Aggression in clinical settings: nurses' views - a follow-up study

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• Workplace Psychology
• Healthcare Management

Background:

• Workplace aggression is a recognized issue affecting healthcare professionals.
• Previous research indicates interpersonal conflict is prevalent in nursing.
• Understanding nurses' perceptions is crucial for addressing workplace aggression.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate nurses' views on aggression in clinical settings.
• To identify sources and impacts of workplace aggression on nurses.
• To compare findings with previous qualitative research.

Main Methods:

• An empirical study was conducted with 270 nurses.
• Data was collected from both public and private healthcare sectors.
• The study explored nurses' concerns, distress factors, and post-aggression communication patterns.

Main Results:

• Nurses expressed greater concern about colleague aggression compared to other sources.
• Aggression from colleagues is a major workplace distress factor for nurses.
• Different clinical settings exhibit distinct aggression profiles.
• Nurses predominantly discuss aggression incidents with colleagues and friends, not HR or unions.

Conclusions:

• Colleague aggression is a significant concern for nurses across different healthcare sectors.
• Workplace aggression contributes substantially to distress among nursing staff.
• Current support systems may not be effectively utilized by nurses post-aggression incidents.