HEALTHCARE INDUSTRY NEWS The Impact of Nurse Bullying on Nurse Retention


Although bullying exists in all professions, the problem seems especially prevalent in the nursing field – hospital floors, clinics and nursing schools. Because of the growing trend of workplace violence, the term ―Lateral Violence‖ was developed to describe distasteful behavior nurses sometimes portray toward other colleagues. This kind of bullying can be overt or covert acts of verbal and nonverbal aggression causing psychological distress. Today, the U.S. is experiencing a crisis of deficiency in Registered Nurses (RN) due to the growing demand in the healthcare sector. Recent


studies indicate that approximately 70% of nurses who leave their jobs were bullying victims; roughly 60% of new- coming RN leave their first position within 6 months due to some form of verbal abuse or harsh treatment; and one in three new graduate nurses considered quitting nursing altogether because of humiliating encounters on nursing floors. Consequences of lateral bullying include: the deterioration of the quality of patient care; unmanaged anger, leading to insomnia, hypertension and depression – resulting in low staff morale; increased absenteeism; attrition of staff; and, ultimately, nurses leaving the profession. Although, there is no federal standard that requires workplace violence protection, effective January 1, 2009, The Joint Commission of Accreditation of Healthcare Organization created a new standard on the ―Leadership" chapter that addresses disruptive and inappropriate behaviors. This acknowledgment led several states to enact legislation or regulations on violence. Hospitals can end abusive behaviors by implementing clear zero-tolerance policies.


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Study: Change of Culture, Increased Training Needed to Reduce Violence Against Emergency Nurses A qualitative study on assaults on emergency nurses sponsored by the Emergency Nurses Association (ENA) found a need to change the culture of acceptance prevalent among hospital administrators and law enforcement, as well as a need to better train nurses on signs of potential trouble. "Assaults on emergency nurses have lasting impacts on the nurses and the ability of emergency care facilities to provide quality care," said 2014 ENA President Deena Brecher. "More than 70 percent of emergency nurses reported physical or verbal assaults by patients or visitors while they were providing care. As a result, we lose experienced and dedicated nurses to physical or psychological trauma for days or sometimes permanently. Healthcare organizations have a responsibility to nurses and the public to provide a safe and secure environment." According to Bureau of Labor statistics, an assault on a healthcare worker is the most common source of nonfatal injury or illness requiring days off from work in the healthcare and social assistance industry. Despite that alarming statistic, the qualitative research study discovered a culture of acceptance among hospital administrators, prosecutors and judges. The study also concluded that emergency nurses and hospital personnel in general are not trained to recognize cues for violent behavior. The ENA has long taken the position that healthcare organizations must take preventive measures to circumvent workplace violence and ensure the safety of all healthcare workers, their patients and visitors.


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Nurses Face Dozens of Incidents of Violence in Hospitals The chair of the B.C. Nurses‘ Union is gravely concerned by the levels of violence she sees at Abbotsford Regional Hospital, as well as at Mission Memorial, where she works. ―Nurses are getting hurt,‖ she said. ―We didn‘t go into nursing to do this. We went into nursing to take care of people.‖ Every year, there are dozens of incidents of violence and aggression toward staff at the Abbotsford Regional Hospital and Cancer Centre, according to Fraser Health data obtained by The News. These incidents include everything from verbal abuse, to biting and spitting, to hitting and other assault. When the hospital opened in August 2008, there was one such incident reported for the year. That figure jumped to 22 in 2009, then to 42 by 2012. Last year saw a decline, with 33 incidents of violence and aggression at Abbotsford Regional. The majority of cases (73%) were physical abuse. A quarter were verbal, and two per cent were psychological. ―Violence in the workplace is always a concern,‖ said Mark Goudsblom, site director at Abbotsford hospital. ―It has to be front and centre in all the considerations we make for changes. It is something that I think we‘re seeing somewhat more of.‖ Only a portion of incidents result in WorkSafeBC claims. Anecdotally, nurses at Abbotsford‘s emergency department say there‘s at least one violent incident per day. But nurses are most likely to file an official report only about those resulting in injuries.


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