NURSES

BACKGROUND: Workplace violence against nurses has had significant impact on the health sector worldwide, including Nigeria. Although measures have been put in place, in a bid to curb its occurrence, it still remains a major public health concern. OBJECTIVES: This study identified the prevalence, pattern and determinants of workplace violence against nurses in the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), with a view to provide data for appropriate policy formulation to promote a better workplace atmosphere. METHODOLOGY: A descriptive cross-sectional study design was carried out among 346 Nurses in the UBTH, Benin city, Nigeria. Respondents were selected using Stratified sampling method. Data was collected using a structured self-administered questionnaire. The data was analyzed using IBM SPSS version 25, with the level of significance set at p < 0.05. RESULT: The mean age of the respondents was 37.7±10.9 years. There were 290 (83.8%) females, and more than half, 210 (60.7%), were married. Majority, 270 (77.6%) had experienced workplace violence at least once in their careers, and overall, 222 (64.2%) of the respondents had a high prevalence of workplace violence. The one-year prevalence rate of workplace violence was 71.9% (194). The highest determinant and measure indicated were unrealistic expectations of patient relatives (93.6%) and controlling the number of visitors (93.9%), respectively. Age (p = 0.001), marital status (p = 0.002), and years of experience (p = <0.001) were found to have significant associations with the overall prevalence. CONCLUSION: Majority of the respondents had experienced workplace violence, verbal abuse was most common form and patient relatives, the highest perpetrators. The highest determinant and measures to curb workplace violence were the unrealistic expectations of patient relatives and controlling the number of visitors respectively

Workplace abuse of nurses by patients and their relatives is a growing concern, affecting job performance, mental health, and overall well-being. This study assessed the factors influencing the abuse of nurses at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), Ugbowo, Benin City. The study aimed to determine the prevalence, types, and contributing factors of abuse experienced by nurses. A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted among 258 nurses selected through a stratified sampling technique. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data, and 251 responses were deemed valid, giving a response rate of 97.2%. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 26.0, with results presented in tables and figures. The study found that verbal abuse was the most common form of abuse, experienced by 71% of respondents. Other reported forms of abuse included emotional distress (59%), workplace bullying (53%), and rude or dismissive behavior (66%). Physical assault (37%), unwanted sexual harassment (42%), and stalking (31%) were less frequently reported. Factors contributing to abuse included patient frustration due to delayed medical attention (mean = 3.1), lack of understanding of hospital policies (mean = 3.0), and emotional distress of patient relatives (mean = 3.2). Patients with psychiatric conditions, those under the influence of drugs or alcohol, and those with severe pain were more likely to abuse nurses. Abuse of nurses in UBTH is prevalent, with verbal and emotional abuse being the most reported. Factors such as patient frustration, unrealistic expectations, and poor communication contribute to these incidents. There is a need for hospital management to implement stricter policies against abuse, provide conflict resolution training for nurses, and improve communication between healthcare workers and patients’ relatives. Additionally, security measures should be strengthened to ensure a safer work environment for nurses.

Burnout among nurses is a growing concern in healthcare systems worldwide due to its adverse implications on both professional well-being and quality of patient care. This study aimed to assess the level of burnout among nurses and its perceived impact on patient care at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), Nigeria. A descriptive cross-sectional survey was employed, and a total of 222 registered nurses working across various clinical units were selected using a stratified random sampling technique to ensure equitable representation. Data were collected using a structured, self-administered questionnaire and analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 26.0. Out of 222 distributed questionnaires, 216 were valid and analyzed, yielding a high response rate of 97.3%. Results revealed that the majority of the respondents were female (81.9%) and within the age group of 30–39 years (33.3%). Most had a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing (61.1%) and 6–10 years of post-qualification experience (37.0%). The findings indicated a high level of burnout among nurses, with a grand mean score of 3.2 across various burnout indicators. Additionally, the perceived impact of burnout on patient care was notably high, with a grand mean score of 3.3. Notable areas affected by burnout included emotional exhaustion, reduced empathy, communication difficulties, and decreased adherence to patient safety protocols. In conclusion, the study demonstrates that burnout is prevalent among nurses at UBTH and significantly affects the quality of patient care delivered. It underscores the need for organizational and psychological interventions to mitigate burnout and enhance the well-being of nurses. The study management training, and the establishment of mental health support systems to help reduce burnout and improve patient care outcomes.

This aim of this study is to assess the knowledge and practices of safe handling and administration of chemotherapeutic drugs amongst tertiary health facility, Benin City. The study adopted a descriptive cross-sectional research design and simple random sampling method was used to select Two hundred and seventy-eight nurses in the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City. A well-structured questionnaire was used as instruments of data collection. The data was analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Simple frequency and percentage were used to describe the data, while chi-square was used to test
the hypotheses. The level of significance was set at p<0.05. The analysis was performed using the IBM Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 28.0 for windows. The result shows that majority of the respondents have fair level of knowledge of chemotherapeutic drugs and low level of practice of safe handling of chemotherapeutic drugs and that none of the sociodemographic characteristics was associated with level of knowledge of chemotherapeutic drugs. The study therefore recommends that there is the need for Institutions to implement and enforce standardized procedures for administering chemotherapy, ensuring the use of appropriate PPE and adherence to safety protocols.

is study assessed the knowledge and practice of safe handling and administration of chemotherapeutic drugs amongst nurses in tertiary health institution, Benin City. The study aims to evaluate the level of knowledge and practice in the safe handling and administration of chemotherapeutic drugs among nurses in a tertiary health institution; and to identify the perceived factors that support the practice of safe handling and administration of chemotherapeutic drugs among nurses in a tertiary health institution. Three research questions were raised and answered while two hypotheses were tested at 0.05 significance value. The study adopted the descriptive cross-sectional design and simple random sampling method was used to select 278 nurses in the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City. A well-structured questionnaire was used as instruments for data collection. The instrument was validated by the research supervisor and two other experts in the field. To ensure the reliability of the instrument, a pilot study was conducted and a reliability value greater than (>0.5) was obtained. The data collected were analysed using both descriptive (frequency, percentages, mean value) and inferential statistics (chi-square statistical test) to test the hypotheses at 0.05 significance level using International Business Machine (IBM) Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 24.0. The result shows that majority of the respondents have fair level of knowledge of chemotherapeutic drugs and low level of practice of safe handling of chemotherapeutic drugs and that none of the sociodemographic characteristics was associated with level of knowledge of chemotherapeutic drugs