About the Author:
Tahmeena Batool is a dedicated nursing professional currently pursuing her Master of Science in Nursing (MScN) at The Aga Khan University. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN) from Nishtar Medical University. With two years of clinical experience as a Registered Nurse and two years of academic experience as a nursing lecturer, Tahmeena brings a well-rounded perspective to both patient care and nursing education. Her commitment to evidence-based practice and lifelong learning continues to shape her contributions to the field of nursing.
The Nursing
Profession is emerging as a central force in the accomplishment of Sustainable
Development Goal 16, which stresses peace, justice, and strong institutions.
Nurses, who are always seen at the front line of clinical sites, are in a
distinct position to contribute to the development of inclusive and safe healthcare
environments. However, this alarmingly increasing prevalence of workplace
violence against nurses is a major threat to meeting this goal. Reports show
that up to 75% of nurses experience workplace violence during their careers
which leads to mental trauma reduced job satisfaction, and compromised patient
care (Gitnux, 2025). This shocking trend pinpoints that, there is an urgent
need to address systemic issues in healthcare institutions to maintain the
principles of SDG 16.
Nurses all
over the world are experiencing workplace violence and it is becoming a major
concern as recent studies show its widespread effects. Almost 75% of nurses
experienced violence, harassment, or verbal abuse while one-third faced
physical assaults in the previous year in Texas (MacDonald, 2025). Likewise, 100% of mental health
nurses in Saudi Arabia have gone through workplace violence that has a drastic
impact on their quality of life (Abu et al., 2025). Such incidents are not only harmful to nurses but also put
the integrity of healthcare institutions at stake. Fear of revenge and the
absence of institutional support are some of the Barriers to reporting such
violent incidents that further aggravate the issue (Elsharkawy et al., 2025).
To promote SDG
16 within healthcare, nurses need to be empowered as mediators of peace and
justice. This involves building their ethical capability through education
while protecting them from violence in the workplace. Comprehensive policies
promoting respect and fairness are required to address these challenges (Hemberg & Hemberg,
2020). Institutions should promote
reporting of violent incidents and implementation of preventive measures
leading to the cultivation of transparency and accountability within healthcare
institutions. By doing so, nurses can create safer and more inclusive healthcare
environments that uplift the dignity of both patients and healthcare workers.
As part of the nursing workforce, we must support changes that align with SDG
16—supporting our colleagues, encouraging ethical practices, and ensuring
justice is not just a word, but a lived reality.
References
Abu, M., Osama Mahmoud Ellayan, Anas Muhmmad Turkman, Mansour, A.,
Musherh Alraied Alrowily, Khairyah Abdullah Alsobhan, Bushra Alraydh Alruwaili,
Alqahtani, N. S., Alruwaili, H. A., & Abdel. (2025). The prevalence of
workplace violence toward psychiatric nurses in Saudi Arabia and its effect on
their quality of life. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 16. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1524845
MacDonald, E. (2025, May 6). Texas nurses report surge in
violence and abuse, survey shows. Houston Chronicle. https://www.houstonchronicle.com/health/article/texas-nurses-workplace-violence-20242087.php
Elsharkawy, N. B., Abeer Nuwayfi Alruwaili, Elsayed, M., Majed
Mowanes Alruwaili, Alhaiti, A., & Abdelaziz, E. M. (2025). Barriers to
reporting workplace violence: a qualitative study of nurses’ perceptions in
tertiary care settings. BMC Nursing, 24(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-025-03039-3
Nursing Workplace Violence Statistics
Statistics: Market Data Report 2025. (2025). Gitnux.org. https://gitnux.org/nursing-workplace-violence-statistics/
Hemberg, J., & Hemberg, H. (2020). Ethical competence in a
profession: Healthcare professionals’ views. Nursing Open, 7(4),
1249–1259. https://doi.org/10.1002/nop2.501
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