Violence and aggression in the workplace : experiences of nurses working at the accident and emergency department

Abstract

Background: The issue of violence and aggression faced by nurses while working in the emergency department is recognized globally as a significant problem (Hou et al., 2022). Nevertheless, there is a lack of comprehensive understanding regarding the specific experiences of emergency nurses in Malta and Gozo. This research aims to gather and document the first-hand accounts of nurses working in the ED, shedding light on their encounters with violence and aggression.

Design: The study is guided by The Theory of Frustration and Aggression as reformulated by Berkowitz (1989). The inclusion criteria were emergency nurses who experienced violence and aggressive behaviour during their working hours in the emergency department. A narrative design was selected as the most suitable approach for this research. Purposive sampling technique was used to recruit the sample from which three participants were included. Snowballing sample was also used through which an additional participant was included in the study. All participants voluntarily took part in the study each engaging in a semi-structured interview from which five themes emerged.

Conclusion: The findings of the study reveal that the participants collectively express a shared narrative of frustration and a sense of ongoing change occurring at various points in time. They are actively aware of the societal changes happening around them; however, the management of the hospital appears to be resistant to implementing necessary changes.

Recommendations for further studies: Based on the study's findings, several recommendations for practice and education are proposed. Firstly, it is suggested that nurses receive regular training. Additionally, recommendations for policies such as enacting existing policies were made. Finally, recommendations for research were also suggested.