Background: A serious problem in the work environment are threats and violence. This is a growing problem in health care. Workplaces providing mental health care is one of the workplaces that is at risk of exposure. Nurses may suffer from severe psychological and physical consequences afterwards. Aim: The aim of the study was to describe nurses' experiences of threats and violence in the field of mental health care. Method: The study was conducted at a hospital in southern Sweden. Ten nurses were interviewed for 30-60 minutes. The interviews were recorded in order to be written down later. The material was subjected to qualitative content analysis. Results: The processed material was subdivided into four categories: The view on threats and violence, approach to threats and violence over time, reactions on threats and violence and safety-creating factors. Everyone in the study had been exposed to threats and violence at work. Nurses described that with growing work experience, their approach to meet threats and violence changed. They were not as much affected as they were in the beginning of their work, and rather stood back instead of entering into confrontation with the patients. Experienced staff, education and secure premises are some of the factors to increase safety to staff. Conclusion: Working within psychiatric in-patient care department inevitably entails coming into contact with threats and / or violence at some point. Patients with a variety of psychiatric disorders may have difficulties expressing their needs in an appropriate manner. One last resort, when a patient is lacking a feeling of being understood, can be to communicate his needs through threats and violence. Linking a patient's behavior to his illness often helps nurses to gain a better understanding of why the patient is acting out.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:UPSALLA1/oai:DiVA.org:hv-12405 |
| Date | January 2018 |
| Creators | Larsson, Emelie, Ahlstrand, Ilona |
| Publisher | Högskolan Väst, Avdelningen för omvårdnad - avancerad nivå, Högskolan Väst, Avdelningen för omvårdnad - avancerad nivå |
| Source Sets | DiVA Archive at Upsalla University |
| Language | Swedish |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Student thesis, info:eu-repo/semantics/bachelorThesis, text |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Rights | info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess |
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