Nepalese Nurses Experiences of Workplace Violence During COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Introduction: Work-Place Violence (WPV) against the nurses is frequent and is often accepted as a part of their job. These front line healthcare workers were more vulnerable to WPV during the corona virus pandemic (COVID-19). The present study aims to explore WPV experience of the Nepalese nurses during the first wave of COVID-19 pandemic.

 Methods: A cross sectional qualitative study was conducted between June and December, 2020 among the nurses working at Bir Hospital after getting institutional ethical approval.  A phenomenological approach was used to explore the experiences of the nurses. Purposive sampling was done to recruit the participants from COVID ICU, COVID Isolation and COVID wards. Data were collected using In-depth Interview (IDI) guidelines from nine participants. Each interview took about 20-40 minutes. The interviews were recorded using a recorder and note taking was also done. Themes were generated from the transcripts of the interviews by the researchers.

Results: Nepalese nurses experienced varied forms of violence during the first wave of COVID-19. Experiences of the nurses were expressed mainly under five main themes;   tolerance towards the aggressive patient, anxious to attend patient and visitors, family rejection, stigmatized by society and disrespect towards nurses.

Conclusions: Nurses faced different forms of WPV from the patient, society and the government during the first wave of COVID-19. Proper safety and security guidelines for the nurses during such pandemic should be developed to minimize such risks in the future as well as recognigation should be given for their contribution during such health emergencies.