Abstract

BACKGROUND: The issue of non-physical violence against registered nurses in acute care hospital settings is a pressing concern. As per 2021 CDC figures, there is a prevalence of 38.8 incidents of non-physical violence per 100 nurses annually. Such incidents can lead to serious consequences, including behavioral changes and decreased job effectiveness. Addressing this challenge is essential for ensuring a safe and efficient working environment for healthcare professionals. 

AIM: The study aims to explore management practices related to non-physical violence against registered nurses (RNs) in hospital acute care (AC) settings. It aims to answer the following main question: What are the effective management practices that can identify the reasons for, and evaluate measures to prevent, non-physical violence against registered nurses in hospital acute care settings?

METHODOLOGY: The study employed a systematic examination of electronic databases, utilizing sources from ProQuest, PsycINFO, and the Medline library for the period between 2016 and 2022. Six paramount studies that scrutinized non-physical violence against healthcare professionals were included, with relevant articles meticulously analyzed to yield valid conclusions. Thematic analysis was employed to decipher the patterns emerging from the selected studies.

RESULTS: Notable themes encompassed the causative factors behind non-physical violence against registered nurses in hospitals and the strategies employed to alleviate such incidents. These factors include high work pressure and stress, inadequate training and professionalism, absence of person-centered care, and unawareness and issues with patient family members.

CONCLUSION: This study affirms that targeted training programs could significantly augment nurses’ capabilities to handle non-physical violence effectively. A heightened level of synergy between healthcare personnel and hospital management is crucial to enable immediate reporting of incidents and pave the way for safer working conditions.

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