Violence Toward Nurses Working in Hospitals in East Azerbaijan, 2006.

Abstract

Abstract: Introduction: Although anyone working in hospital may become a victim of violence, nurses who have the most direct contact with patients and relatives are at higher risk. A lack of research about of the violence toward nurses particularly exists in Iran. Researches are necessary for effective planning to reduce violence. Undoubtedly violence and threatening elements are major stressor for nurses and it has physical and psychological impression on them in addition it reduces quality of nursing care. Methodology: This survey is a descriptive study which was performed on 468 nurses working in hospitals in east Azerbaijan with at least one year job record in his/her workplace. Data were collected by modified WHO questionnaire. Descriptive statistics (frequency, mean, standard deviation) were used for data analyzing and in qualitative answers of respondents. Results: Findings of this study indicated that nurses are at risk of workplace violence including physical, verbal, sexual and racial threats. In all kinds of violence, patients, family members are main attackers. Main reaction of nurses was; asking for quiet and peace, reporting to superior, defense of himself/ herself and consulting with a coworker. Main reason for not taking an action against violence on nurse's behalf was insignificancy of the event from the view of nurses declared that there is not any protocol for confrontation with violence in the workplace ad after reporting the incidence, no reaction was taken in most of the time. From major precipitating reasons of violence, we can name lack of security facilities, the rate of nurses to patients, and also lack of educational program. Also more than half of nurses stated that there aren't any steps and effort for prevention of violence in their workplace. Discussion and Conclusion: Findings of this study consistent with the result of previous researches regarding, existence of all kinds of violence toward nurses. Nurses workplace condition and their special customers, cause nurses to accept violence as part of their job. Sending an official notice and prescription to nurses on reporting all kinds of violence seems essential for gathering information. It is suggested that all managers can follow all reported items and protecting from nurses. In this way nurses can feel secure and tranquility such as other staff. Holding classes on confronting with violence, increasing number on nurses and improving security facilities can be important factor in prevention of violence,