Experience of Workplace Violence Toward Nursing Students in Iran: A Qualitative Study

Abstract

Background and Aims: This study explores the dimensions of violence experienced by student nurses in Iran, during their nurse education. The incidence of violence toward students has become a major concern and strategies are needed to reduce the incidence.Methods: A qualitative study was conducted. Participants were 7 male and 9 female third-year undergraduates nursing student. Purposive sampling was used and qualitative data from semi-structured interviews were analyzed using thematic content analysis.Results: From the qualitative data, five categories emerged including, instances of violence, causes of violence, feelings after the violence, reaction after violence and violence prevention strategies. Conclusion:Nursing students need to be taught preventive measures and to receive appropriate support from nurses, instructors, and educational managers, in order to reduce the incidence and provide safer learning environments. Forensic nurses should be active stakeholders in monitoring, supporting and referring nursing students who experience workplace violence.

Nursing students' experience of workplace violence in clinical practice: A qualitative systematic review

“…The identified issues were grouped into three subthemes including: Organisational which included the clinical educational and patient environment or culture (Hallett et al, 2021; Lash et al, 2006; Smith et al, 2016; Tee & Valiee, 2020; Thomas et al, 2015; Üzar‐Özçetin et al, 2021; Warshawski, 2021). The second subtheme was Aspects related to staff(ing) which included staff's lack of knowledge about the educational needs of RNS (Amoo et al, 2021; Hallett et al, 2021; Rafati et al, 2017; Smith et al, 2016; Tee & Valiee, 2020), specific staff personalities (Ahn & Choi, 2019; Anthony & Yastik, 2011; Birks et al, 2017; Courtney‐Pratt et al, 2018; Hallett et al, 2021; Smith et al, 2016; Thomas et al, 2015; Üzar‐Özçetin et al, 2021) and workload stress (Amoo et al, 2021; Rafati et al, 2017; Thomas et al, 2015). The final subtheme was Registered Nurse students' characteristics which encapsulated a lack of confidence, unbalanced power dynamics, and inherent vulnerability (Courtney‐Pratt et al, 2018; Kim et al, 2018; Lash et al, 2006; Rafati et al, 2017; Smith et al, 2016; Tee et al, 2016; Thomas et al, 2015).…”

Reflection of nursing students violence tendencies on care behaviors

“…This, in turn, might have decreased the tendency to violence among the latter students. [6][7][8] The concept of care, which is essential and indispensable for the profession of nursing, is the basic nursing paradigm that aims to improve the health status and well-being of patients. 28,31 The analysis of the relationship between the gender and caring behavior of the nursing students in our study showed that both the female and male participants obtained high scores from the CBI-24, but the female participants obtained significantly higher scores than their male counterparts (p = 0.001; Table 2).…”

“…Based on this finding, we may suggest that the junior students and the students, who lived with their parents, felt more stressed and responsible whereas the students, who lived in dormitories, had lower level of stress, thanks to the support of their friends. This, in turn, might have decreased the tendency to violence among the latter students 6–8 …”

“…Existing studies found that the development of attitudes and behaviors towards violence are influenced by multidimensional and complex factors, including individual, family, and social characteristics 6–8 . As a preventable phenomenon, whose negative effects may be reduced, violence should be analyzed with a holistic approach by taking the biological, psychological, and social factors into account since the occurrence of violence is influenced by various factors 3,8,9 . Violence in society and health sector as a part of the society has been a subject of academic and policy debates for a long time 10–12 .…”

“…[6][7][8] As a preventable phenomenon, whose negative effects may be reduced, violence should be analyzed with a holistic approach by taking the biological, psychological, and social factors into account since the occurrence of violence is influenced by various factors. 3,8,9 Violence in society and health sector as a part of the society has been a subject of academic and policy debates for a long time. [10][11][12] Violence against health professionals has been a serious global problem affecting the professional lives of healthcare personnel around the world.…”