Workplace violence from the perspective of nurses in mobile pre-hospital care

Abstract

The objective was to understand violence in the workplace from the perspective of nurses in mobile pre-hospital care. This is a cross-sectional study with 67 nurses of mobile pre-hospital care guided by two questions: “What do you understand by violence in the workplace?” and “How do you perceive the occurrence of violence at work in the pre-hospital environment”. Data analysis was performed through the thematic analysis technique. Two categories emerged: what nurses understand by violence at work in the mobile pre-hospital environment; and how nurses perceive the occurrence of violence at work in the mobile pre-hospital environment. Actions of physical, verbal, psychological, behavioral, sexual violence were highlighted, as well as those arising from the characteristics of the work process, practiced by patients, people, professionals of the work institution, health professionals of reference hospitals and professionals with hierarchically superior positions, in the places of care, reception of patients and in the work organization, causing physical, mental and psychological complaints, displeasure in carrying out work activities and leave from work. The study points out the need to discuss the triggers of violence against professionals in pre-hospital care and specific public policies to prevent violence at work, aiming at the health of workers.