Effectiveness of organizational interventions vs usual care for reducing incidence and mitigating impact of workplace violence in registered nurses: a systematic review protocol.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this review will be to evaluate the effectiveness of multilevel interventions, including communication strategies and other organizational measures targeting structures, processes, policies, and culture, compared to usual care or no intervention, in reducing the incidence and severity of verbal and physical workplace violence against registered nurses.

INTRODUCTION

Workplace violence against nurses includes verbal, physical, and psychological abuse, with lasting consequences on mental health, job satisfaction, and workforce retention. Although awareness of the phenomenon has increased, the existing evidence on prevention and management interventions remains fragmented and inconclusive. This review will synthesize the current evidence to identify effective strategies, thereby supporting institutional decision-making and protecting frontline nurses.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA: This review will consider experimental, quasi-experimental, and observational studies that evaluate interventions aimed at preventing, managing, or mitigating workplace violence against registered nurses.

METHODS

The proposed review will follow the JBI methodology for systematic reviews of effectiveness. The main databases to be searched will include MEDLINE Ultimate (EBSCOhost), Embase (Embase.com), CINAHL (EBSCOhost), PsycINFO (EBSCOhost), Scopus, Web of Science Core Collection, Cochrane CENTRAL, ProQuest Dissertations and Theses Global, and Google Scholar (first 200 records). Additional records will be identified through forward and backward citation tracking. Two reviewers will independently review the studies, assess methodological quality, and extract data. Data synthesis will be performed using JBI SUMARI. The certainty of the evidence will be assessed using the GRADE approach. No date restrictions will be applied (from database inception to January 9, 2026). Studies published in English will be included, while studies in other languages will be considered with translation support at the title and abstract level.

REVIEW REGISTRATION: PROSPERO CRD420251125105.