Chinese Nurses' Perceptions of Intra-Organizational Workplace Psychological Violence: A Qualitative Study

Intra-organizational workplace psychological violence has a significant impact on the physical and mental health of nurses. This study aimed to explore Chinese nurses' perceptions of intra-organizational workplace psychological violence and examine their attitudes, coping strategies, and the ramifications of such violent incidents. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 18 nurses from a tertiary hospital in China, and the data were analyzed using the Colaizzi 7-step analysis method. Three main themes and 11 subthemes were extracted. The three themes included (a) nurses' perceptions and attitudes; (b) nurses' response ways; (c) the coexistence of positive and negative influences. Intra-organizational workplace psychological violence manifests in diverse forms and is driven by complex factors, which exert profound effects on nurses. Moreover, nurses exhibit cognitive biases and adopt different coping mechanisms to face these challenges. Consequently, the management staff needs to work toward enhancing nurses' understanding of intra-organizational psychological violence and offering effective guidance on coping strategies. By fostering a culture that encourages the reconstruction of meaning, managers can help reduce both the prevalence and negative repercussions of psychological violence in the workplace.