Causes of Workplace Violence Against Nurses and Strategies for Its Prevention in Developed Countries: A Scoping Review Publisher



Mahmoudi F ; Garmaroudi G ; Saniee N ; Razavi N ; Mosadeghrad AM ; Ashoorkhani M
Source: BMC Nursing Published:2026

Abstract

Introduction: Workplace violence refers to incidents in which individuals are subjected to abuse, misconduct, or threats in professional settings, endangering their health, safety, and well-being. Violence against nurses has reached high levels in recent years. This study aimed to identify the causes of violence against nurses and effective strategies for its prevention in developed countries. Methods: This scoping review was conducted in 2024 following the PRISMA-ScR guideline. A comprehensive search was performed across international databases of PubMed, Scopus, PsycInfo, and Web of Science that covering studies published between 2003 and 2024. The search strategy combined keywords and MeSH terms related to “nurses” and “violence”. Data extraction was completed using a structured form, and thematic content analysis was employed to synthesize the findings. Results: From 2658 identified records, 414 duplicates were removed. After screening and reviewing the full-texts, 114 studies were included. The causes of violence against nurses were categorized into five domains: individuals-level factors related to patients and companions, also staff-related factors, organizational factors, social determinants, and political drivers. Interventions for violence reduction were classified across three stages of before, during, and after violent incidents and addressed individual, organizational, social, and policy levels. Conclusion: The findings demonstrate that workplace violence against nurses is a multifactorial issue driven by individual factors related to patients and healthcare staff, as well as broader organizational, social, and political determinants. In sum, creating safer work environments for nurses requires a coordinated, multi-level approach that addresses both immediate risks and the underlying structural drivers of violence. Clinical trial number: Not applicable. © The Author(s) 2026.