Violence Against Psychiatric Nurses: Sensitive research as science and intervention
Marilyn Lewis Lannza
Associate Chief Nurse, Nursing Service for Research, Edith Nourse Rogers Memorial Veterans Hospital, Bedford, Massachusetts, United States of America
Robert Zeiss
Psychologist and Co-Director, Inpatient Psychiatry, VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, California, United States of America
Jill Rierdan
Associate Professor, University of Massachusetts, Boston, Williamsburg, Massachusetts, United States of America
PP: 71 - 84
Abstract
Psychiatric nurses are frequent victims of workplace violence, much of which is perpetrated by patients. In a review of literature on prevalence, perpetrators, and impact of violence on psychiatric nurses, we note that workplace violence is a virtually normative experience for the nurse, rather than a rare occurrence.
Verbal violence and sexual harassment, like physical violence, are common experiences; in contrast to physical violence, these are often initiated by co-workers. The emotional impact of violence on psychiatric nurses is studied less often than frequency of exposure; we discuss hypotheses for this paucity of relevant research.
Finally, we reflect on the implications of current research, concluding with recommendations for future research on violence against psychiatric nurses. In particular, we elaborate on the role of violence research in the healthcare setting as 'sensitive research' - a research process that in itself may have both direct and indirect beneficial effects for the nursing profession.
Keywords
aggression, bullying, interprofessional relations, patient violence, verbal abuse, workplace violence
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