Violence Against Nurses During Care: A Systematic Review

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• Healthcare Management
• Occupational Health

Background:

• Workplace violence from patients and caregivers is a significant issue affecting nurses.
• Understanding the consequences and prevention strategies is crucial for healthcare settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize existing knowledge on workplace violence against nurses by patients and caregivers.
• To analyze the consequences of such violence on nurses.
• To identify effective prevention strategies.

Main Methods:

• A systematic literature review was conducted following PRISMA guidelines.
• Studies published between January 2012 and June 2023 were included.
• Data sources included CINHAL, Scopus, PubMed, and PsychInfo databases.

Main Results:

• Fifteen quantitative studies were selected, primarily cross-sectional and observational.
• Violence resulted in psychological and physical health effects, including gastrointestinal symptoms, headaches, and sleep disturbances.
• Four studies explored coping and prevention strategies.

Conclusions:

• Patient and caregiver aggression adversely affects nurses' personal and professional lives.
• Increased attention and effective strategies are needed to reduce incidents of workplace violence.
• Developing policies to protect nurses' physical and mental health is essential.