ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify the relation between violence experiences and the professional quality of life for hospital nurses. METHODS: The participants for this study were 212 nurses in one general and three special hospitals located in the metropolitan area of Seoul, South Korea. Data gathered through October and November 2013 were analyzed using descriptive statistics and chi2 test. RESULTS: Nurses experienced verbal violence, physical threats and physical violence more frequently from patients and their families rather than from doctors or peer nurses. Nurse's compassion satisfaction was low when nurses experienced violence from peer nurses. Burnout was high when nurses experienced violence from doctors, peer nurses, patients and their families. Secondary traumatic stress was affected by violence from patients and their families. The professional quality of life of nurses was associated with violence from doctors, peer nurses, patients and their families. Of the nurses, 69.3% answered that formation of a positive organizational culture would be the most effective measure for prevention of violence in hospitals. CONCLUSION: The formation of positive organizational culture, development of violence intervention policies and education are crucial to improve the professional quality of hospital nurses' life.