Female patient violence experienced by qualified nurses working in an inpatient psychiatric department in Al Amal Complex for Mental Health (Riyadh) Hospital

Alanazi, B

Abstract

Psychiatric nurses are considered the most vulnerable healthcare workers in terms of encountering violence, and this trend is rising. Violence in the workplace poses a threat to the physical, emotional and psychological wellbeing of nursing staff, and in particular those working in mental health settings. This study explores how patient violence is experienced by qualified nurses employed in one inpatient psychiatric unit in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, paying attention to the short and long term effects and strategies that could better enable nurses to prevent, minimise and/or address workplace violence. As male and female patients and nurses are segregated in Saudi healthcare settings, this study focuses on female patient violence against female nurses. A qualitative descriptive approach was chosen to provide the philosophical foundation of this work. A purposive sample was used to recruit nine participants working in inpatient settings in one hospital in the KSA. The inclusion criteria required participants to; be a licensed registered nurse, be employed during the past decade in acute psychiatric units for female adult inpatients, and have experience of patient violence in one form or another. Data was collected using semi-structured, face-to-face interviews and participants were asked to complete a short demographic questionnaire. Data were analysed using thematic analysis, with four themes emerging; 1) The Occurrence of Violence; 2) The Determination of Violence; 3) The Impact of Violence; and 4) The Elimination of Violence. In conclusion, participants believed patient violence, such as physical and verbal abuse from patients and their relatives, is an unavoidable part of their work. Despite some positive outcomes of patient violence, the effects of patient violence were found in the main to be negative, with substantial psychological impacts being noted.

Citation

Alanazi, B. Female patient violence experienced by qualified nurses working in an inpatient psychiatric department in Al Amal Complex for Mental Health (Riyadh) Hospital. (Thesis). University of Salford

• Thesis Type: Thesis
• Deposit Date: Oct 7, 2020
• Publicly Available Date: Oct 7, 2020
• Award Date: Sep 30, 2020