Journal of Advanced Nursing (JAN)‘I Asked a Question, and They Ignored Me’: Exploring Exclusion, Workplace Violence and Barriers to Nursing Education Communities of Practice

🧠 Mental Health / Workforce Strain

A qualitative study involving 26 nursing students and clinical facilitators examined how workplace violence affects learning and inclusion during clinical placements. Participants described workplace violence not only as overt aggression, but also as exclusion, dismissiveness, marginalization, ignored questions, and restricted access to learning opportunities.

Impact on Care Delivery

• Workplace violence extended beyond physical threats, frequently appearing as exclusion, disrespect, ignored concerns, and denial of educational opportunities.
• Students reported reduced confidence, reluctance to ask questions, diminished learning, and feelings of alienation from clinical teams.
• Facilitators described concerns that repeated negative experiences contribute to anxiety, depression, disengagement, program attrition, and loss of future nurses.
• Inconsistent leadership, unclear expectations, and poor integration between academic and clinical settings reinforced barriers to participation and professional development.
• Supportive units demonstrated that welcoming cultures, psychological safety, mentorship, and inclusion improved learning, belonging, and engagement.

Practice Implications

• Treat student inclusion as a patient-safety and workforce-development responsibility rather than an optional educational task.
• Encourage questions and active participation to strengthen learning and professional confidence.
• Address exclusionary behaviors, dismissiveness, and bullying as forms of workplace violence.
• Support structured preceptor education and leadership development focused on psychological safety.
• Recognize students as legitimate members of the care team with defined learning objectives and professional value.