Identifying and addressing bullying in nursing

Abstract

Bullying activities can be overt and intimidating or comparatively invisible to others. Nurses who work in a culture of bullying may experience job dissatisfaction and physiological and psychological consequences. Failure to adhere to professional responsibilities and engage in acceptable interpersonal behaviours sets the scene for unhealthy workplaces. Bullying is also costly to organisations due to increased leave and nurse attrition and decreased nurse productivity, satisfaction, and morale. This review provides an overview of bullying, how this impacts on nursing staff, and ways to reduce bullying incidents to cultivate a more positive work environment.