How does workplace violence affect nurses across ethnic groups?
Written by: Zoe Chui and the Tackling Inequalities and Discrimination Experiences in health Services (TIDES) study team
What is this study about?
- Nurses often face violence at work from patients, their families, or colleagues. This study looks at how nurses from different ethnic backgrounds experience violence in hospitals and the community. It also explores how violence outside of work adds to their stress.
- Workplace violence makes it harder to keep nurses in their jobs and provide good patient care. Women and ethnic minority nurses may be at greater risk due to gender discrimination, racism, and other biases.
- Most research focuses on violence in hospitals, especially in mental health and emergency departments. This study also looks at community nurses, who work alone in people’s homes and may face different dangers. The aim is to better understand these challenges and find ways to keep nurses safe.
How did we do the study?
A researcher from the TIDES team interviewed 12 nurses working in London hospitals and community settings between May and August 2021. They asked about their experiences of violence at work and outside of work and how it affected their health. The responses were analysed to find common themes.
What did we find?
- Violence outside the workplace
Nurses faced violence not only at work but also in their daily lives. Many reported feeling unsafe when traveling home, especially at night. Some had experienced or witnessed violent incidents in their communities, making them more cautious about personal safety. - Types of workplace violence
Nurses experienced physical attacks, threats, verbal abuse, and sexual harassment. Patients and their families were the main perpetrators. Hospital nurses faced more frequent incidents due to the high-pressure environment, while community nurses were at higher risk because they worked alone in people’s homes. - Discrimination and bias
Some nurses, especially women and those from ethnic minority backgrounds, faced racism and sexism. Some patients refused care from nurses based on their ethnicity, and female nurses were often treated with less respect. - Impact on mental and physical health
Many nurses experienced stress, anxiety, and burnout. Repeated exposure to violence affected their sleep and mental well-being, making some consider leaving their jobs. Physical injuries, such as broken bones and long-term pain, were also common. - Cumulative impact of violence
Experiencing or witnessing violence repeatedly lowered nurses’ ability to cope over time. Some became more fearful, changed their daily routines to feel safer, or avoided certain areas altogether.
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Why is this important?
This study shows that violence against nurses is a serious problem that affects their health, job satisfaction, and safety. Many nurses feel stressed, anxious, and unsafe, which can lead them to leave their jobs, making it harder for hospitals to provide good care.
The study also highlights that female and ethnic minority nurses face additional challenges, such as discrimination and disrespect from patients. Many nurses feel unsupported by management, and workplace violence is often seen as “part of the job.”
What can I do with this?
I am a policy maker: You can use these findings to develop stronger workplace safety policies, improve support systems for nurses, and shift the focus from individual responsibility to systemic changes that prevent violence and discrimination in healthcare settings.
I am NHS staff: You can use these findings to advocate for safer working conditions, report and challenge workplace violence, support colleagues who experience violence, and push for better policies and management responses to protect staff well-being.
I am NHS staff manager: You can use these findings to improve staff safety by actively addressing workplace violence, providing better support for affected nurses, ensuring clear reporting procedures, and fostering a workplace culture where violence is not tolerated and staff feel valued and protected.
I am a researcher: You can use these findings to explore the long-term effects of workplace violence on nurses, assess the effectiveness of current prevention strategies, and develop evidence-based solutions to improve safety, support, and retention in healthcare settings.
I am a student: You can use this study to reference in your essays or assignments (please see citation below).
I am a member of the general public: Share this summary with your friends and family to raise awareness and start conversations about the challenges that nurses across ethnic groups face.