Violence at work in emergency care units: nurses' experiences

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• Emergency Medicine
• Sociology of Health

Background:

• Workplace violence is a pervasive issue in healthcare settings.
• Emergency care units are particularly high-stress environments where violence can occur.
• Understanding nurses' perceptions is crucial for developing effective interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore emergency care nurses' perceptions of workplace violence.
• To identify the types and sources of violence experienced by nurses.
• To inform strategies for creating safer healthcare environments.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative study employing 21 individual interviews.
• Conducted in two emergency care units.
• Data analyzed using Thematic Content Analysis within a Symbolic Interactionism framework.

Main Results:

• Nurses reported experiencing psychological violence, including threats, humiliation, and defamation.
• Physical violence included physical assault, object-throwing, and exposure to weapons.
• Violence originated from both external individuals and internal sources within the units.

Conclusions:

• Nurses in emergency care units face both psychological and physical violence from various sources.
• A critical and reflexive approach from managers, nurses, and society is needed.
• Implementing actions to ensure a safe working environment and prioritizing violence reduction in public policy are essential.