Active endurance: an effective strategy for nurses to manage workplace violence

Abstract Background Workplace violence against nurses is a global concern that negatively impacts their professional lives, reducing productivity and quality of care. This study aimed to explore the strategies nurses use to manage workplace violence in the Iranian healthcare context. Methods This qu...

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Main Authors: Kiana Babaei, Mohammad Reza Aryaee Far, Seyedeh Maryam Seyedi, Tajmohammad Arazi, Mehrdad Rohaninasab, Ali Movahedi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-07-01
Series:BMC Nursing
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-025-03310-7
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author Kiana Babaei
Mohammad Reza Aryaee Far
Seyedeh Maryam Seyedi
Tajmohammad Arazi
Mehrdad Rohaninasab
Ali Movahedi
author_facet Kiana Babaei
Mohammad Reza Aryaee Far
Seyedeh Maryam Seyedi
Tajmohammad Arazi
Mehrdad Rohaninasab
Ali Movahedi
author_sort Kiana Babaei
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Workplace violence against nurses is a global concern that negatively impacts their professional lives, reducing productivity and quality of care. This study aimed to explore the strategies nurses use to manage workplace violence in the Iranian healthcare context. Methods This qualitative study employed an inductive content analysis approach. Sixteen nurses were selected through purposive sampling. Data were collected via in-depth, semi-structured individual interviews conducted between August 2024 and March 2025. Data analysis was conducted concurrently with data collection through Elo and Kyngäs (2008) method. Through constant comparison, codes were categorized into subcategories manually, which were then synthesized into overarching themes to capture the broader meaning of the data. Results The study included 16 nurses (7 men and 9 women) working in four hospitals across two urban areas in Iran. The primary strategy identified was “active endurance,” comprising two main categories: “endurance reactions” and “seeking support.” Endurance reactions included 5 strategies such as effective communication, providing appropriate care, empathy, anger management, and self-care. Seeking support included 3 strategies such as effective teamwork, requesting support, and striving for justice. Conclusion Active endurance involves 2 main strategies. Firstly nurses through effective communication, delivering appropriate care, self-care and anger management, try to manage violent situations. When circumstances are beyond their control, nurses attempt to obtain support from other members of the organization. This approach represents an active coping mechanism, wherein nurses neither passively tolerate violence nor react aggressively. Instead, they adopt strategies to manage and mitigate workplace violence. The findings of this study can inform interventions aimed at empowering nurses to effectively handle workplace violence and improve its management. Clinical trial number Not applicable.
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spelling doaj-art-daea16884caf4878b0fcd2fae6ee60e02025-08-20T03:03:24ZengBMCBMC Nursing1472-69552025-07-012411910.1186/s12912-025-03310-7Active endurance: an effective strategy for nurses to manage workplace violenceKiana Babaei0Mohammad Reza Aryaee Far1Seyedeh Maryam Seyedi2Tajmohammad Arazi3Mehrdad Rohaninasab4Ali Movahedi5Department of Anesthesia, Neyshabur University of Medical SciencesDepartment of Anesthesia, Neyshabur University of Medical SciencesOperating Room Department, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Seyedeh Maryam Seyedi, Neyshabur University of Medical SciencesOperating Room Department, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Seyedeh Maryam Seyedi, Neyshabur University of Medical SciencesOperating Room Department, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Seyedeh Maryam Seyedi, Neyshabur University of Medical SciencesAnesthesia Department, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Neyshabur University of Medical SciencesAbstract Background Workplace violence against nurses is a global concern that negatively impacts their professional lives, reducing productivity and quality of care. This study aimed to explore the strategies nurses use to manage workplace violence in the Iranian healthcare context. Methods This qualitative study employed an inductive content analysis approach. Sixteen nurses were selected through purposive sampling. Data were collected via in-depth, semi-structured individual interviews conducted between August 2024 and March 2025. Data analysis was conducted concurrently with data collection through Elo and Kyngäs (2008) method. Through constant comparison, codes were categorized into subcategories manually, which were then synthesized into overarching themes to capture the broader meaning of the data. Results The study included 16 nurses (7 men and 9 women) working in four hospitals across two urban areas in Iran. The primary strategy identified was “active endurance,” comprising two main categories: “endurance reactions” and “seeking support.” Endurance reactions included 5 strategies such as effective communication, providing appropriate care, empathy, anger management, and self-care. Seeking support included 3 strategies such as effective teamwork, requesting support, and striving for justice. Conclusion Active endurance involves 2 main strategies. Firstly nurses through effective communication, delivering appropriate care, self-care and anger management, try to manage violent situations. When circumstances are beyond their control, nurses attempt to obtain support from other members of the organization. This approach represents an active coping mechanism, wherein nurses neither passively tolerate violence nor react aggressively. Instead, they adopt strategies to manage and mitigate workplace violence. The findings of this study can inform interventions aimed at empowering nurses to effectively handle workplace violence and improve its management. Clinical trial number Not applicable.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-025-03310-7Workplace violenceActive enduranceNursingQualitative researchContent analysis
spellingShingle Kiana Babaei
Mohammad Reza Aryaee Far
Seyedeh Maryam Seyedi
Tajmohammad Arazi
Mehrdad Rohaninasab
Ali Movahedi
Active endurance: an effective strategy for nurses to manage workplace violence
BMC Nursing
Workplace violence
Active endurance
Nursing
Qualitative research
Content analysis
title Active endurance: an effective strategy for nurses to manage workplace violence
title_full Active endurance: an effective strategy for nurses to manage workplace violence
title_fullStr Active endurance: an effective strategy for nurses to manage workplace violence
title_full_unstemmed Active endurance: an effective strategy for nurses to manage workplace violence
title_short Active endurance: an effective strategy for nurses to manage workplace violence
title_sort active endurance an effective strategy for nurses to manage workplace violence
topic Workplace violence
Active endurance
Nursing
Qualitative research
Content analysis
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-025-03310-7
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