Abstract
Introduction
Workplace violence remains a significant threat to the United States health care workforce.
With increasingly aggressive patients, emergency nurses reported that the increased
prevalence of workplace violence impacted their professional and personal lives.
Methods
This study employed a qualitative, descriptive phenomenological approach with purposive
sampling. Participants were asked to describe their lived experience with workplace
violence while working as emergency nurses and how this affected them personally and
professionally.
Results
Eleven experienced emergency registered nurses from 3 mid-Atlantic hospitals participated
in the study. After reviewing, clustering, and validating significant statements,
4 major themes were identified: walking wounded to wounded healer, unexpected shock,
betrayal, and resilient but changed.
Discussion
Our findings were consistent with other studies exploring the effects of workplace
violence in emergency departments. We validated that trauma has long-lasting effects.
Organizations should ensure that programs and processes are in place to support the
nurse or health care worker when workplace violence events occur.
Key words
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Biography
NancyPowell is Director, Professional Development; and a Nurse Scientist, AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center, Atlantic City, NJ. ORCID identifier: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6745-9156.
Biography
Lindsey Ford is Director, Nursing Education, Magnet and Quality, Geisinger Wyoming Valley, Geisinger Community Medical Center, Wilkes Barre, PA. ORCID identifier: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7885-5074.
Biography
Dana Rochinski is Nursing Professional Development Generalist, Emergency Department, Hospital Wide/Emergency Medicine, Geisinger Community Medical Center, Scranton, PA. ORCID identifier: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7215-8403.
Biography
Veronica McEvoy is Clinical Manager, Trauma, AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center, Atlantic City, NJ. ORCID identifier: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2526-6510.
Article info
Publication history
Published online: December 12, 2022
Publication stage
In Press Corrected ProofIdentification
Copyright
© 2022 Emergency Nurses Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
