Workplace Violence Experienced by Immigrant Nurses: Types,Contributing Factors,and Strategies

Abstract

Background:

Immigrant nurses, making up 16% of the U.S. Nursing workforce, face higher risks of workplace violence due to their background and minority status. This violence leads to stress, burnout, and reduced care quality, especially in home health care, where they represent 20% of the workforce.

Purpose:

The purposes of this literature review were to identify (a) types of workplace violence experienced by immigrant nurses; (b) contributing factors; and (c) strategies to prevent and address workplace violence experienced by immigrant nurses.

Methods:

A literature review was conducted using CINAHL, PubMed, and Google Scholar, following the PRISMA flow diagram. Only peer-reviewed, full-text research articles published in English between 2019 and 2025 were included. Inclusion criteria focused on the experiences of immigrant nurses and workplace violence.

Results:

Twenty studies were included in the final synthesis, categorizing workplace violence experienced by immigrant nurses into covert and overt types. Contributing factors included: (a) language and communication barriers, (b) cultural barriers, (c) discrimination related to educational, practical, and credential discrepancies, (d) incompetent management and lack of organizational support, and (e) unsupportive social structures and negative sociopolitical influences. Strategies to prevent and address workplace violence involved personal-level strategies, organizational interventions, effective management, fostering an inclusive and equitable work environment, and ensuring sociopolitical support.

Conclusions:

The findings highlight that immigrant nurses experience overt and covert forms of workplace violence. Effective prevention and intervention strategies must address multiple levels, personal, organizational, and sociopolitical, focusing on inclusive practices and support to improve the work environment for immigrant nurses.