Systemic change and a collaborative approach between universities and healthcare institutions is needed to combat workplace violence, research shows.
Increasing incidences of violence are leading to long term consequences for students, their supervisors, and the profession, according to two new studies.
Published in the Journal of Professional Nursing and Nursing Open, the two studies interviewed clinical facilitators about their experiences and that of the students they supervised.
Nursing students are particularly vulnerable to growing workplace violence including verbal abuse, physical aggression, and intimidation from patients and other staff, said clinical educator and researcher at Caring Futures Institute, Flinders University, Dr Hila Dafny.
“Our findings, drawn from interviews with clinical facilitators in South Australia that train and supervise nursing students, reveals witnessing or experiencing this violence has an ongoing impact on nursing students’ mental health, career prospects, and overall wellbeing.”
Workplace violence (WPV) left both students and their supervisors questioning their career choices, the studies found
“The psychological toll on students is significant, with many reporting symptoms of anxiety, distress, and burnout following WPV incidents, with some cases escalating to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD),” said Dr Dafny.
Clinical facilitators responsible for supervising and supporting students during placements reported feeling they were powerless to help.
“Despite being the first point of contact for students after WPV incidents, many facilitators feel disempowered to take effective action, with their limited authority and inconsistent role definitions often leaving them unable to protect students or address systemic issues effectively.”
Authors have called for systemic change and the need for a collaborative approach between universities and healthcare institutions to combat workplace violence.
“We need to shift the framing that workplace violence is an inevitability of working in the health profession,” said Dr Dafny.
“It’s time to prioritise the safety and mental health of nursing students and their facilitators. This includes clear anti-violence policies, comprehensive training, and a cultural shift that no longer normalises violence in the workplace.
“Enhanced training programs are needed to prepare both students and facilitators to recognize, report, and address the incidents effectively, while universities and clinical institutions must work together to establish robust support systems, including counselling services and accessible reporting mechanisms.”
Research
The effects of workplace violence on nursing students from the perspectives of clinical facilitators or preceptor is published in the Journal of Professional Nursing.
‘I Feel Disempowered Because I Could Not Do Anything’: Clinical Facilitators’ Perception of Violence Towards Nursing Students During Clinical Placement is published in the journal Nursing Open
