Workplace violence experienced by Nursing professionals in the Health Care Network

a cross-sectional study

Authors

Keywords:

Workplace Violence, Aggression, Nursing, Team, Health Services, Mental Health

Abstract

Objective: To analyze workplace violence against Nursing professionals in the Health Care Network.

Method: Cross-sectional study with 179 Nursing professionals, using a questionnaire to assess workplace violence. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics.

Results: Among the participants, 88 (49.1%) reported having suffered some type of violence in the workplace, with verbal aggression being the most common, perpetrated by patients, family members, and healthcare professionals (48.0%). The main consequences reported were: stress associated with physical violence (66.7%), loss of job satisfaction related to verbal violence (33.7%), and irritation in cases of sexual violence (4.5%).

Conclusion: Workplace violence was frequent among Nursing professionals, with verbal aggression predominating. This reality generates emotional repercussions and job dissatisfaction, compromising care. Furthermore, violence is a worrying reality in the daily lives of nursing professionals throughout the healthcare network.

Author Biographies

Maria Cecília Rodrigues Pimenta, Santa Casa de Misericórdia de Sobral, Ceará, CE, Brazil.

Nurse. Specialist in Neonatal and Pediatric Nursing. Santa Casa de Misericórdia de Sobral, Ceará, CE, Brazil.

 

da Silva Miranda, Federal University of Piauí, Floriano, Piauí, PI, Brazil.

Nurse. Specialist in Neonatal and Pediatric Nursing. Professor at the Federal University of Piauí, PI Floriano, Piauí, Brazil.

Ruth Cardoso Rocha, University of Piauí, Floriano, Piauí, PI, Brazil.

Nurse. PhD in Nursing. Professor at the Federal University of Piauí, Floriano, Piauí, PI, Brazil.

Cristianne Teixeira Carneiro, Federal University of Piauí, Floriano, Piauí, PI, Brazil.

Nurse. PhD in Technology and Society. Professor at the Federal University of Piauí, Floriano, Piauí, PI, Brazil.Brazil.

Mychelangela de Assis Brito, University of Piauí, Floriano, Piauí, PI, Brazil.

Nurse. PhD in Nursing. Professor at the Federal University of Piauí, Floriano, Piauí, PI, Brazil.

Maria Augusta Rocha Bezerra, Federal University of Piauí, Floriano, Piauí, PI, Brazil.

Nurse. PhD in Nursing. Professor at the Federal University of Piauí, Floriano, Piauí, PI, Brazil.

References

1. Pariona-Cabrera P, Cavanagh J, Bartram T. Workplace violence against nurses in health care and the role of human resource management: a systematic review of the literature. J Adv Nurs [Internet]. 2020 [cited 2024 May 10];76(7):1581-93. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1111/jan.14352

2. Mento C, Silvestri MC, Bruno A, Muscatello MRA, Cedro C, Pandolfo G, et al. Workplace violence against healthcare professionals: A systematic review. Aggress Violent Behav [Internet]. 2020 [cited 2024 May 15];51:101381. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.avb.2020.101381

3. Bernardes MLG, Karino ME, Martins JT, Okubo CVC, Galdino MJQ, Moreira AAO. Workplace violence among nursing professionals. Rev Bras Med Trab [Internet]. 2021 [cited 2024 Jun 13];18(3):250-7. Available from: https://doi.org/10.47626/1679-44352020-531

4. Karatuna I, Jönsson S, Muhonen T. Workplace bullying in the nursing profession: a cross-cultural scoping review. Int J Nurs Stud [Internet]. 2020 [cited 2024 Jun 15];111:103628. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2020.103628

5. Somani R, Muntaner C, Hillan E, Velonis AJ, Smith P. A systematic review: effectiveness of interventions to de-escalate workplace violence against nurses in healthcare settings. Saf Health Work [Internet]. 2021 [cited 2024 Jun 10];12(3):289-95. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.shaw.2021.04.004

6. Ferri P, Stifani S, Accoto A, Bonetti L, Rubbi I, Di Lorenzo R. Violence against nurses in the triage area: A mixed-methods study. J Emerg Nurs [Internet]. 2020 May [cited 2024 May 15];46(3):384-97. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jen.2020.02.013

