Nurses' experience of violence and post-traumatic stress disorder in Germany: a cross-sectional study

Workplace violence (WPV) is an occupational hazard to which nurses are often exposed, which can be a risk factor for severe mental health problems including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Therefore, understanding the prevalence of WPV and its association with PTSD among nurses may be important for developing effective workplace safety and support.

This paper examined the prevalence of WPV and PTSD among nurses in Germany and analyses the association between them.

A cross-sectional online survey was conducted among nurses across all clinical settings in Germany (May-June 2024). WPV and PTSD symptoms were measured with standardised scales, and logistic regression tested their association.

In total, 411 participants (61.0%) were hospital-based nurses. Non-physical violence was more prevalent than physical violence. Suspected PTSD was found among 8.5% of the participants. PTSD symptoms were significantly higher among participants exposed to WPV (OR 3.378; 95% CI: 2.096; 5.445). Availability of employer-provided support following WPV incidents was found to decrease suspected PTSD with an odds ratio of 0.122 (95% CI: 0.031; 0.483).

In order to lessen the PTSD effects of WPV, present findings emphasise the necessity of reporting mechanisms, employer assistance, and targeted interventions. These steps are also crucial to promoting workforce retention.