Exploring the influence of workplace violence and bystander behaviour on patient safety in Korea: A pilot study

To explore the influences of clinical nurses' workplace violence and bystander behaviour on patient safety.

Bystanders' role in social violence affects the consequences of said violence; however, few studies have explored the relationship between workplace violence and patient safety among nurses working in clinical settings.

A cross-sectional survey design was conducted using a structured questionnaire pertaining to workplace violence, bystander behaviour, patient safety culture and nurse-assessed patient safety outcomes. The questionnaire was administered to 185 bedside nurses at a university hospital in a metropolitan city in Korea.

A regression model with department, patient safety culture, workplace bullying, incivility and bystander behaviour explained approximately 34.0% of patient safety. Further, defending bystander behaviour, facilitating bystander behaviour, work-related bullying and co-worker incivility influenced the patient safety.

Being a facilitating bystander was a threat to patient safety, while being a defending bystander enhanced patient safety.

The negative consequences of workplace violence on patient safety may be mitigated by colleagues' reaction to violence; therefore, nursing policymakers should emphasize the role of positive bystanders as an organisational strategy against workplace violence.