7. American Nurses Association (ANA). Executive summary: American Nurses Association Health Risk Appraisal [Internet]. ©2017 [cited 2019 Dec 1];1-6 Available from: https://www.nursingworld.org/globalassets/practiceandpolicy/work-environment/health--safety/ana-healthriskappraisalsummary_2013-2016.pdf

8. Bordignon M, Monteiro MI. Analysis of workplace violence against nursing professionals and possibilities for prevention. Rev Gaúcha Enferm [Internet]. 2021 [cited 2025 Feb 1];42:e20190406. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1590/1983-1447.2021.20190406

9. dos Santos J, Meira KC, Coelho JC, Dantas ESO, e Oliveira LV, de Oliveira JSA, et al. Work-related violences and associated variables in oncology nursing professionals. Ciênc Saúde Colet [Internet]. 2021 [cited 2024 Dec 1];26(12):5955-66. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1590/1413-812320212612.14942021

10. Njaka S, Edeogu OC, Oko CC, Goni MD, Nkadi N. Work place violence (WPV) against healthcare workers in Africa: a systematic review. Heliyon [Internet]. 2020 [cited 2025 May 19];6(9):e04800. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e04800

11. Byon H, Lee M, Choi M, Sagherian K, Crandall M, Lipscomb J. Prevalence of type II workplace violence among home healthcare workers: A meta-analysis. Am J Ind Med [Internet]. 2020 [cited 2025 Jun 4];63(5):442-55. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1002/ajim.23095

12. García-Pérez MD, Rivera-Sequeiros A, Sánchez-Elías TM, Lima-Serrano M. Workplace violence on healthcare professionals and underreporting: characterization and knowledge gaps for prevention. Enferm Clin [Internet]. 2021 [cited 2024 Aug 8];31(6):390-5. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enfcle.2021.05.001

13. Bordignon M, Monteiro MI. Apparent validity of a questionnaire to assess workplace violence. Acta Paul Enferm [Internet]. 2015 Nov-Dec [cited 2024 Jun 11];28(6):601-8. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1590/1982-0194201500098

14. Liu J, Gan Y, Jiang H, Li L, Dwyer R, Lu K, et al. Prevalence of workplace violence against healthcare workers: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Occup Environ Med [Internet]. 2019 Dec [cited 2025 Mar 10];76(12):927-37. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1136/oemed-2019-105849

15. Schlup N, Gehri B, Simon M. Prevalence and severity of verbal, physical, and sexual inpatient violence against nurses in Swiss psychiatric hospitals and associated nurse-related characteristics: Cross-sectional multicentre study. Int J Ment Health Nurs [Internet]. 2021 Dec [cited 2025 Jun 30];30(6):1550-63. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1111/inm.12905

16. Hunter EJ, Eades CE, Evans JMM. Violence experienced by undergraduate nursing students during clinical placements: an online survey at a Scottish University. Nurse Educ Pract [Internet]. 2022 May [cited 2025 Jun 4];61:103323. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nepr.2022.103323

17. Al Muharraq EH, Baker OG, Alallah SM. The Prevalence and the relationship of workplace bullying and nurses turnover intentions: a cross sectional study. SAGE Open Nurs [Internet]. 2022 Jan 24 [cited 2024 Mar 13];8:1-10. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1177/23779608221074655

18. Cao Y, Gao L, Fan L, Zhang Z, Liu X, Jiao M, et al. Effects of verbal violence on job satisfaction, work engagement and the mediating role of emotional exhaustion among healthcare workers: a cross-sectional survey conducted in Chinese tertiary public hospitals. BMJ Open [Internet]. 2023 [cited 2025 Mar 13];13(3):e065918. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2022-065918

19. Silveira FBCA, Lira Neto JCG, Weiss C, de Araújo MFM. Association between community-based and workplace violence and the sleep quality of health professionals: a cross-sectional study. Ciênc Saúde Coletiva [Internet]. 2021May [cited 2025 Sep 05];26(5):1647-56. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1590/1413-81232021265.04522021

