Asian Nursing Research
Volume 2, Issue 3 , Pages 184-193, September 2008

Workplace Violence and Abuse Against Nurses in Hospitals in Iran

  • Mahnaz Shoghi, MSN

      Affiliations

    • Senior Lecturer, Department of Pediatrics, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Karaj Islamic Azad University, Karaj, Iran
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorrespondence to: Mahnaz Shoghi, MSN, Senior Lecturer, Department of Pediatrics, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Karaj Islamic Azad University, Shahid Moazen BLD Karaj, Iran
    • ,
  • Mahnaz Sanjari, MSN

      Affiliations

    • Expert of Technical Department of Nursing of Islamic Republic of Iran, and Researcher in Tehran University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran
    • ,
  • Fateme Shirazi, MSN

      Affiliations

    • Expert of Technical Department of Nursing of Islamic Republic of Iran, Tehran, Iran
    • ,
  • Shiva Heidari, MSN

      Affiliations

    • Expert of Technical Department of Nursing of Islamic Republic of Iran, Tehran, Iran
    • ,
  • Sedighe Salemi, MSN

      Affiliations

    • Senior Lecturer, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Iran University of Medical Science, and Technical Assistant of Nursing Organization of Islamic Republic of Iran, Tehran, Iran
    • ,
  • Ghazanfar Mirzabeigi, BSN

      Affiliations

    • Director of Nursing Organization of Islamic Republic of Iran, Tehran, Iran

Received 7 July 2008; received in revised form 7 July 2008; accepted 11 September 2008.

Article Outline

Purpose

The rising rate of violence and abuse in health care centers has become a major problem for nurses. The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to explore the prevalence of assaults during nurses' careers in the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Methods

Self-report questionnaires were filled out by 1,317 nurses.

Results

Verbal abuse was experienced by 87.4% of the population during a 6-month period, and physical violence by 27.6% during the same period of time. No physical harm was reported in 66.4% of cases. Only 35.9% cases of verbal abuse and 49.9% cases of physical violence were actually reported. The majority of cases reported that abuse was followed by either inaction or by actions which failed to satisfy the victim. According to the findings, men were exposed to more abuse than women, and the risk of experiencing abuse was higher in nurses with more job experience or who worked more hours. Also, nurses who are responsible for first aid were subjected to more abuse than those in other positions.

Conclusion

The findings showed a noticeable trend of a rising number of assaults against nurses. The findings of this study may help hospital staff and nurses to avoid, reduce and control violence and abuse.

Key Words:  mental health nurses , violence and job satisfaction , violence in the workplace

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PII: S1976-1317(08)60042-0

doi:10.1016/S1976-1317(08)60042-0

Asian Nursing Research
Volume 2, Issue 3 , Pages 184-193, September 2008

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