The Incidence and Impact of Workplace Violence Among Male Nurses: A Mixed-Methods Systematic Review

To synthesise evidence on the self-perceived consequences of workplace violence (WPV) among male nurses in hospital care settings.

Mixed-methods systematic review (PROSPERO: CRD420251041864).

Systematic searches were performed in PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and China Biomedical Database. Quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods studies on registered male nurses were included. Methodological quality was assessed using the Mixed Methods Assessment Tool 2018. Data synthesis followed the Joanna Briggs Institute convergent integrated approach.

Six databases were searched from their inception to April 30, 2025.

Twenty six studies (18 quantitative, 6 qualitative, and 2 mixed-methods) from 12 countries (n = 2354 male nurses; 7 in psychiatric departments, 4 in emergency departments, 2 in psychiatric hospitals, 1 in an ICU, 1 in an operating room, and 11 unspecified department studies in hospital nursing settings) were included. Six themes emerged: (1) Physical health damage; (2) Mental health trauma; (3) Impediments to Career Advancement; (4) Deterioration of working environment and social relations; (5) Impaired Quality of Patient Care; and (6) Deficiencies in Violence Coping Mechanisms and Potential Risks.

WPV inflicts multidimensional harm on male nurses, spanning their health, career, social well-being, and care quality, compounded by systemic underreporting.

Urgent interventions are needed, including gender-sensitive training, improved reporting systems, mental health support, and safe workplaces. Addressing WPV is vital for nurse retention and patient safety.

This review highlights under-studied WPV toward male nurses, revealing profound personal and professional impacts. It informs healthcare policymakers, administrators, and clinicians, urging gender-inclusive prevention strategies to protect nurses and enhance global care quality.

This review adhered to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis guidelines.

No patient or public contribution was involved in this systematic review.