Job Performance Among Nurses Experiencing Workplace Violence at Pediatric Emergency Departments: A Cross-Sectional Study in Baghdad

Abstract

Objective(s): To assess the level of job performance among nurses exposed to workplace violence, and to examine the association between workplace violence exposure and nursing job performance in pediatric emergency departments.

Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted to assess the job performance of nurses who were exposed to workplace violence at emergency departments. A non-probability, convenience sample was selected 72 nurses who experienced workplace violence at pediatric emergency departments in Baghdad Governorate pediatric hospitals. A Six-Dimensions Scale was used to assess job performance between nurses who experienced workplace violence, the data were collected using self-administration technique. The data analyzed by using the descriptive and inferential processes through SPSS version 26. 

Results: Over half of the nursing staff (53.3%) had experienced workplace violence at emergency departments, predominantly non-physical violence (51.1%). Nurses with work violence exposure demonstrated a moderate level of job performance (80.6%; M = 105.08 ± 13.50), whereas nurses without wok violence exposure predominantly showed a good level (76.2%; M = 130.79 ± 15.43). A statistically significant difference was identified between the two groups (U = 482.5, p < 0.001).

Conclusion: Workplace violence has a significant negative influence on nursing job performance, particularly across leadership, teaching/collaboration, planning/evaluation, interpersonal relations, and professional development domains. Critical care performance remained at a good level despite WPV exposure.

Recommendations: Healthcare authorities and Ministry of Health decision-makers need to enact a Nurses Protection Law, mandate systematic reporting of workplace violence incidents, and implement rotating shift systems to mitigate workload-related vulnerability.