Workplace violence and sleep disorders in emergency nurses: a multicenter cross-sectional study

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• Occupational Health
• Psychology

Background:

• Emergency nurses face significant risks of workplace violence (WPV).
• WPV negatively impacts the sleep quality of healthcare professionals.
• Understanding the prevalence and impact of WPV on nurses is crucial for patient safety and healthcare system stability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of workplace violence and sleep disorders among emergency department (ED) nurses in China.
• To investigate the relationship between workplace violence and sleep disorders in this population.
• To provide evidence for developing interventions to mitigate WPV and enhance sleep quality for ED nurses.

Main Methods:

• A stratified cluster sampling method was employed, recruiting 1,540 ED nurses from 30 hospitals in mainland China.
• Data collection utilized demographic questionnaires, the Workplace Violence Questionnaire, and the Self-administered Sleep Questionnaire (SSQ).
• Pearson correlation and multiple linear regression analyses were performed to assess the association between WPV and sleep disorders.

Main Results:

• A high prevalence of sleep disorders (approx. 60%) and WPV (85.0%) was reported among ED nurses.
• Workplace violence showed a significant positive correlation with sleep disorders (r = 0.295, P < 0.01).
• Psychological violence, work experience, working hours, night shifts, and marital status were identified as independent predictors of sleep disorder severity.

Conclusions:

• Emergency nurses are highly vulnerable to WPV, which substantially contributes to sleep disorders.
• There is an urgent need for improved management strategies to prevent WPV and enhance sleep quality in emergency departments.
• Addressing WPV and sleep disturbances is essential for supporting the nursing workforce and ensuring quality patient care.