TÖÖVÄGIVALD TERVISHOIUTÖÖTAJATE HULGAS
Workplace violence among health care professionals
Kristel Otstavel, Eve-Merike Sooväli
Abstract Violence among healthcare workers is quite common in hospitals. Workplace violence affects victims widely, involving their mental and physical health. Violence can be physical, mental, vertical or horizontal, most common is mental violence at the horizontal level. This is an overview of literature. The choice of literature sources was based on the following criteria: full text for free, published between 2005 and 2015, written in Estonian or English. The literature was searched using the following databases: Medline, PubMed, CINAHL, and Health Source. Google Scholar search engine was also used. The paper is based on 38 scientific sources. Workplace violence victims are mostly younger and with limited working experience. Workplace violence affects negatively the efficiency of work and the communication ability among co-workers. It can increase the risk to make errors in patient care; it is a potential risk for patient safety and wellbeing. Poor relationships and workplace violence are the reasons why lots of nurses are changing units, leaving their work or thinking of leaving the profession. This can cause workforce flow and increase the expenses in healthcare. Creating a positive work environment and preventing workplace violence are important aspects of improving the quality of work and the working environment; it has also a positive effect on patient safety. Nurse leaders’ positive example is considered to be important by other nurses. Nurses’ own attitudes are also important, especially new nurses are expected to be positive and more 292
