Violence on the Job: The Experiences of Nurses and Midwives with Violence from Patients and Their Friends and Relatives

Abstract

Violence in healthcare is recognised as a significant workplace issue worldwide, with nurses recognised as the profession at greatest risk. The purpose of this study was to explore nurses’ and midwives’ experiences of violence in different clinical areas, work sectors and geographical regions. A cross-sectional design was employed to survey the membership of the New South Wales Nurses and Midwives’ Association about their experiences with violence from patients and/or their friends and relatives in their workplace. A total of 3416 participants returned a completed questionnaire and more than three-quarters of had experienced an episode of violence in the preceding six months. Participants working in the public health sector reported significantly more physically violent behaviours than their colleagues in the private sector. No statistically significant difference between the rates of violence (overall) was identified between different geographical areas. Violent behaviours were reported across all clinical settings, with emergency departments, mental health and drug and alcohol settings reporting the highest proportion of episodes. The results of this large study highlight the high levels of violence that nurses and midwives experience in the workplace across all sectors of employment, geographical regions and clinical settings.

Prevalence and determinants of workplace violence among nurses in the South‐East Asian and Western Pacific Regions: a systematic review and meta‐analysis

“…Younger nurses who were less than thirty years (Jiao et al, 2015; Md. Kawsar Alam MSN, etal., 2019; Pandey et al, 2018; Pich & Roche, 2020; Yeh et al, 2020; Yokoyama et al, 2016), those with fewer years of experience (Kobayashi et al, 2020; Md. Kawsar Alam MSN et al, 2019; Pandey et al, 2018; Shi et al, 2017b; Suhaila & Rampal, 2012) more educated (Chang & Cho, 2016) and those with experience of sexual assault or verbal abuse in the past (Shiao et al, 2010) reported a higher rate of WPV.…”

“…The main organisational attributes were inadequate policies, lack of safe environment in the workplace, heavy workload, staff shortage, improper arrangements made in the hospital causing long waiting time and overcrowding (Fang et al, 2020; Pandey et al, 2018; Tang et al, 2007; Yang et al, 2018; Yokoyama et al, 2016). Nurses who were working in ED, PD, medical departments, male wards, public sector and on night shifts experienced higher WPV (Chapman et al, 2010; Chen et al, 2013; Kwok et al, 2006; Lu et al, 2019; Niu et al, 2019; Pai & Lee, 2011; Pich & Roche, 2020; Zeng et al, 2013).…”

Nursing students' experiences of violence and aggression: A mixed-methods study

“…However, it could be argued that by not responding to, let alone reporting aggression, that this culture is part of the nurse indoctrination process; presumably when the students are qualified they will perpetuate this acceptance. This appears to be an issue for nursing globally; nurses have become so desensitised to violence that it is now an expected and accepted 'occupational hazards' of the job (Pich and Roche, 2020).…”

Worker Characteristics and Measures Associated With Patient and Visitor Violence in the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Multilevel Regression Analysis From China

“…For many years, the prevalence and risk factors associated with PVV against HWs have been studied worldwide, previous studies discovered individual characteristics of perpetrator and victim ( 9 – 11 ), the HWs-patient and visitor interactions ( 12 ), the characteristics of the work environment ( 10 , 13 ), and the official organizational hospital policies ( 14 ) seem important in the occurrence of PVV ( 15 ). Recently, several studies have investigated the occurrence of workplace violence (WPV) against HWs during COVID-19 pandemic in China, estimating that the percentage of experienced WPV against HWs was from 17.9 to 20.4% during the COVID-19 outbreak (<1 year), and risk factors have been identified for individual characteristics of HWs ( 16 ).…”