How New-Graduate nurses address sexual harassment from patients in the workplace

Category

Health and Environmental Sciences

Description of research project

My name is Jane Marshall and I work at AUT as a nursing clinical educator. I have been employed in this role for over 9 years and enjoy working with students in their clinical placements.
I am interested in interviewing you if you have experienced any instances of sexual harassment from patients in your workplace. From my own experience and when working with students, I am aware that many nurses experience sexual harassment but often this is unreported.
Your involvement will help me:
• Explore new graduate nurses’ experience of sexual harassment from patients
• Gain insight into your coping strategies
• Improve workplace support systems
When: Flexible dates/times for a face-to-face interview
Duration: 60 minutes
Place: At AUT North Campus or on the Zoom electronic platform
Please note a petrol voucher for petrol will be available for interviewees if they need to travel to an AUT
campus.
I am aware this is a sensitive topic, and you may feel uncomfortable and /or emotional discussing any sexual harassment you have experienced. However, you may feel relief talking about experiences and may feel empowered after.

Inclusion and/or exclusion criteria

Inclusion criteria - are you:
• A new graduate nurse practicing in your first two years post registration?
• Working in a nursing-related field in Aotearoa, New Zealand?
• Working predominantly with patients/residents/service users aged over 18 years old?
• Have you experienced sexual harassment from patients as defined below:
Sexual harassment is defined by the Human Rights Act (1993) as “any unwelcome or offensive sexual behaviour that is repeated or is serious enough to have a harmful effect”. Sexual harassment occurs across a continuum from sexual remarks and fleeting touch to overt sexual approaches.

As this is potentially sensitive research, please note the exclusion criteria:
• You had an admission to a mental health facility in the last six months
• You are currently under the care of a community mental health team or have been within the last six months.

Statement of ethics approval

Approved by the Auckland University of Technology Ethics Committee on 2024-02-02 for 2/2/24 - 2/2/27.

AUTEC approval number

23/352

Contact person

Jane Marshall, jane.marshall@aut.ac.nz

Participant information sheet

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