Bullying in nursing
Encyclopedia
The nursing
organisation workplace has been identified as one in which workplace bullying occurs quite frequently. It is thought that relational aggression
(psychological aspects of bullying such as gossipping and intimidation
) are relevant. Relational aggression has been studied amongst girls but not so much amongst adult women.
Various bullying permutations are possible, such as:
Such acts are frequently insidious, continuing over periods of time that may be years. Bullies are often serial bullies. The bully is invariably aware of the damage they are doing. They undertake such actions basically to gain control and power.
from their supervisors and 77.6% had experienced incivility from their coworkers.
(NHS) have been bullied by their managers. One in three of the 563 people questioned said the bullying was so bad they had to take time off work. Constant criticism
and humiliation
were the most common complaints. Others said they were shouted at or marginalised.
in the work environment.
Nursing
Nursing is a healthcare profession focused on the care of individuals, families, and communities so they may attain, maintain, or recover optimal health and quality of life from conception to death....
organisation workplace has been identified as one in which workplace bullying occurs quite frequently. It is thought that relational aggression
Relational aggression
Relational aggression, also known as covert aggression or covert bullying, is a type of aggression in which harm is caused through damage to relationships or social status within a group rather than by means of actual or threatened physical violence...
(psychological aspects of bullying such as gossipping and intimidation
Intimidation
Intimidation is intentional behavior "which would cause a person of ordinary sensibilities" fear of injury or harm. It's not necessary to prove that the behavior was so violent as to cause terror or that the victim was actually frightened.Criminal threatening is the crime of intentionally or...
) are relevant. Relational aggression has been studied amongst girls but not so much amongst adult women.
Various bullying permutations are possible, such as:
- doctor or management bullying a nurse
- nurse bullying another nurse
- nurse bullying a patient
- patient bullying a nurse.
Bullying acts
Lewis identifies the following bullying acts in UK nursing:Such acts are frequently insidious, continuing over periods of time that may be years. Bullies are often serial bullies. The bully is invariably aware of the damage they are doing. They undertake such actions basically to gain control and power.
Incivility
Laschinger, Leiter, Day, and Gilin found that among 612 staff nurses, 67.5% had experienced incivilityIncivility
Incivility is a general term for social behaviour lacking in civility or good manners, on a scale from rudeness or lack of respect for elders, to vandalism and hooliganism, through public drunkenness and threatening behaviour...
from their supervisors and 77.6% had experienced incivility from their coworkers.
Bullying of nurses by managers
In 2003 the Community Practitioners' and Health Visitors' Association in the UK carried out a survey showing that half of health visitors, school nurses and community nurses working in the National Health ServiceNational Health Service (England)
The National Health Service or NHS is the publicly funded healthcare system in England. It is both the largest and oldest single-payer healthcare system in the world. It is able to function in the way that it does because it is primarily funded through the general taxation system, similar to how...
(NHS) have been bullied by their managers. One in three of the 563 people questioned said the bullying was so bad they had to take time off work. Constant criticism
Criticism
Criticism is the judgement of the merits and faults of the work or actions of an individual or group by another . To criticize does not necessarily imply to find fault, but the word is often taken to mean the simple expression of an objection against prejudice, or a disapproval.Another meaning of...
and humiliation
Humiliation
Humiliation is the abasement of pride, which creates mortification or leads to a state of being humbled or reduced to lowliness or submission. It can be brought about through bullying, intimidation, physical or mental mistreatment or trickery, or by embarrassment if a person is revealed to have...
were the most common complaints. Others said they were shouted at or marginalised.
Nurse bullying inventory
In order to further investigate and understand the impact of workplace bullying on the nursing work environment, an inventory was developed to address specific workplace bullying constructs within the nursing context.Associated Terms
Horizontal Violence is often the same term used when referring to bullying in Nursing. This term describes the appalling behavior shown by colleagues in the nursing field. Such demeaning behavior makes the work place stressful and unpleasant.Remedial action
Some health organisations are seeking to educate staff and health care team members on how to improve social interactions, proper business etiquette, and foster positive people skillsPeople skills
According to the Portland Business Journal, people skills are often described as:* understanding ourselves and moderating our responses* talking effectively and empathizing accurately* building relationships of trust, respect and productive interactions....
in the work environment.
See also
- Aggression in healthcareAggression in HealthcareAggression was, in 1968, described by Moyer as “a behaviour that causes or leads to harm, damage or destruction of another organism”. Human aggression has more recently been defined as “any behaviour directed toward another individual that is carried out with the proximate intent to cause...
- Bullying in medicineBullying in medicineBullying in the medical profession is common, particularly of student or trainee doctors. It is thought that this is at least in part an outcome of conservative traditional hierarchical structures and teaching methods in the medical profession which may result in a bullying cycle.According to...
- Emotional laborEmotional laborEmotional labor is a form of emotional regulation wherein workers are expected to display certain emotions as part of their job, and to promote organizational goals...
- Patient abusePatient abusePatient abuse or neglect is any action or failure to act which causes unreasonable suffering, misery or harm to the patient. It includes physically striking or sexually assaulting a patient. It also includes withholding of necessary food, physical care, and medical attention...
- Workplace bullyingWorkplace bullyingWorkplace bullying, like childhood bullying, is the tendency of individuals or groups to use persistent aggressive or unreasonable behaviour against a co-worker or subordinate. Workplace bullying can include such tactics as verbal, nonverbal, psychological, physical abuse and humiliation...
- Workplace incivilityWorkplace incivilityWorkplace incivility has been defined as "low-intensity deviant behavior with ambiguous intent to harm the target. ... Uncivil behaviors are characteristically rude and discourteous, displaying a lack of regard for others." Incivility is distinct from violence...
Books
- Button SM Bullying of a nursing student: a mixed interpretive study (2007)
- Dellasega C When Nurses Hurt Nurses: Recognizing and Overcoming The Cycles of Bullying (2011)
- Nurses and the experience of bullying at work: a report for the Claire Thomson, Working Women's Centre (Adelaide, S. Aust.), Australian Nursing Federation. S.A. Branch - 1998
- Webb C, Randle J Workplace Bullying in the NHS (2006)