Date of Award
5-7-2026
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Department
Criminal Justice
First Advisor
Tusty ten Bensel
Abstract
Healthcare workers’ exposure to workplace violence has been well documented, with research emphasizing both its frequency and severity among clinical staff like physicians and nurses. Still, one group remains markedly overlooked: healthcare chaplains. Despite their frequent presence in high-stress, unpredictable, and emotionally charged situations, chaplains have never before been included in research regarding healthcare workers’ exposure to workplace violence. Healthcare chaplains provide spiritual and emotional care to patients, families, and staff by offering support that is culturally sensitive and appropriate to patients’ religious traditions. Chaplains collaborate with medical teams to deliver holistic care and are involved in a wide range of roles, including crisis response, end-of-life care, grief support, ethics consultations, advocacy, and the facilitation of rituals and sacraments. This study is a mixed methods exploration of chaplains’ perceptions of and experiences with workplace violence in a variety of healthcare settings. Through a survey, it examined the prevalence and nature of workplace violence, identified risk and protective factors, and considered whether chaplains’ experiences differ from those of other healthcare professionals. Additionally, this study investigated how chaplains conceptualized violence- particularly whether it was perceived as an expected or accepted aspect of their role. By centering the voices of chaplains through qualitative interviews, this study contributes to a more nuanced understanding of their experiences and expands the discourse surrounding workplace violence in healthcare.
Recommended Citation
Fachner, Dana, "The Cost of Compassion: Mixed Methods Insights Into Healthcare Chaplains’ Experiences of Workplace Violence" (2026). Theses and Dissertations. 1342.
https://research.ualr.edu/etd/1342
