Formally reporting incidents of workplace violence among nurses: A scoping review

Abstract

Aim: We aim to describe and synthesize the scientific literature on nurses' formal reporting of workplace violence.

Background: Research on reporting workplace violence among nurses is increasing annually, but the evidence from such reports has not been summarized or analysed.

Evaluation: A scoping review was conducted using electronic databases including PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, CINAHL and Ovid-Embase.

Key issues: Forty-nine studies were included in this review, and four significant issues pertinent to reporting of workplace violence was identified: (1) the reporting rate is generally low, and oral report is the most popular medium; (2) nurses are often not satisfied with how the organisation handles their report; (3) the reasons affecting reporting are complex and diverse; and (4) few studies have proposed countermeasures to promote reporting formally.

Conclusions: Scholars are paying increasing attention to workplace violence; however, the reporting of workplace violence in real world situations is not being facilitated to inform improvements in managing violence in the workplace. Therefore, more countermeasures conducive to reporting urgently need to be put forward.

Implications for nursing management: Nurse managers are in a pivotal position to encourage reporting by their staff, respond pro-actively and advocate for more streamlined and accessible processes. The findings of this review can provide a basis for nursing managers to better manage workplace violence and improve the reporting rate among nurses.

Keywords: formal report; nurse; reporting; scoping review; workplace violence.