182930 Workplace violence: Job-related consequences for nursing personnel

Monday, October 27, 2008: 1:30 PM

Jacqueline Agnew, RN, MPH, PhD , Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD
Sheila T. Fitzgerald, PhD, RN , Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD
Jill T. Messing, MSW, PhD , Johns Hopkins School of Nursing, Baltimore, MD
Joan Kub, PhD, APHN, BC , Johns Hopkins School of Nursing, Baltimore, MD
Barbara Fowler, PhD , Faculty and Staff Assistance Program, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD
Richelle Bolyard, MPH , Johns Hopkins School of Nursing, Baltimore, MD
Jacquelyn Campbell, PhD, RN, FAAN , Johns Hopkins School of Nursing, Baltimore, MD
The effects of workplace violence (WPV) are multidimensional, affecting not only employees' mental and physical health, but also social interactions at work and ability to function on the job. For healthcare workers, these consequences may jeopardize job retention and the teamwork that is required to deliver quality patient care. In times of a nursing shortage, there are also implications for healthcare institutions in maintaining an adequate workforce and a safe work environment. We are conducting a longitudinal study of WPV in nursing personnel from three hospitals to examine the outcomes sustained by those who have experienced any form of violence at work, whether psychological or physical. The baseline cohort consisted of 2,168 registered nurses and others in nursing service. Samples of those reporting WPV experiences in the recent year (n=657) and during the first six months of follow-up are compared to a control group of participants who have not experienced WPV over the same time period (n=1,511) to examine sequelae such as job satisfaction, intent to stay on the job, absenteeism and the relatively new concept of presenteeism. These relationships are explained by markedly different statistical models that demonstrate the influence of separate sets of covariates for outcomes experienced by registered nurses compared to others in nursing service jobs. Institutional policies and other interventions must take these differences into account to fairly and effectively protect workers from adverse consequences of WPV.

Learning Objectives:
1. Describe the types of adverse effects that may be experienced by healthcare workers who have been exposed to workplace violence. 2. State the differences between psychological and physical violence as defined by the WHO. 3. List predictors of workplace violence consequences for nursing personnel who differ by job title and job function.

Keywords: Violence, Health Care Workers

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am a co-investigator on the study and have participated in its planning, execution, statistical analysis and interpretation.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

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