Workplace violence: Insights from nurses' lived experiences

Workplace violence (WPV) against nurses is a growing concern within the health care industry, contributing to increased stress, burnout, and higher staff turnover.

The purpose of this study is to understand the experiences of nurses with WPV and examine the scope and impact of this violence based on nurse's recollections.

Using qualitative interpretive meta-synthesis and the job demands-resources framework, we examined patterns in nurses' experiences of WPV. Our analysis (N = 401) of nurses' accounts from diverse sources-patients, colleagues, and supervisors across various locations and health care settings-provides deep insights into WPV dynamics.

Four main themes were identified: (a) it comes with the job-patient and family violence are normal, (b) a vulnerability in nurse safety, (c) sexual harassment, and (d) poor treatment within the organization.

WPV against nurses is a deeply ingrained issue that impacts their psychological health and job performance. A stark need for health care systems to address and mitigate WPV is evident.

There are clear signals that health care organizations need to implement comprehensive strategies to prevent WPV, foster a safe and supportive work environment, and equip nurses with job resources to manage the high stress of their roles.