Workplace Violence towards nursing staff has negative effects on their safety and quality of patient
care delivered. Aim: This study aimed to examine the phenomena of workplace violence against
staff nurses at Shebin Elkom city in Egypt and Arar city in Saudi Arabia. Methods: Descriptive
comparative study was employed in conducting this study. Sample: a convenience sample of 438
staff nurses (236 from Shebin Elkom city and 202 from Arar city) was participated in this study.
Setting: The study was carried out at three governmental hospitals at Shebin Elkom city, Egypt, and
three hospitals at Arar city, Northern Border Region, Saudi Arabia that were chosen randomly. Tool
A modified version of the workplace violence in the health sector questionnaire developed by
International Labor Organization, International Council of Nurses, World Health Organization and
Public Service International (2003) was used. Results: Exposure to workplace violence was more
likely in Egyptian nurses at Shebin Elkom city than Saudi nurses at Arar city. (83.47% vs. 65.35%;
P<0.001). The sources of violence were patients, patient's relatives/visitors, and co-workers among
Egyptian nurses at Shebin Elkom city, while work supervisors were more likely among Saudi nurses
at Arar city. The causes of practicing workplace violence as reported more by Egyptian nurses at
Shebin Elkom city were weak hospital security, shortage of nurses, and an increased workload
while coming to work late and delay in investigations of incidents were the most reported by Saudi
nurses at Arar city. The response to violence was more likely by telling the person to stop, pretend it
never happened, tried to defend oneself, telling a colleague, or telling friends/family in Egyptian
nurses compared to Saudi nurses. Similarly, two third of Egyptian nurses reported taking no action
compared to 45.54% of Saudi nurses. Egyptian nurses at Shebin Elkom city reported violent acts
more. Conclusion: Workplace violence against nurses is an issue that has to be addressed in both
Egyptian nurses at Shebin Elkom and Saudi nurses at Arar city. Nurses at Shebin Elkom city, Egypt,
were more likely exposed to violence than those at Arar city, Saudi Arabia. Recommendation:
There is an urgent need for developing strict policies and procedures concerning workplace violence
incidence to protect health care workers against violence.