How New Graduate Nurses Address Sexual Harassment from Patients in the Workplace: An Interpretive-Descriptive Study
type: CreativeWork
description: International studies show that sexual harassment of nurses is a major concern and is more likely to occur with younger nurses. The first two years of nursing practice are a crucial phase for new graduate nurses to build confidence. They can experience transition shock as they move from the student nurse role to registered nursing responsibilities. This transition shock is unavoidable, but its effects can be mitigated in a supportive environment. A new graduate nurse faced with sexual harassment can experience psychological and physical effects. Therefore, the support they receive can be crucial in their decision to leave the profession or remain in nursing. Due to the worldwide nursing and staffing retention issues, appropriate support is vital to retain new graduate nurses if they experience any stressors, such as sexual harassment. This qualitative study aimed to investigate how new graduate nurses addressed sexual harassment from patients during the first two years of their post-graduation practice. Another aim was to identify the types of sexual harassment new graduate nurses experienced, including whether they reported this harassment, if this sexual harassment affected their practice and whether this sexual harassment affected their decision to remain in nursing as a career. It also aimed to determine what education and support they have received or need after experiencing sexual harassment. This study focused only on the new graduate nurses' experience of sexual harassment by patients, and this specific focus allowed for coherent data analysis. This study employed an interpretive-descriptive approach, underpinned by naturalistic inquiry, to explore how new graduate nurses in their first two years of practice addressed sexual harassment from patients. Five participants were recruited through extensive advertising. Questions were carefully scaffolded, encouraging respondents to share their experiences of sexual harassment from patients in their workplace. Usin…
abstract: International studies show that sexual harassment of nurses is a major concern and is more likely to occur with younger nurses. The first two years of nursing practice are a crucial phase for new graduate nurses to build confidence. They can experience transition shock as they move from the student nurse role to registered nursing responsibilities. This transition shock is unavoidable, but its effects can be mitigated in a supportive environment. A new graduate nurse faced with sexual harassment can experience psychological and physical effects. Therefore, the support they receive can be crucial in their decision to leave the profession or remain in nursing. Due to the worldwide nursing and staffing retention issues, appropriate support is vital to retain new graduate nurses if they experience any stressors, such as sexual harassment. This qualitative study aimed to investigate how new graduate nurses addressed sexual harassment from patients during the first two years of their post-graduation practice. Another aim was to identify the types of sexual harassment new graduate nurses experienced, including whether they reported this harassment, if this sexual harassment affected their practice and whether this sexual harassment affected their decision to remain in nursing as a career. It also aimed to determine what education and support they have received or need after experiencing sexual harassment. This study focused only on the new graduate nurses' experience of sexual harassment by patients, and this specific focus allowed for coherent data analysis. This study employed an interpretive-descriptive approach, underpinned by naturalistic inquiry, to explore how new graduate nurses in their first two years of practice addressed sexual harassment from patients. Five participants were recruited through extensive advertising. Questions were carefully scaffolded, encouraging respondents to share their experiences of sexual harassment from patients in their workplace. Usin…
author: Marshall, Helen Jane
date published: 2026
date modified: 2026-07-27T18:46:03Z
provider: AUT University
publisher: Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
type: WebPage
source organization: AUT University