Investigation of Effects of Exposure to Violence and Affecting Factors on Job Satisfaction of Emergency Nurses

Objectives: This study aims to investigate the effects of exposure to violence and affecting factors on job satisfaction of emergency nurses. Methods: Research was conducted with 128 volunteer nurses who are currently working as emergency nurses at the emergency departments of six hospitals in Yenimahalle district of Ankara. Research was designed as a descriptive cross-sectional study and conducted between 15 January 2014 and 15 March 2014. Data was collected through Minnesota Job Satisfaction Scale and a questionnaire which elicits how nurses describe characteristics of job satisfaction and workplace violence. Results: The average age of the nurses was 29.48 +/- 6.47 years. It was found that 65.6% of the nurses were exposed to violence and 68% of the nurses were exposed to verbal abuse. Nurse's job satisfaction scores were found to be moderate at 2.99 +/- 0.59. There was a significant importance between exposure to violence and job satisfaction (p<0.05). Nurses that were exposed to violence in the workplace had lower job satisfaction scores compared to the nurses that weren't. Conclusion: In our research it was found that exposure to work place violence was an adverse environmental factor that reduces job satisfaction. In this respect, since violence in the emergency departments is on the rise, preventing workplace violence will have a positive effect on job satisfaction of nurses.