Verbal abuse among newly hired registered Jordanian nurses and its correlate with self-esteem and job outcomes

PURPOSES: 1) identify the verbal abuse prevalence among newly hired registered nurses in Jordan; 2) examine the mean score of self-esteem, intent to stay, and job commitment 3) examine the relationships between the exposure to and the effects of verbal abuse, self-esteem, job commitment, and intent to stay in newly hired Jordanian registered nurses. BACKGROUND: Studies shows that verbal abuse in health care settings is a health-risk factor for both nurses and patients. DESIGN: A cross-sectional descriptive correlational study was conducted jn 2019. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A convenient sample of 200 registered nurses were recruited from two large cities in the North of Jordan. Self-reported questionnaires were used to collect data. RESULTS: Verbal abuse is highly prevalent among newly hired registered nurses in Jordan 100%, the mean score of exposure to verbal abuse was M = 6.76, and the effect of verbal abuse scale was M = 28.35. The result of person r indicated that there is a significant negative correlation between verbal abuse affect/reactions and registered nurses' intention to stay p = ˂0.01, job commitment p = ˂0.01 and self-esteem p = ˂0.01. Also, the exposure to verbal abuse is negatively correlated with nurse's job commitment, (r = -.203, p = .004). CONCLUSION: Verbal abuse is negatively correlated with nurses’ self-esteem, intent to stay and job commitment. IMPLICATIONS: Administrators and nurse managers should establish educational training programs and workplace safety protocols to protect nurses and to create a safe positive work environment with no tolerance to verbal abuse.