Understanding Violence Toward Canadian Nurses From Patients' Family and Visitors as a Potentially Psychologically Traumatic Event.

Abstract

In this study, we explore qualitatively the types and extent of violence perpetrated against Canadian nurses. With the growing shortage of professional nurses globally, prioritizing the safety and well-being of nurses is essential. Workplace violence is a critical factor that may aggravate exposure to potentially psychologically traumatic events (PPTEs) and negatively affect nurses' mental health and well-being. Research has found that patients' family members and other visitors are the second highest perpetrators of health care violence against nurses. Using a grounded theory-informed approach to thematic analysis, we engaged in a secondary qualitative analysis of open-text survey responses from a national survey of Canadian nurses' (n = 168) experiences of violence conducted between May and September 2019. Nurses described their experience of violence from patients' family and other visitors as the most impactful PPTE they experienced at work in open-ended text box responses. Four primary themes were produced, each characterizing nurses' experiences of visitor violence: Normalization of harm/violence, verbal abuse/harassment, physical violence, and emotional abuse. We put forth proactive strategies to enhance organizational and leadership response and reporting structures to improve the safety and mental well-being of Canadian nurses. Priority actions for nursing leaders, organizations, and managers could include strengthening visitor management protocols, improving security escalation pathways, simplifying reporting systems, reinforcing just culture, and providing postincident support and updated training for nurses.