Australian nurses' perceptions about workplace violence management, strategies and support services

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• Healthcare Management
• Workplace Safety

Background:

• Nurses frequently experience workplace violence, impacting their well-being and professional capacity.
• Existing knowledge gaps exist regarding nurses' perceptions of violence management strategies and support services.
• Workplace violence necessitates effective management and intervention strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate nurses' perceptions of workplace violence management.
• To identify preferred strategies and support services for managing workplace violence.
• To understand nurses' views on policy development and intervention effectiveness.

Main Methods:

• A survey was administered to 98 nurses in Queensland, Australia.
• Participants were from Emergency, Intensive Care, and Mental Health Departments.
• The survey focused on perceptions of workplace violence and its management.

Main Results:

• 95% of nurses believed all violence should be reported, yet under-reporting persists (18% would take no action, 22% wouldn't complete a report).
• Nurses preferred low-level interventions and aggression management training.
• There's a strong desire among nurses for involvement in developing workplace violence policies.

Conclusions:

• Aggression management training is highly valued by nurses.
• Nurses seek greater involvement in shaping workplace violence policies.
• Addressing the under-reporting of workplace violence is crucial for effective management and reducing incidence/severity.