Nursing students' experiences of violence and aggression: A mixed-methods study

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Education
• Nursing Practice
• Student Well-being

Background:

• Violence and aggression pose significant challenges for healthcare professionals, including nursing staff and students.
• Understanding the impact on nursing students is crucial for improving healthcare environments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of aggression experienced by nursing students during clinical placements in a UK city.
• To assess the rates and experiences of reporting aggression among nursing students.

Main Methods:

• Convergent mixed-methods design utilizing a cross-sectional survey and concurrent focus groups.
• 129 preregistration nursing students completed the 'Students' Experiences of Violence and Aggression Survey' (SEVAS).
• 36 students participated in five focus groups to explore their experiences in depth.

Main Results:

• A high prevalence of aggression was reported: 81% experienced non-physical aggression, 56% physical aggression, and 40% sexual harassment in the past year.
• Underreporting was significant, with only about a third of non-physical aggression and half of physical aggression/sexual harassment incidents reported.
• Very few incidents were reported to the university, with themes of racism, bullying, and compassion emerging from focus groups.

Conclusions:

• Universities have a duty to adequately prepare nursing students to manage aggression.
• Effective and accessible reporting systems for aggression incidents are essential.
• Improved support and reporting mechanisms are needed to address the prevalence of violence and aggression experienced by nursing students.