care settings are particularly vulnerable to workplace violence.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of workplace violence reported by nurses in Quebec.
• To identify the origins and forms of reported workplace violence.
• To raise awareness and advocate for preventive measures in nursing.

Main Methods:

• A descriptive study design was employed.
• Data were collected from 181 nurses in acute-care settings in Quebec.
• The French translation of the Workplace Violence Events Questionnaire was used in 2003.

Main Results:

• 86.5% of nurses reported being victims of violent incidents more than once.
• Psychological abuse was most common (86.4%), followed by sexual (30.7%) and physical (10.6%) abuse.
• Perpetrators included colleagues (65.9%), superiors (59.6%), and physicians (59.1%).

Conclusions:

• Workplace violence is highly prevalent among nurses in Quebec.
• Preventive strategies are crucial to address the well-being of the nursing profession.
• Increased awareness and interventions are necessary to combat violence in healthcare settings.