Nurses' perceptions of transgressive behaviour in care relationships: a qualitative study

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• Healthcare Professional Behavior
• Patient-Provider Interactions

Background:

• Patient aggression towards healthcare providers is common.
• Nurses are particularly vulnerable to transgressive behavior due to their roles.
• Understanding nurse perspectives on transgressive patient behavior is crucial in general hospital settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To gain insight into the origins and significance of transgressive behavior.
• To explore nurse perspectives on transgressive patient behavior.
• To analyze factors contributing to transgressive patient behavior in hospitals.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative research utilizing the grounded theory method.
• Individual interviews conducted with 18 nurses.
• Purposive and theoretical sampling used for participant selection.

Main Results:

• Transgressive behavior arises from nurse-patient interactions influenced by patient, nurse, and ward-level factors.
• Nurse experiences are shaped by perceived control, patient rule adherence, and patient regard.
• Trust, understanding patient perspectives, management strategies, and team dynamics influence transgressive experiences.

Conclusions:

• Findings can enhance nurses' coping mechanisms and self-assurance.
• Strategies can be developed to mitigate or prevent transgressive patient behavior.
• Improved nurse confidence and ability to manage challenging interactions.