The Influence of Workplace Violence on Professional Identity among Nurses and Nursing Students: A Scoping Review

OBJECTIVES: This review aims to clarify how workplace violence (WPV) shapes professional identity and to explore the mechanisms and consequences arising from this relationship. DESIGN: A scoping review. METHODS: A literature search was conducted in the PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, Scopus, APA PsycINFO, and Web of Science databases, up until July 13, 2025, and gray literature and reference lists of included evidence were also searched. RESULTS: A total of 15 studies were included. The review found that WPV may influence the professional identity of nurses and nursing students both directly and indirectly, with this relationship being mediated or moderated by a range of factors. These factors can be grouped into three broad categories: conditional resources, individual resources, and psychological stress. WPV undermines the professional identity of nurses and nursing students, adversely affecting their personal well-being and compromising patient safety. However, research focusing specifically on nurses remains limited. CONCLUSIONS: This review clarifies the mechanisms and consequences through which WPV influences professional identity and highlights the importance of organisational support in mitigating its negative effects. Future research should prioritize nurse-centered, longitudinal designs to clarify causal pathways.