The effect of workplace violence on nurses' job satisfaction

Workplace violence in the health sector is a worldwide concern with healthcare workers being
at high risk of being victims. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of workplace
violence on nurses' job satisfaction at Maternal and Child Health centers and Tanta University
Emergency Hospital. Methods; the study was a descriptive correlational design. The study
sample included all available staff nurses worked in MCH centers (N = 110) and Tanta
University Emergency Hospital (N = 327), the total number of the sample was 437 nurses.
Two tools of the study were used; the first tool included two parts, sample characteristics data
and job satisfaction survey. The second tool included nurses' perception of workplace
violence. Results, most of emergency hospital nurses experienced more violence as compared
with nearly one third of community health nurses. Psychological and verbal violence,
followed by physical violence were the most common types of abuse experienced by more
than two third and more than half of emergency hospital nurses, and about one quarter
and minor percent of community nurses, respectively. More than two thirds and more than
half of emergency hospital nurses and community health nurses were dissatisfied with their
work. Conclusion; there is a high rate of violence against nurses in emergency hospital rather
than community health settings. The majority of nurses who experienced workplace violence
not reported the incidence of violence. Psychological and verbal violence followed by
physical violence were the most common types of abuse experienced by the studied subjects.
There is a need for workplace policies and procedures that focus on the security of the
environment, reporting and surveillance, and educational seminars for nurses are
recommended that focus on communication techniques and stress or conflict resolution to
effectively manage violence in the workplace.