Workplace violence is a significant occupational hazard in health care. Nurses are the largest group of employees subjected to workplace violence, with those who work in emergency departments being especially at risk. The purpose of this research was to study the phenomenon of workplace violence by obtaining verbal descriptions from registered nurses in trauma I emergency departments who had experienced violence at work. The research question was "How do registered nurses in hospital emergency care settings describe the experience of workplace violence?"; A pilot study was conducted in which 5 registered nurses working in a trauma I emergency department were interviewed regarding their experiences and perceptions of workplace violence. The findings from the data analysis were used to design the interview guide. For this study, 8 registered nurses from 2 trauma I emergency departments volunteered to be interviewed. The verbatim transcripts were analyzed using cross-case comparison of responses to the interview questions. Through this process 8 categories with subcategories and 2 themes emerged. The categories included the nurses' reasons for choosing emergency nursing, a typical day at work, the degree of feeling safe at work, and specific experiences of violence at work. Other categories included coping with work-related stress, personal understanding of workplace violence, workplace violence concerns, and educational preparation for dealing with aggression and violence. The themes of vulnerability and frustration were evident throughout the participants' responses. A primary safety issue was the ease with which others could access entry into the emergency department. The nurses reported that they frequently experienced verbal assault from distraught family members and identified patients, particularly those with psychiatric problems, as being the most common source of aggression and violence.; The findings have implications for nursing practice, education, and research. Nurses have a need for instruction on workplace violence prevention while they are in nursing school, as well as when they enter the work force. Workplace violence research is needed in nursing to better understand this complex phenomenon, so that effective prevention strategies can be put in place for the protection of not only nurses but also their patients and health care colleagues.
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