Korean J Adult Nurs.  2020 Dec;32(6):642-652. 10.7475/kjan.2020.32.6.642.

The Influences of Workplace Violence and Bystander Type on Handover Error of Nurses Caring For Adult Patients

• Kim KJ

• KMID: 2510334
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.7475/kjan.2020.32.6.642

Abstract

Purpose
Workplace violence affects workplace performance. Bystanders’ role in social violence affects the consequences of violence. The purpose of current study was to explore the influences of workplace violence and bystander type on handover error of nurses caring for adult patients.
Methods
A cross-sectional survey design was conducted using a structured questionnaire pertaining to teamwork, workplace violence, bystander type and handover error. This study involved adult patients nurses working in a tertiary university hospital having over 1,100 beds, located in a city. The questionnaire was administered to 193 bedside nurses at September 2019.
Results
Nurses’ handover error was significantly correlated with overall workplace violence (p<.001), teamwork (p<.001), and all three bystander types; facilitating (p<.001), abdicating (p<.001) and defending (p<.001). A hierarchical multiple regression model with career, teamwork, workplace violence and bystander type explained 27.0% of nurses’ handover error (F=13.55, p<.001). Among input variables, positive bystander type-defender (β=-.20, p=.005) was the most powerful influential factors on nurses’ handover error. Negative bystander types - facilitating, abdicating bystander (β=.18, p=.025) workplace violence (β=.18, p=.015), and teamwork (β=-.15, p=.026) influenced nurses’ handover error, also.
Conclusion
Bystanders is more than simple witnesses or observers. In this study, a positive bystander reduced the handover error in the clinical area, while a negative bystander exacerbated the handover error. Therefore, it is necessary to educate hospital nurses regarding positive bystanders and it’s importance for handover error and develop strategies to reduce nurse handover error.

Keyword

Workplace violence; Bystander effect; Nursing handover; Errors