The Faculty of Nursing at the University of Baghdad discussed a master’s thesis entitled “Violence in the Workplace Among Nurses: The Mediating Roles of a Climate of Violence Prevention, a Climate of Psychological and Social Safety, and Perceptions of Aggression,” submitted by student Sarmad Jawad Kazem Nima, under the supervision of Professor Raad Karim Faraj, in the faculty’s main hall.
The thesis aimed to determine the relationship between the age of nurses, number of years of experience, and number of years of experience in the current unit on the one hand, and the climate of violence prevention, psychological and social safety, and perception of aggression on the other, to understand how these factors affect violence in the workplace.
The results of the study showed statistically significant inverse correlations between the age of the participants and certain types of violence, such as sexual harassment, intimidation, threats, and destructive behavior, as well as the behavior of staff and patients. An inverse relationship was also found with the climate of violence prevention and aggression as a functional/understandable phenomenon. In contrast, the study found statistically significant positive correlations between the age of participants and verbal abuse, psychological and social safety climate, aggression as a dysfunctional/undesirable phenomenon, and perception of aggression. One important finding was that each unit increase in the climate of violence prevention led to a 0.158 unit decrease in workplace violence, while each unit increase in the number of monthly shifts increased workplace violence by 0.198 units. The number of years in the current unit also has a statistically significant negative effect on violence.
One of the most important recommendations of the study is the need to establish clear workplace policies to combat violence.
This study contributes directly to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 3: Good Health and Well-being, and Goal 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth. By addressing the problem of workplace violence, the study seeks to protect the physical and psychological health of nurses, thereby enhancing their well-being and reducing occupational stress. Providing a safe and respectful work environment for healthcare workers is also an essential part of providing decent work, which in turn supports the efficiency and growth of the healthcare system. Reducing violence in hospitals and healthcare institutions not only improves nurses’ working conditions, but also has a positive impact on the quality of care provided to patients and contributes to building more sustainable and effective healthcare systems.
