Workplace violence towards nurses in Thulamela Municipality Hospitals, Vhembe District

Abstract

Violence is present in all work environments but nurses are at an increased risk. They have very clo e contact with patients and their relatives, and thus are at a great risk of being abused in the hospital environment. Nurses are exposed to violence 16 times more often than in other employment. The aim of the study was to describe workplace violence towards nurses in Thulamela hospitals. The study adopted a cross-sectional design using questionnaires to collect data. The researcher selected 100 participants from each hospital, giving a convenient sample of 300. The data was analysed descriptively using the SPSS Version 20. The study results show that the majority 225(85%) of the respondents had experienced workplace violence. The most common types of violence which was experienced were threats (95%), pushing (92%), ethnic harassment (82%), pinching (68%) and biting (67%). Regarding the causes of workplace violence, the majority of the respondents indicated that age, gender, mental disorder, alcohol and waiting time as the risk factors. Recommendations include developing and implementing employee health and wellness programmes and continuous workshops on workplace violence.