The following is the academic research on health care workplace violence, published in 2008 and earlier.
This study aimed to ascertain the extent and nature of violence against mental health nurses and psychiatrists, and to identify what support, if any, they received following exposure to violence.
Nolan et al. Violence in mental health care: the experiences of mental health nurses and psychiatrists. Journal of Advanced Nursing. October 1999. Vol. 30 (4). PubMed Central
This study examined responses to a survey on violence in the workplace from a sample of 8,780 registered nurses practicing in 210 hospitals in Alberta and British Columbia. Findings relate to the frequency of violence against nurses.
Duncan et al. Nurses’ experience of violence in Alberta and British Columbia hospitals. Canadian Journal of Nursing Research. March 2001. Vol. 32(4). PubMed Central
This paper provides an overview of recent developments in the literature on post-traumatic stress disorder. Epidemiological studies indicate that approximately 15-25% of individuals experiencing a significant trauma will go on to develop post-traumatic stress disorder, although approximately half will recover without formal intervention.
Creamer, Mark, and O’Donnell, Meaghan. Post-traumatic stress disorder. Current Opinion in Psychiatry. Vol. 15 (2). March 2002. Ovid Archive
This paper describes the development and testing of the lateral violence in nursing survey. This questionnaire, designed to measure perceived incidence and severity of lateral violence, was administered online to 663 nursing staff participants.
Stanley, Martin, Michel, Welton, Nemeth. Examining Lateral Violence in the Nursing Workforce. Issues in Mental Health Nursing. Vol 29 (11). January 2007. PubMed Central
A 2007 survey exploring the experience of 400 Registered Psychiatric Nurses across Saskatchewan regarding their workplace exposure to physical violence, verbal abuse, mobbing, and bullying in relation to their physical and mental health.
Stadnyk, Bobbi L. Workplace Violence Isn’t Always Physical: A One Year Experience of a Group of Registered Psychiatric Nurses. Registered Psychiatric Nurses Association of Saskatchewan. Report.
This literature review was conducted using research articles published in 2003 and 2004. To see if horizontal violence in the workplace exists in nursing. If it does, what is its relationship to patient care?
Woelfle, Cheryl, and McCaffrey, Ruth. Nurse on Nurse. Nursing Forum. July 2007. Wiley Online Library
Workplace violence is a major occupational hazard for health care workers, generating a need for effective intervention programs. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of an aggression management training program.
Oostrom, Janneke, Mierlo, Heleen. An evaluation of an aggression management training program to cope with workplace violence in the healthcare sector. Research in Nursing & Health. 31 (4). January 2008. Wiley Online Library
This report on the violence experienced by personal support workers draws on an international study comparing long-term, facility-based care across three Canadian provinces (Manitoba, Nova Scotia, and Ontario) and four Nordic European countries (Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden).
Banerjee, Albert, Daly, Tamara, Armstrong, Hugh, Armstrong, Pat, LaFrance, Stirling, Szebehely, Marta. “Out of Control”: Violence Against Personal Support Workers in Long-Term Care. February 2008. York University Article
A new study led by York University researchers reveals that a staggering number of Canadians working in long-term care facilities suffer violence on the job.
The downside of work in Canadian long-term care facilities. HR Resources Database. March 2008. Longwoods
This paper describes discipline as a specific technique of power which constitutes, in our view, a form of institutional violence. Power, surveillance and disciplinary techniques are used at all levels of hospital management to control and contain both human resources and costs.
St. Pierre, Isabelle, and Holmes, Dave. Managing nurses through disciplinary power: a Foucauldian analysis of workplace violence. Journal of Nursing Management. Vol. 16 (3). April 2008. Wiley Online Library
A qualitative approach was adopted as this was an initial exploratory study to describe nurses’ views regarding the nature and extent of aggression in the clinical setting. A total of 29 nurses were interviewed.
Farrell, Gerald. Aggression in clinical settings: Nurses’ view. Journal of Advanced Nursing. Vol. 25(3). June 2008. Wiley Online Library
The objectives of the study were to analyze and synthesize the research literature which proposes or evaluates the impact of workplace violence prevention programs, and develop recommendations for a comprehensive approach towards violence reduction.
Wang, Sping, Hayes, Laureen, O’Brien-Pallas, Linda. A Review and Evaluation of Workplace Violence Prevention Programs in the Health Sector. Nursing Health Services Research Unit. July 2008. Final Report
Proceedings of the first International Conference on Workplace Violence in the Health Sector: Together, Creating a Safe Work Environment.
Oud Consultancy. The First International Conference on Workplace Violence in the Health Sector. Together, Creating a Safe Work Environment. October 2008. OUD Website
Research and clinical observations suggest pronounced gender-based differences in the ways people respond to traumatic events. Most notably, women evidence twice the rate of PTSD as men following traumatic exposure. This important volume brings together leading clinical scientists to analyze the current state of knowledge on gender and PTSD.
Editors: R. Kimerling, P. Ouimette, J. Wolfe. Gender and PTSD 2002 Book
Through captivating anecdotal scenarios, Ending Nurse-to-Nurse Hostility examines the many facets of horizontal hostility and offers strategies to make your workplace more peaceful and attractive to current staff and future employees.
Bartholomew, Kathleen. Ending Nurse-to-Nurse Hostility: Why Nurses Eat Their Young and Each Other. Book
Comprehensive survey of 6300 Minnesota licensed registered (RNs) and practical (LPNs) nurses to collect data on the impact of physical and non-physical violence for the prior 12 months.
Geberich, S.G. et al. An epidemiological study of the magnitude and consequences of work related violence: the Minnesota Nurses’ Study. 2004. BMJ
World Health Organization research project focused on country case studies and cross-cutting theme studies to conclude by drafting guidelines to address workplace violence in the health sector.
World Health Organization. Violence Against Health Care Workers. 2002. Report
This study aimed to identify post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptom trajectories across the first 12 months following traumatic injury. 307 consecutively admitted injury survivors were assessed for severity of PTSD symptoms just prior to discharge, and at 3 and 12 months post injury.
O’Donnell et al. PTSD symptom trajectories: from early to chronic response. Behaviour Research and Therapy. Vol. 45 (3). March 2007. PubMed Central