20. Pérez-Fuentes MDC, Gázquez JJ, Molero MDM, Oropesa NF, Martos Á. Violence and job satisfaction of nurses: importance of a support network in healthcare. The European Journal of Psychology Applied to Legal Context [Internet]. 2021 [cited 2025 Jul 23];13(1):21-8. Available from: https://doi.org/10.5093/ejpalc2021a3

21. Cabilo JAE, Daño JC. Verbal abuse in the workplace: the unfolding phenomenon. The Malaysian Journal of Nursing (MJN) [Internet]. 2020 [cited 2025 Jul 30];11(4):68-77. Available from: https://ejournal.lucp.net/index.php/mjn/article/view/1004

22. Abbas S, Zakar R, Fischer F, Gilani A. Challenges perceived by nursing professionals in physician-centred organizations: An exploratory qualitative study. Int Nurs Rev [Internet]. 2022 [cited 2025 Jul 23];69(3):384-91. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1111/inr.12741

23. Özkan Şat S, Akbaş P, Yaman Sözbir Ş. Nurses' exposure to violence and their professional commitment during the COVID-19 pandemic. J Clin Nurs [Internet]. 2021 Jul [cited 2025 Jul 23];30(13-14):2036-47. Available from:

https://doi.org/10.1111/jocn.15760

24. Amaral ES, Arruda G, Perondi AR, Cavalheiri JC, Vieira AP, Follador FAC. Violence at work experienced by nursing professionals working in hospital units: an exploratory and correlational study. Rev Latino-Am Enfermagem [Internet]. 2025 [cited 2025 Jul 23];33:e4527. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1590/1518-8345.7451.4527

25. Trindade LL, Ribeiro ST, Zanatta EA, Vendruscolo C, Dal Pai D. Verbal aggression in nursing work at the hospital. Rev Eletr Enferm [Internet]. 2019 [cited 2025 Jul 23];21:54333. Available from: https://doi.org/10.5216/ree.v21.54333

26. Silva FB, Silveira EF, Gedrat DC. Violência sofrida no trabalho: um estudo com profissionais do setor de urgência e emergência de um hospital do norte do Brasil. Aletheia [Internet]. 2021 [cited 2025 Jul 23];54(2):67-81. Portuguese. Available from: https://pepsic.bvsalud.org/scielo.php?pid=S141303942021000200008&script=sci_abstract&tlng=pt

27. Scaramal DA, Haddad MCFL, Garanhani ML, Nunes EFPA, Galdino MJQ, Pissinati PSC. Occupational physical violence in urgency and emergency hospital services: perceptions of nursing workers. REME Rev Min Enferm [Internet]. 2017 Nov. 9 [cited 2025 Aug 5];21(1):e-1024 Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/319886964

28. Al-Qadi MM. Nurses' perspectives of violence in emergency departments: a metasynthesis. Int Emerg Nurs [Internet]. 2020 [cited 2025 Aug 5];52:100905. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ienj.2020.100905

29. Ceballos JB, Frota OP, Nunes HFSS, Ávalos PL, Krügel CC, Ferreira Júnior MA, et al. Physical violence and verbal abuse against nurses working with risk stratification: characteristics, related factors, and consequences. Rev Bras Enferm [Internet]. 2020 Dec 21 [cited 2025 Aug 5];73(suppl 5):e20190882. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1590/0034-7167-2019-0882

30. Kahsay WG, Negarandeh R, Dehghan Nayeri N, Hasanpour M. Sexual harassment against female nurses: a systematic review. BMC Nurs [Internet]. 2020 Jun 29 [cited 2024 Mar 5];19:(58):1-12. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-020-00450-w

Published

2025-12-30

How to Cite

Pimenta, M. C. R., Miranda, da S., Rocha, R. C., Carneiro, C. T., Brito, M. de A., & Bezerra, M. A. R. (2025). Workplace violence experienced by Nursing professionals in the Health Care Network: a cross-sectional study. Cogitare Enfermagem, 31. Retrieved from https://revistas.ufpr.br/cogitare/article/view/100850

Issue

Section

ORIGINAL ARTICLE