Exposure to Violence for Nurses Across Ethnic Groups: A Qualitative Study

Abstract

Aim

To explore the social context of violence for hospital-based and community nurses from different ethnic groups, the types of violence experienced or witnessed both in and outside the workplace, and its impact on mental and physical health.

Design

Cross-sectional, qualitative study using semi-structured interviews.

Methods

Semi-structured interviews were conducted online with 12 hospital-based and community nurses recruited from London, England, between May and August 2021. Data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis.

Results

The sample comprised seven hospital nurses and five community nurses. Four themes were identified: (i) the social context in which nurses from different ethnic groups are exposed to community violence; (ii) types of workplace violence experienced or witnessed by hospital-based and community nurses from different ethnic groups; (iii) perceptions of the factors contributing to workplace violence; (iv) impacts of violence on mental and physical health outcomes. Using the social ecological framework and sociological theory of stress, these findings informed a conceptual stress process model of violence exposure for nurses.

Conclusion

Nurses from different ethnic groups are exposed to violence both in and outside the workplace which negatively affects their mental and physical health. Effective violence prevention requires a multi-factorial approach that addresses the social and institutional factors contributing to violence, shifting the focus from individual measures to systemic organisational changes.

Impact

The NHS workforce is currently more diverse than ever, and healthcare leaders must improve access to mental health and well-being resources for staff affected by workplace violence, particularly for those who hold multiple social identities at the intersection of ethnicity, gender and age. Prioritising this support is essential not only to safeguard against negative health outcomes but also to improve the recruitment and retention of healthcare professionals.

Patient or Public Contribution

No patient or public contribution.