Wellness Amid Workplace Violence: Strategies for Nurses in Oncology and Across Specialties

Aim: The aim of this overview was to raise awareness of workplace violence trends applicable to clinical oncology nursing professionals and organizations, focusing on personal safety and offering strategies to promote safer nursing work environment. Methods: This overview identified and synthesized workplace violence trends pertinent to clinical oncology nursing, forming actionable strategies and resources to enhance personal safety in nursing practice by conducting a comprehensive review of literature, publicly-reported incidents, scholarly resources, and real-world case examples. Outcomes Achieved: The findings supported that the pandemic compounded the stressors experienced by oncology patients and staff, contributing to increased workplace violence and harm to nursing professionals. Broad and oncology-specific trends were assessed and organized, including vignette examples of real-life workplace violence incidents and best practices for mitigating the risks and harms of workplace violence. Conclusions: Best practices for reducing the risk of harm can be applied to promote the safety of oncology nursing professionals, fostering nurse wellness and better clinical care environments. This overview underscored the urgency of addressing workplace violence trends in clinical oncology settings and throughout all nursing clinical practice. Nursing professionals and healthcare institutions can implement evidence-based strategies to enhance personal safety and foster a secure work environment.