Prevalence of Workplace Violence Against Nurses Working in Hospitals: A Literature Review

Abstract

The rise in documented rates of workplace violence (WPV) in healthcare facilities has become a major issue for healthcare providers worldwide, particularly nurses. The exposure to such violence can result in grave consequences for the physiological and psychological well-being of nurses. However, previous studies in the field rarely differentiated between the types of workplace violence, their sources, and their impact on nursing staff. Aim: This review aims to describe the prevalence of WPV against nurses in hospitals. Methods: A literature review, based on the PRISMA guidelines, of studies of qualitative, quantitative, and mixed method design that focus on nursing WPV. A literature search is conducted using CINAHL, MEDLINE, and PubMed databases, via the Saudi Digital library. The search includes studies published during the last five years. All of the studies included are critically appraised using the critical appraisal tool developed by Hawker et al. (2002). In total, 25 studies matching the inclusion criteria emerge from the selection process, and are included in the review. Results: A total of four themes emerge from the literature related specifically to WPV towards nurses, namely common settings where violence is experienced, common types of violence, the characteristics of perpetrators, and the overall impact of violence on nurses. The most common hospital settings where WPV is experienced include the emergency and psychiatric departments, and the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). The most prevalent forms of WPV are, in order of prevalence from most common to least, verbal, physical, psychological, and horizontal violence. Rates of WPV exposure are found to vary according to world region, with the highest rates for physical violence, sexual harassment, and horizontal abuse in the United States (US), and the highest rates of psychological violence and bullying in Asia. Patients, and patients’ families/friends are the most common perpetrators of WPV. The consequences of WPV are found to include a diminished physical and emotional well-being, linked to an increase in job dissatisfaction, burnout, absenteeism, and resignation from work. Conclusion: This review recommends that more high-quality research should be conducted in this field, using systematic techniques and standardized tools that enable generalization across studies. Furthermore, it recommends that preventive action in the form of multi-level educational programmes, and legislative polices to support and protect the rights of those reporting WPV, are urgently required.