To identify interventions and strategies to prevent patient- and visitor-perpetrated violence against nurses working in acute hospital Emergency Departments. Design Scoping review following the Joanna Briggs Institute guidelines.
A comprehensive literature search was conducted in PubMed and CINAHL to identify relevant studies published up to June 2024. The review included primary research studies employing quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-method approaches. Eligibility criteria focused on interventions aimed at preventing physical and verbal violence in acute hospital emergency settings, explicitly targeting nurses. The selection process followed PRISMA-ScR guidelines, with independent screening and data extraction by two reviewer pairs. Data Sources PubMed and CINAHL databases were searched for studies published up to June 2024.
A total of 40 studies were included, covering interventions across 11 countries, mostly from the United States. Interventions were categorised as organisational, environmental, or individual-focused. Training programs were the most common strategy, followed by risk assessment tools, defense strategies, multidisciplinary briefings, and technology-assisted interventions. Most interventions (73%) were implemented before violent incidents, 23% during, and 5% after. Healthcare workers, particularly nurses, were the primary target group, highlighting the need for effective preventive strategies.
Violence prevention interventions in Emergency Departments focus on pre-incident strategies, mainly organisational and individual-focused. Limited attention has been given to environmental interventions despite their role in mitigating workplace violence. Further research is needed to assess the long-term effectiveness of these strategies.
Addressing workplace violence in EDs ensures a safer work environment, improves staff retention, and enhances patient care quality.
This study did not include patient or public involvement in its design, conduct, or reporting.
This scoping review aims to explore the existing research on the impact of authentic leadership on nurses' innovative behaviours.
The following databases were searched (from 2013 to 2023): PubMed, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Cochrane Library, Embase, Scopus, APA Psych Info, Educational Resources Information Centre, and ABI Inform.
Search results were exported into Covidence software to assist with the selection and assessment of retrieved studies. Studies were included that specifically examined the relationship between authentic leadership and innovative behaviour among nurses working in healthcare settings.
12 papers remained for full-text review after title and abstract screening. Four studies that met the inclusion criteria were included in the final analysis. Using the Crowe Critical Appraisal Tool two reviewers independently evaluated these four studies. Findings revealed that authentic leadership affects nurses' innovation and creativity in various healthcare settings and cultural contexts. It also highlighted mediating factors such as increased engagement and knowledge sharing. Resilience and technological infrastructure were identified as additional factors that affect and support this relationship and influence the development and enaction of innovative behaviours.
Authentic leadership was found to contribute to innovative nursing behaviours that have important implications for the best practices in healthcare and outcomes.
Innovative behaviour among nurses is essential for rising to the challenges of complex healthcare environmental challenges, and the potential for authentic leadership to act as a catalyst for this is important. Future research needs to further explore the impact of authentic leadership on innovative behaviour and the contextual and cultural influences that effect this. More research is also needed on the exact nature of nurses' innovations and their potential use in healthcare.
The EQUATOR guidelines for PRISMA have been met.
No patient or public contribution.
This paper outlines key developments, innovations, and milestones in the field of spirituality and spiritual care in nursing.
A discursive paper.
Nursing scholars have significantly influenced the profession and contributed to the development of nursing knowledge, particularly in the field of spirituality and spiritual care. Key research has focused on nurses' perceptions and attitudes toward spirituality, clarifying foundational spiritual concepts, and establishing a framework of core spiritual care competencies for the profession.
Despite these advancements, significant gaps remain in nurses' knowledge, understanding, and experience in providing spiritual care. The development of agreed-upon spiritual care competencies at the European level offers important guidance for the profession, and educational initiatives are underway to support their integration. However, the field remains in an early stage of development, and further research is needed to embed spiritual care competencies into national and international nursing policy and practice. Moreover, continued research is also essential to inform and evaluate current educational programmes and nursing interventions, and to support the translation of evidence-based knowledge into effective spiritual care delivery.
Spiritual support is proven to be an important consideration for many patients and families globally. Imbedding spiritual care education into both undergraduate and postgraduate nursing curricula is essential to prepare nurses to address the spiritual needs of patients in healthcare settings. Structured curricula that provide clear instructions on how to recognise, assess, and respond to spiritual concerns in clinical practice can enhance nurses' competence and confidence. Embedding spiritual care into education and training helps normalise spiritual care as a component of holistic nursing, supporting its inclusion in everyday care rather than treating it as an optional or marginal practice. Such educational integration has the potential to improve the consistency and quality of spiritual care across healthcare settings.
Internationally there are evident gaps in the consistent provision of spiritual care to patients and their families. These are being addressed through conceptual clarity, the agreed-upon competencies, and enhanced educational initiatives. It is essential to continue to increase awareness among the nursing profession on the necessity of addressing spiritual care needs, within the context of cultural perspectives to ensure that value is placed on the significance of these issues on a global scale.
There was no patient or publication contribution in this specific commentary.