Workplace violence targeting student nurses in the clinical areas

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Workplace violence in health care is a worldwide phenomenon. In nursing, thenature of workplace violence is predominantly non-physical in nature. Literaturereveals the devastating consequences for the individual nurse, both physically and /or emotionally, depending on the nature of the violence. The consequences for theorganisation / institution and the profession are equally devastating, manifesting inreduced standards of patient care and increased attrition from the profession. Thepervasiveness of this problem indicates that to date, remedial and protectivemeasures have been unsuccessful.However, most of the research done on workplace violence in nursing has beenconducted amongst qualified nurses. The purpose of this study was to investigatethe extent of workplace violence, targeting student nurses in clinical areas. Thesetting was the Western Cape College of Nursing and the population was second,third and fourth-year, pre-registration students. The research objectives addressedvarious aspects, for example, type, prevalence, perpetrators, consequences andmanagement of workplace violence.A quantitative research design, utilising a survey, was chosen for the study. Aprobability sample of n = 255 students was selected, using stratified, randomsampling as the sampling method. The variables selected for stratification weregender and year of study. A self reported, anonymous questionnaire, guided by theliterature review and by the research objectives, was utilised for data generation.Summary statistics were used to describe the variables, whilst distributions ofvariables were presented in the form of histograms and frequency tables. Whereappropriate, the relationships between demographic and research variables weredescribed, using suitable statistical analyses.The findings revealed that the perpetration of non-physical violence against studentnurses is widespread, particularly that perpetrated by co-workers, more specificallyregistered, staff- and assistant nurses. The under reporting of workplace violencewas a common finding.Student nurses suffer grave emotional consequences as a result of workplaceviolence. Almost half of the respondents admitted that they had considered leaving nursing due to workplace violence and that it had negatively affected their standardof patient care. The overall conclusion was that, in accordance with a worldwidetrend amongst all categories of nurses, student nurses are targets of workplaceviolence in the clinical areas.These findings have particular implications for the management of nursing educationinstitutions. The fact that student nurses are targeted to the extent revealed in thisstudy indicates that existing preventive measures in the clinical areas have not beeneffective. The recommendations arising from this study therefore focus on equippingthe vulnerable trainee with the tools to withstand workplace violence. As such, therecommendations are directed at the management of the nursing educationinstitution, to create awareness around the problem, to empower students to confrontand cope with workplace violence and to support students traumatised by workplaceviolence.Finally, this study suggests avenues for further research, for example, research inthe same setting after implementation of the recommendations, or further researchinto the dynamics of workplace violence, targeting student nurses from theperspective of qualified nursing staff or patients.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University