Nurse-reported workplace violent events: Results from a repeated statewide survey

• Published in: Nursing outlook 2024-09, Vol.72 (5), p.102265, Article 102265
• Main Authors: Friese, Christopher R., Medvec, Barbara R., Marriott, Deanna J., Khadr, Lara, Wade, Marissa Gurka, Riba, Melissa, Titler, Marita G.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Bullying - psychology; Bullying - statistics & numerical data; Burnout, Professional - epidemiology; Burnout, Professional - psychology; Female; Humans; Male; Michigan - epidemiology; Middle Aged; Nursing Staff, Hospital - psychology; Nursing Staff, Hospital - statistics & numerical data; Registered nurse; Sexual Harassment - psychology; Sexual Harassment - statistics & numerical data; Surveys and Questionnaires; Violence; Workplace - psychology; Workplace - statistics & numerical data; Workplace Violence - psychology; Workplace Violence - statistics & numerical data; Workplaces
• ISSN: 0029-6554; 1528-3968; 1528-3968
• DOI: 10.1016/j.outlook.2024.102265

Workplace violence significantly affects registered nurses, contributing to burnout and intention to leave. The Michigan Nurses Study conducted surveys in 2022 and 2023, examining the prevalence of verbal, physical, and sexual violence, and coworker bullying. Personal and workplace factors associated with reporting any violent event were examined using multivariable logistic regression. There was a decline in overall workplace violence from 50.2% to 43.4%, despite a rise in sexual harassment from 9.9% to 11.8%. Over half of the events were patient-sourced. Underreporting remained a problem. Factors associated with increased likelihood of reporting any violent event included younger age, employment in acute care and long-term care settings, unfavorable practice environments, less confidence in management, inadequate support for workplace stress, and understaffing on the past shift. Despite a decrease in reported violent events, incidents remain common. Improvements in working conditions, management of understaffing, and support systems are crucial to mitigate workplace violence against nurses. ●About 50.2% of 2022 respondents reported workplace violence, compared with 43.4% in 2023.●In 2022, 44.9% reported the violent event to their employer, compared with 55.3% in 2023.●Employers responded to reports less than half the time.●The sources of violence were patients (54.5%), visitors (18.8%), and peers (26.1%).●Younger age, poor work conditions, and inadequate staffing were associated with workplace violence.