Highlights
- •Assaulted psychiatric nurses' perspectives remain a broad research domain needing further study in Jordan.
- •A phenomenological approach gives voice to psychiatric nurses to understand workplace violence and its emotional and psychosocial sequelae.
- •Assaulted psychiatric nurses provide unique perspectives that help shape psychosocial and emotional support programs that reduce cumulative psychological distress associated with violence.
Abstract
Aim
This study aimed to describe psychiatric nurses' experiences and the emotional and
psychological sequelae after being psychologically or physically assaulted in inpatient
psychiatric units.
Method
The study employed a descriptive, phenomenological research approach. A purposive
sample of 27 psychiatric nurses participated in in-depth one-on-one interviews. The
collected data were transcribed and analyzed using Colaizzi's (1978) seven-step method.
Results
Three themes and ten sub-themes emerged: A Fertile Environment for Physical and Psychological Workplace Violence, Psycho-Emotional
Sequelae Aftermath of Assault, and Proactive Strategies for Combating Violence.
Discussion
A thorough understanding of workplace violence aids in the development of strategies
for preventing and addressing this phenomenon and its psychological and emotional
consequences.
Implications for practice
The current study provides new insights on the importance of offering mental health
and emotional support to assaulted nurses, especially those with accumulated exposure
to violence.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: July 03, 2022
Accepted:
June 24,
2022
Received in revised form:
June 5,
2022
Received:
January 8,
2022
Identification
Copyright
© 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
