Working Together to Prevent Moral Injury: The Role of Higher Education and Clinical Placement Providers in Protecting Healthcare Students
| Thursday, May 21, 2026 |
| 8:00 PM - 8:01 PM |
Speaker
Ms Alycia Jacob
Phd Student
Latrobe University School Of Rural Health; Australian Catholic University, School Of Nursing, Midwifery & Paramedicine
Working Together to Prevent Moral Injury: The Role of Higher Education and Clinical Placement Providers in Protecting Healthcare Students
Abstract Document
Patient violence is a near-daily reality for healthcare workers. This “wicked problem” leads to situations where workers must navigate ethically fraught decisions and can trigger healthcare workers to self-blame and question their identify and value.
Studies suggest over 50% of healthcare students experience workplace violence during placement, with many reconsidering their career path as a result. This indecision about their future careers may be an indicator of moral crisis and a struggle for continued understanding of purpose when confronted with violence from patients they have sought to care for.
There is no clear consensus between universities and placement providers on who holds responsibility for supporting students in the short and long term after violent incidents occur during placements. This lack of clarity may compound moral injury by leaving students unsupported. Intentionality around shared responsibility between universities and placement providers may help. By recognising and addressing the organisational stressors that compound moral injury in students, we can build a more sustainable and resilient healthcare workforce.
Jacob A, Van Vuuren J, Kinsman L, Spelten E. Daily reality of violence in a rural emergency department: Is violence becoming the new normal?. Emergency Medicine Australasia. 2022 Aug;34(4):555-8. doi:10.1111/1742-6723.13942
Jacob A, McCann D, Buykx P, Thomas B, Spelten E, Schultz R, Kinsman L, Jacob E. The “disease” of violence against health-care workers is a wicked problem. Managing and preventing violence in health-care. Journal of aggression, conflict and peace research. 2022 Apr 5;14(2):159-70. doi:10.1108/JACPR-08-2021-0629
Johnston S, Fox A, Dafny H, Patterson S, Jones R, Pich J. Australian nursing students' experiences of workplace violence during clinical placement: A cross‐sectional study. J Adv Nurs. 2024. doi:10.1111/jan.16189
Jacob A, Spelten E, Kinsman L. Exploring the Current Practices of Universities Regarding the Risk of Violence Towards Undergraduate Students on Clinical Placements: A Scoping Review. Health Services Insights. 2025;18. doi:10.1177/11786329251366383
Studies suggest over 50% of healthcare students experience workplace violence during placement, with many reconsidering their career path as a result. This indecision about their future careers may be an indicator of moral crisis and a struggle for continued understanding of purpose when confronted with violence from patients they have sought to care for.
There is no clear consensus between universities and placement providers on who holds responsibility for supporting students in the short and long term after violent incidents occur during placements. This lack of clarity may compound moral injury by leaving students unsupported. Intentionality around shared responsibility between universities and placement providers may help. By recognising and addressing the organisational stressors that compound moral injury in students, we can build a more sustainable and resilient healthcare workforce.
Jacob A, Van Vuuren J, Kinsman L, Spelten E. Daily reality of violence in a rural emergency department: Is violence becoming the new normal?. Emergency Medicine Australasia. 2022 Aug;34(4):555-8. doi:10.1111/1742-6723.13942
Jacob A, McCann D, Buykx P, Thomas B, Spelten E, Schultz R, Kinsman L, Jacob E. The “disease” of violence against health-care workers is a wicked problem. Managing and preventing violence in health-care. Journal of aggression, conflict and peace research. 2022 Apr 5;14(2):159-70. doi:10.1108/JACPR-08-2021-0629
Johnston S, Fox A, Dafny H, Patterson S, Jones R, Pich J. Australian nursing students' experiences of workplace violence during clinical placement: A cross‐sectional study. J Adv Nurs. 2024. doi:10.1111/jan.16189
Jacob A, Spelten E, Kinsman L. Exploring the Current Practices of Universities Regarding the Risk of Violence Towards Undergraduate Students on Clinical Placements: A Scoping Review. Health Services Insights. 2025;18. doi:10.1177/11786329251366383
Biography
Alycia Jacob is a PhD student at la Trobe University looking at organisational responses to violence experienced by healthcare students on clinical placements. She has a background in law and holds a Master of Public Health. For the past 10 years she has worked in healthcare research across a variety of settings, including in rural and remote Australia. She is currently working at Australian Catholic University in a national role overseeing research development and upskilling for the school of Nursing, Midwifery and Paramedicine.
