This paper examines research on psychological violence in the nursing profession. The author begins by portraying nursing as a necessary activity in society. Nursing work, as a part of the service sector, should be given with a large working environment that is designed to enhance nursing activities. Nonetheless, most nurses have witnessed situations of manipulation and violence caused by the use of force. The prevalence of psychological violence in the nursing profession has increased, and the majority of female nurses have reported being compromised as a result of their conduct, actions, decisions, and beliefs. The research aims at investigating and characterizing psychological violence practices in nursing work through the relationship between patients and nurses. The research also tends to analyze the frequency of violence between nurses and their patients and among the nurse professionals (Lima 2015).
Analysis of the literature review
From the literature review, the author uses the work of Michaud to describe the violence as a natural power that is exerted to others with the aim of controlling their activities (Michaud, 2011). Violence aims at manifesting one's wishes through suppressing another person. The fact that work exhibits some form of authority where a superior person provides orders to be followed by a minor employee, the misuse of power, in this case, may result in violence. The most common types of psychological violence analyzed by most researchers include the verbal aggression, racial bias, and sexual harassment (Lima 2015).
Review of the methodology
The study conducts a quantitative research using cross-sectional data, which was collected from a public hospital from the municipality of Caxias in Maranhao state between November 2013 to May 2014. The study used a population of 332 nurse professions, and from the population, 60 were nurses, 209 were nursing technicians, and 63 were orderlies. The study used a sampling error of 6% and a confidence interval of 90% and obtained a sample of 124. The sample frame consisted of 25 nurses, 79 nursing technicians, and 20 orderlies. The sample was collected through simple random sampling. The method of collecting data was done through a questionnaire. After collection of the data, it was divided into three according to the sample frame, and analysis was made. An SSPS software was used to analyze the qualitative data.
Data Analysis
From the research, records of 88 cases of psychological violence cases were reported in the public hospital. The leading form of violence analyzed was verbal aggression with 85 cases (95%), followed by psychological harassment with 24 cases (27%). Sexual harassment had eight cases taking (9%) and the racial bias having eight cases (9%). The study also analyzed the places of frequent occurrence of the violent cases, and the leading place was in emergency rooms with (51%). The type of gender who suffered most psychological cases was the female with (87%). Based on the age of the assaulted, most of them were young people with less experience. From the three categories of groups analyzed (nurses, nurse practitioners, and orderlies), the nurse practitioners suffered most cases of psychological violence with the least cases from the orderlies. From the study, most of the offenders were patients with (60%), followed by family and friend companions (32%), and followed by managers and bosses with (20%). From the number of verbal aggression cases, only (11%) filed the case to the police.
Conclusion
From the study, most nursing workers who experience psychological violence are females of young age with less experience. The violence cases occurred mostly to nurses in the emergency rooms, and verbal violence was the most common type of harassment. Therefore, the fact that psychological cases of violence are increasing in numbers means that measures need to be put to avoid such cases. From the study, only two people assaulted had reported the case to the police and saw their assaulters being apprehended (Lima 2015). This means that more focus should be put in sensitizing these forms of violence and measures to prevent the violence need to be developed.
A critique of the research study
The evidence provided in the study indicates that the nurse technicians faced the highest number of psychological violence. However, the researcher erroneously concludes that the nurses are the workers who face most violence. Secondly, the conclusion of the researcher that managers and employers were found to be idle regarding the development of solutions was not analyzed in the research. This is because this research focused on the cases of psychological violence rather than the efforts to create solutions. On the other hand, the analysis of the researcher that the managers are playing a role in allowing such cases to occur is true. This is because most victims of the violence questioned pretended that nothing had happened thus got used to it. If the managers were supportive, they would have empowered the nurse professionals and help them sue the offenders.
Analysis of the Protection of Human subjects and cultural consideration covered in the journal
The journal addresses critical issues affecting most workers in their workplaces where people in higher positions misuse their power to manipulate others. Every human has the right to peaceful co-existence, whether at the workplace or home. Since workplace is analyzed as a micro-level society where people of different background interact, it is important for the organizations to create a suitable working environment. The study conducted showed that the offended nurse professionals ignored the violence they experienced and did not have the motive to report the cases to the police. Therefore, a proper culture of respect and peaceful co-existence should be developed in hospitals to allow patients and nurses to interact without any violence. Furthermore, the patients who are fond of verbally abusing the nurses should be addressed warned from such activities. These measures should be enforced to provide the future generation with a unique work culture that is positive and free from violence.
Strengths and limitation of the study
The study analyses a key issue in most workplaces and reveals the kind of violence that is most rampant. The study uses quantitative research with a large sample size of 124 samples from different strata thus providing a high accuracy for the data obtained. The use of primary data in the study indicates the commitment of the researcher to grasp the answers to unique questions needed for the study. This research provided a holistic coverage of the topic and provided matching data that corresponds to the null hypothesis. However, the research fails to describe the suitable mode of preventing the cases of psychological violence. This section, which was aimed to be the research gap of the study, was not covered and thus, no proper solution for the problem was developed. Furthermore, the researcher did not analyze the frequency of the violence episodes that occurred to the victims. No question on the frequency and duration of the violence was analyzed.
How the article informs the nursing practice
This research is essential for the nursing practice as it describes the working environment in hospitals and the main challenges that most nurses face. The study informs that since the young nurses are the most affected, they should become vigilant in reporting such cases to the police. In addition, proper regulation standards need to be put to hinder the patients from abusing and manipulating the nurses. We also learn that since the less experienced nurses face more risk of violence, they should be put in other safe areas aside from the reported zones.
References
Lima GHA, Sousa SMA. Psychological violence in the Nursing work. 2015;68(5):535-41. DOI: http://www.scielo.br/pdf/reben/v68n5/en_0034-7167-reben-68-05-0817.pdf
Michaud Y. A violência. Garcia L, tradutor. São Paulo (SP): Editora Ática; 2001. 116 p
