Nurse Interns’ Experiences of Workplace Violence During Internship Programme Enrolment: A Convergent Mixed‐Method Study

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Abstract
Aim: The key aim of this study is to explore interns’ experiences of workplace violence (WPV) during their enrolment in internship programmes and to determine the support provided by these programmes in relation to WPV. This study will also propose improvements that can be made to ensure that internship programmes provide sufficient support. Background: Nurses, patients and organisations are adversely impacted by WPV. Nonetheless, very few studies have examined experiences of WPV among nursing interns as they transition into their working roles and enrol in their year‐long internship programmes. Design: This study employed a concurrent mixed‐methods design (cross‐sectional survey and semi‐structured interview). Data from both strands were integrated after analysis and presented in a joint display. Methods: Altogether, 143 nurse interns (123 for the quantitative phase and 20 for the qualitative phase) from two Saudi universities enrolled in a 1‐year internship took part in this study. Participants were administered quantitative surveys relating to the WPV/abuse assessment questionnaire, and interviews were held with participants who had experienced violence in the clinical workplace. Quantitative data were analysed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences software, while thematic analysis was performed on the qualitative data. Results: The findings indicated that most nurse interns (90%) experienced violence during their internships. Moreover, it was revealed that the programme failed to adequately support them throughout their placements. A conceptual model was developed to identify the factors preventing adequate support from being provided, which made nurses more vulnerable to WPV through disempowerment. Conclusion: University, hospital and programme administrators lack coordination in providing nurse interns with WPV support. Findings offer guidance for educators, policymakers and programme developers in restructuring internship support systems.

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