Physical violence against nurses working in hospital environments: A review

Abstract

Physical violence targeting nurses in hospital environments represents a critical public health challenge, posing a substantial threat to the long term sustainability of healthcare systems worldwide. The continuous and intense interaction of nurses with patients and their relatives places this professional group at high risk of exposure to physical violence. Physical violence not only threatens individual safety but also negatively affects nurses’ mental and physical health, job satisfaction, intention to stay in the profession, and effects on quality of care provided.

The aim of this review is to comprehensively examine the prevalence, risk factors, consequences, and methodological approaches used in studies on physical violence against nurses published in peer-reviewed journals between 2020 and 2026. The reviewed literature indicates that physical violence is associated with individual and organizational factors and should be addressed as a structural problem within healthcare institutions.

Physical violence against nurses is a complex phenomenon that requires multidimensional interventions at the individual, institutional, and societal levels. Based on findings from the literature, this review emphasizes the importance of developing preventive policies to establish safe working environments for nurses, expanding effective reporting systems, and strengthening multidisciplinary intervention approaches.