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Verbal abuse, an aspect of patients' violence in psychiatric ward setting, is often not reported or investigated. This study identified how nurses reacted to verbal abuse. It was proven that verbal abuse did not affect the quality of care delivered to patients. Methodology: A prospective descriptive study which included all grades of local and foreign nurses in short-stay wards of the Institute of Mental Health/Woodbridge Hospital. Data collection was done through a self-administered anonymous questionnaire of aggressive incidences experienced by the nurses over one month period. Results: 42 incidences of verbal abuse were recorded. The majority of incidences were attributed to patients with schizophrenia and a secondary diagnosis of personality disorder. In 50% of the incidences, verbal abuse transpired in patients scolding vulgarities and cursing the nurses. Sixty four percent of the nurses experienced an immediate negative emotion to the incidence, however after a positive approach to it, 47.6% came out of the situation unaffected. Conclusion: This study helped us understand how staff reacted towards verbal abuse and how we could assist in providing support, thus ensuring that their morale is kept high without compromising quality nursing care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Verbal abuse, an aspect of patients' violence in psychiatric ward setting, is often not reported or investigated. This study identified how nurses reacted to verbal abuse. It was proven that verbal abuse did not affect the quality of care delivered to patients. Methodology: A prospective descriptive study which included all grades of local and foreign nurses in short-stay wards of the Institute of Mental Health/Woodbridge Hospital. Data collection was done through a self-administered anonymous questionnaire of aggressive incidences experienced by the nurses over one month period. Results: 42 incidences of verbal abuse were recorded. The majority of incidences were attributed to patients with schizophrenia and a secondary diagnosis of personality disorder. In 50% of the incidences, verbal abuse transpired in patients scolding vulgarities and cursing the nurses. Sixty four percent of the nurses experienced an immediate negative emotion to the incidence, however after a positive approach to it, 47.6% came out of the situation unaffected. Conclusion: This study helped us understand how staff reacted towards verbal abuse and how we could assist in providing support, thus ensuring that their morale is kept high without compromising quality nursing care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]