Advocating for Healthy Work Environments: Addressing Workplace Violence Against Nurses with Research
Abstract
Introduction: Nurses globally experience workplace violence (WPV) daily (Kafle, 2022), significantly increasing since the COVID-19 pandemic (National Nurses United, 2024). Nursing is the most trusted profession in the United States of America (USA) (American Nurses Association, 2025) and yet nurses are five times more likely to be assaulted at work than other occupations (Occupational Safety Health Administration, n.d.). WPV creates an unpleasant environment that negatively impacts nurses’ well-being (Kolutek et al., 2024) and perceptions of patient care quality (Shafan Tivka et al., 2024). This highlights the importance of addressing WPV as a workforce and patient care issue.
Background: In Tennessee, USA, WPV was addressed by a group of nurse leaders engaging with local and state policymakers at a legislative event. Post event, a statewide research study on WPV against nurses was conducted.
Aims: The purpose of this study and subsequent presentation are (1) report descriptive findings from the statewide study on WPV; (2) discuss the collaborative efforts made with policy makers; (3) present strategies for nurses to engage policymakers.
Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted to survey nurses across the state of Tennessee. Licensed nurses were invited via email and social media to participate in an anonymous REDCap© survey, SPSS version 28.0.1.1 was used for data analysis.
Results: The sample included 435 nurses, with 49.5% employed in hospital settings and 49.5% working in community-based settings. The majority of nurses reported experiencing WPV within the last 12 months (57.1%). Nurse participants were allowed to select more than one option for each survey questions. Leading types of WPV included verbal (83.3%), physical (41.3%), emotional (43.9%), and sexual (12.4%). The leading perpetrators of WPV were patients (73%), family members (49%), and physicians (23%). Nurses reported the embodied effect of WPV as feeling worn out (50%), tired (44%), and emotionally exhausted (43%).
Discussion: Study findings were presented in a collaborative meeting with policymakers to inform and shape policies, based on science, to address WPV. Nurses can use similar strategies to engage policymakers: (1) inviting and facilitating open communication; (2) adeptly conducting research to inform policy development; (3) disseminate findings and make policy recommendations based on science; and (4) formation of a collaborative taskforce to address WPV.
Notes
Reference list included in attached slide deck.
Sigma Membership
Epsilon Sigma at-Large
Type
Presentation
Format Type
Text-based Document
Study Design/Type
Cross-Sectional
Research Approach
Quantitative Research
Keywords:
Policy/Advocacy, Health Policy, Workforce, Stress/Coping, Psychological Stress, Coping, Workplace Violence
Recommended Citation
Todt, Kendrea Lea; Kinser, Kathleen; Shipp, Hannah Grace; Weierbach, Florence; Ferguson, Kimberly; and Carnevale, Teresa, "Advocating for Healthy Work Environments: Addressing Workplace Violence Against Nurses with Research" (2026). Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE). 79.
https://www.sigmarepository.org/chwe/2026/presentations_2026/79
Conference Name
Creating Healthy Work Environments
Conference Host
Sigma Theta Tau International
Conference Location
Washington, DC, USA
Conference Year
2026
Rights Holder
All rights reserved by the author(s) and/or publisher(s) listed in this item record unless relinquished in whole or part by a rights notation or a Creative Commons License present in this item record. All permission requests should be directed accordingly and not to the Sigma Repository. All submitting authors or publishers have affirmed that when using material in their work where they do not own copyright, they have obtained permission of the copyright holder prior to submission and the rights holder has been acknowledged as necessary.
Review Type
Abstract Review Only: Reviewed by Event Host
Acquisition
Proxy-submission
Date of Issue
2026-05-04
Funder
Tennessee Center for Nursing Workforce Advancement
Advocating for Healthy Work Environments: Addressing Workplace Violence Against Nurses with Research
Washington, DC, USA
Introduction: Nurses globally experience workplace violence (WPV) daily (Kafle, 2022), significantly increasing since the COVID-19 pandemic (National Nurses United, 2024). Nursing is the most trusted profession in the United States of America (USA) (American Nurses Association, 2025) and yet nurses are five times more likely to be assaulted at work than other occupations (Occupational Safety Health Administration, n.d.). WPV creates an unpleasant environment that negatively impacts nurses’ well-being (Kolutek et al., 2024) and perceptions of patient care quality (Shafan Tivka et al., 2024). This highlights the importance of addressing WPV as a workforce and patient care issue.
Background: In Tennessee, USA, WPV was addressed by a group of nurse leaders engaging with local and state policymakers at a legislative event. Post event, a statewide research study on WPV against nurses was conducted.
Aims: The purpose of this study and subsequent presentation are (1) report descriptive findings from the statewide study on WPV; (2) discuss the collaborative efforts made with policy makers; (3) present strategies for nurses to engage policymakers.
Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted to survey nurses across the state of Tennessee. Licensed nurses were invited via email and social media to participate in an anonymous REDCap© survey, SPSS version 28.0.1.1 was used for data analysis.
Results: The sample included 435 nurses, with 49.5% employed in hospital settings and 49.5% working in community-based settings. The majority of nurses reported experiencing WPV within the last 12 months (57.1%). Nurse participants were allowed to select more than one option for each survey questions. Leading types of WPV included verbal (83.3%), physical (41.3%), emotional (43.9%), and sexual (12.4%). The leading perpetrators of WPV were patients (73%), family members (49%), and physicians (23%). Nurses reported the embodied effect of WPV as feeling worn out (50%), tired (44%), and emotionally exhausted (43%).
Discussion: Study findings were presented in a collaborative meeting with policymakers to inform and shape policies, based on science, to address WPV. Nurses can use similar strategies to engage policymakers: (1) inviting and facilitating open communication; (2) adeptly conducting research to inform policy development; (3) disseminate findings and make policy recommendations based on science; and (4) formation of a collaborative taskforce to address WPV.
Description
A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted to address WPV. Study findings were presented to policymakers to inform policy decisions that are based on science. Nurses can use these strategies to engage policymakers: (1) invite and facilitate open communication; (2) adeptly address issues by conducting research to inform policy development; (3) disseminate findings and make policy recommendations based on science; and (4) formation of a collaborative taskforce to address WPV.