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Abstract

Background: Workplace violence in healthcare is a persistent global concern that severely impacts nurses’ well-being, professional integrity, and quality of patient care. Nurses are frequently exposed to verbal, physical, and psychological abuse due to high workloads, patient interactions, and emotionally charged environments. Factors such as understaffing, night shifts, and lack of institutional policies further intensify the risk. Understanding nurses’ knowledge and attitudes toward workplace violence is crucial for developing responsive policies and ensuring safer work environments.
Objective: To assess the knowledge and attitudes of nurses regarding workplace violence in a tertiary care hospital in Lahore.
Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted over three months among 133 registered nurses in a tertiary hospital in Lahore. Nurses with over two years of clinical experience were included. Data were collected using a structured, modified questionnaire comprising demographic data, knowledge, and attitude components. SPSS version 26 was used for analysis, applying descriptive statistics and chi-square tests to explore associations between demographic variables and workplace violence experiences. Ethical approval was obtained, and informed consent was secured from all participants.
Results: Out of 133 nurses, 93.2% were female and 63.2% were aged between 31–35 years. A total of 61.7% had witnessed workplace violence, and 48.1% had experienced it more than once. Psychological violence was reported by 60.9%, physical by 26.3%, and sexual violence by 12.8%. Verbal abuse was the most common form (46.6%). The main sources were patients’ relatives (47.4%) and patients (27.8%). Violence was seen to impact nurse dignity (82.7%), care quality (68.4%), and staff turnover (60.9%).
Conclusion: Workplace violence significantly affects nurses' professional and emotional well-being. Interventions such as policy enforcement, training, and support mechanisms are essential to foster a safer clinical environment.