Lateral violence and its relationship with intention to quit among emergency department nurses at Ardabil Medical Training Centers

Abstract

Abstract Purpose Lateral violence among nurses is a critical workplace issue that threatens nurse well-being, patient safety, and staff retention. This study aimed to examine the prevalence of lateral violence and its relationship with intention to quit among emergency department nurses. Methods This cross-sectional descriptive–correlational study was conducted in 2024 among 243 emergency department nurses working in educational medical centers affiliated with Ardabil University of Medical Sciences. A census sampling method was employed to include all eligible participants. Data were collected using a demographic questionnaire, a validated lateral violence questionnaire, and the intention-to-quit scale developed by Jung and Yoon. Data analysis was performed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation coefficients, t-tests, ANOVA, and linear regression analysis in SPSS version 25. Results More than 60.4% of nurses reported experiencing or witnessing lateral violence at least once per month. Ignoring colleagues’ workload and harsh criticism without listening were the most frequently reported behaviors. The mean intention-to-quit score was 12.95 ± 4.49, indicating a moderate level of turnover intention. Significant positive correlations were found between exposure to lateral violence, failure to report violent behaviors, and intention to quit ( p < 0.01). Conclusions Lateral violence is prevalent among emergency department nurses and is significantly associated with intention to quit, particularly when violent behaviors are not reported. Nurse managers should implement supportive reporting systems and interventions to reduce lateral violence, which may contribute to improving nurse retention. Clinical trial number Not applicable.