# Stakeholders' Actions, Responsibility and Limitations in Support of Nursing Students Experiencing Workplace Violence During Clinical Placement: The Clinical Facilitators View

## TL;DR

This paper explores how clinical facilitators support nursing students who face workplace violence during their clinical placements and highlights the need for systemic changes to improve student safety.

## Contribution

The study provides new insights into clinical facilitators' roles and limitations in supporting students affected by workplace violence.

## Key findings

- Students often seek support from ward staff, family, and peers rather than university or clinical facilitators.
- Universities and clinical facilities need better collaboration and clear guidelines to address workplace violence effectively.
- Zero-tolerance policies could improve student safety and learning outcomes.

## Abstract

Workplace violence toward nurses is a significant global issue affecting their mental and physical health, job satisfaction and performance, and can ultimately lead to decisions to leave the profession. As the least experienced caregivers in the health workforce, nursing students are particularly vulnerable to experiencing workplace violence and are often powerless to deal with WPV incidents.

To examine clinical facilitators' insights into how to support nursing students following experiences of workplace violence during their clinical placement.

An exploratory, descriptive qualitative design.

Data were collected between September and November 2022 using semi‐structured interviews with 11 clinical facilitators working in South Australia, each lasting about 1 h. The interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed using thematic analysis.

Clinical facilitators identified that many students found support and solace from avenues outside of the CFs and university staff, including ward staff, family, friends and other students. However, students are limitedly prepared for the realities of clinical work, particularly concerning workplace violence, and that the university supports available were reactive to events in the clinical environment.

Addressing workplace violence requires systemic changes, better support for clinical facilitators and a steadfast commitment by all stakeholders to student safety.

Solid collaborations between universities and clinical facilities with clear guidelines and direct lines to address potential violence issues are essential. Zero‐tolerance policies regarding workplace violence could provide a safer environment that promotes nursing student learning outcomes, safer placements, better student experiences and optimal healthcare provision.

COREQ guidelines were adhered to for reporting qualitative research.

This paper specifically explores the perspective of the clinical facilitator's experience of WPV in their role of supporting student learning during clinical placement.