Emotional experiences of workplace violence in the intensive care unit
Gisela Vogel, Fredric Sjöberg, Cecilia Naurèn, Martin Salzmann-Erikson, Anna SchandlBackground
Workplace violence is common in intensive care units and is often regarded as an inevitable aspect of the job. This normalisation may obscure the emotional impact of violence on healthcare professionals and the ethical tensions that arise when altruistic caregiving values conflict with personal safety. Therefore, this study was conducted to explore healthcare professionals’ emotional experiences of workplace violence within the context of intensive care.
Research design
This study constitutes a secondary, inductive analysis of data originally collected in 37 semi-structured interviews. The interviews were conducted between November 2024 and March 2025 in intensive care units across five hospitals in Sweden. Data were interpreted using Reflexive thematic analysis.
Ethical considerations
Ethical aspects were carefully considered throughout the study in line with established ethical principles. Participation was voluntary, and informed consent was obtained from all individuals before the interview. Data confidentiality was ensured, and all direct quotes were anonymised.
Findings
Participants’ descriptions of their emotional experiences generated three themes. A conflict between professional obligation and human vulnerability captured how participants experienced a tension between the expectation to remain composed in their professional roles and their human vulnerability. Balancing core values of caregiving with safety illustrated the professional and moral dilemmas that emerged when violence or escalating aggression forced healthcare professionals to reconcile their commitment to compassionate care. Organisational conditions influencing emotional responses reflected the conditions that either support or undermine ICU healthcare professionals’ emotional resilience when they encounter violence.
Conclusions
Workplace violence in intensive care was experienced as more than a threat to personal safety; participants described how it challenged their professional identity and caring values. Organisational conditions influenced how healthcare professionals experienced and managed these challenges.