Violence Against Nurses in the Triage Area: A Mixed-Methods Study

Area of Science:

• Emergency Medicine
• Occupational Health
• Nursing Studies

Background:

• Workplace violence is a critical issue for emergency department nurses.
• Triage nurses face unique challenges and risks within this environment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the prevalence and nature of workplace violence experienced by triage nurses.
• To understand the impact of this violence on nurses' well-being and work behavior.

Main Methods:

• A mixed-methods approach was employed with 27 Italian triage nurses.
• Quantitative data collected via Violent Incident Form.
• Qualitative data gathered through 3 focus groups.

Main Results:

• 96% of triage nurses reported experiencing violence in the past year.
• Perpetrators were mainly patient relatives/friends (62%) or male patients (31%).
• Female nurses experienced more physical and verbal aggression, leading to injuries, compared to male nurses.

Conclusions:

• High exposure to workplace violence negatively impacts nurses' psychological well-being and behavior.
• Perceived lack of organizational support contributes to feelings of resignation.
• Identifying precipitating factors can inform strategies to reduce workplace violence.