Abstract
BACKGROUND: Nursing is an emotionally demanding profession where unmanaged anger can compromise patient care and teamwork. While clinical experience is thought to enhance emotional regulation, the relationship between work experience and anger management remains poorly understood. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess whether work experience predicts anger management ability among nurses, using Benner's Novice to Expert Theory as a guiding framework. METHODS: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in 2024 involving 265 nurses working in hospitals affiliated with Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran. Stratified random sampling was used based on hospital wards. Data were collected using a demographic questionnaire and the State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory-2. Statistical analyses included Pearson correlation analysis, t tests, ANOVA, and multiple linear regression analysis. Normality was tested using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. The sample size was determined using parameters referenced in prior studies and confirmed with G*Power software (Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf). RESULTS: Although nurses with more experience reported slightly higher anger control scores, the correlation between work experience and anger management was not significant (r=-0.079, P=.18). Regression analysis revealed that shift type and job security significantly predicted anger regulation, independent of experience level. CONCLUSIONS: Work experience alone does not ensure improved anger management among nurses. Organizational factors such as shift scheduling and employment stability may have a greater influence on emotional regulation. Institutions are encouraged to provide structured support and stress management training, especially for early-career nurses.