Nurses in Latin America faced severe systemic violence during the pandemic
· News-MedicalThe COVID-19 pandemic created unprecedented challenges for health professionals around the world. A new study published in the journal Nursing Inquiry describes violence that nurses and midwives in Latin America endured-not only physical aggression, but also ethical and emotional harm.
Allison Squires, study author, professor at NYU Rory Meyers College of Nursing and director of the Global Consortium of Nursing & Midwifery StudiesThis study of violence experienced by nurses in Latin America during COVID-19 reveals a regional pattern that has been underrecognized until now: violence and moral suffering resulted from a combination of care overload, social stigma, and structural accountability."
The COVID-19 pandemic put extreme pressure on health systems, increasing the workload and exposure of its workforce to harm. Violence against health professionals-including abuse, threats, or aggression that threatens physical and psychological well-being-was prevalent long before COVID-19. But studies show that violence against nurses intensified during the pandemic.
- Direct violence (e.g., verbal and physical aggression)
- Stigma, fear, and disruption of social belonging (e.g., fear of contagion and isolation)
- Ethical-political suffering associated with structural blame (e.g., nurses held responsible for failures beyond their control, such as a lack of beds and medicines or long wait times)
Despite contextual differences across the region-for instance, in countries with weaker healthcare systems, the intensity of blaming nurses for structural issues increased-the themes reveal commonalities that drove Latin American nurses' and midwives' pandemic work experiences.
The researchers note that their findings underscore the need for policies that strengthen workforce protection, ethical accountability, and institutional support in both routine healthcare settings and future public health emergencies.
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