Workplace Violence in Nursing: Prevalence and Nature of Incidents in a Tertiary University Hospital

The cumulative occurrence of workplace violence in nursing represents a growing challenge to workers' health and the quality of care. This study aimed to analyze the prevalence, characteristics, and repercussions of workplace violence among nursing professionals in a tertiary university hospital. A cross-sectional, exploratory, and descriptive study was conducted with 573 nursing professionals using an electronic questionnaire for data collection. Descriptive and inferential analyses were performed using Pearson's chi-square test with Bonferroni correction. Overall, 71.2% of participants reported ever experiencing workplace violence while working at the hospital, according to the questionnaire. Among those exposed, workplace bullying/intimidation (76.5%), verbal violence (49.8%), and psychological violence (43.9%) were the most frequently reported forms of violence. Physical violence (8.1%), sexual violence (5.6%), racial discrimination (9.1%), gender discrimination (6.4%), ageism (7.8%), and ableism (2.0%) were reported less frequently. Managers/supervisors (37.3%), patients' family members or companions (29.4%), and coworkers (28.4%) were identified as the main perpetrators. Participants who experienced workplace violence reported adverse occupational and health-related outcomes, including medication use, psychological treatment, work absences, intention to resign (50.2%), and intention to leave the profession (42.6%). Underreporting was substantial, with only 33.7% of incidents being formally reported. Workplace violence was highly prevalent among nursing workers and was accompanied by self-reported adverse consequences for health, well-being, and professional performance. These findings underscore the need for effective institutional strategies aimed at preventing, monitoring, and addressing workplace violence in hospital settings.