International perspectives on workplace bullying among nurses: a review

Abstract

Purpose: This article examines the nursing literature on workplace bullying with the aim of reaching a better understanding of the phenomenon. Background: Workplace bullying occurs in many occupations and workplaces, including nursing. Methods:The following databases were used for the literature review: CINAHL, PubMed, Pro Quest and EBSCO host. Only articles in English were used. Articles from outside the nursing literature were also examined to gain a broader understanding of workplace bullying. Findings: Workplace bullying is more than a simple conflict between two individuals. It is a complex phenomenon that can only be understood through an examination of social, individual and organizational factors. Workplace bullying has been shown to impact the physical and psychological health of victims, as well as their performance at work. Workplace bullying impacts the organization through decreased productivity, increased sick time and employee attrition. Conclusions: More nurse-specific research is needed in this area. Research needs to be conducted in a systematic and uniform manner so that generalizations across studies can be made. The ultimate goal of this research should be to generate an understanding of this phenomenon so that solutions can be found.

Turkish nursing students’ perceptions and experiences of bullying behavior in nursing education

“…Nursing staff and management need to be educated about bullying what bullying behaviors look like and how to deal with bullying. By raising awareness about the issue, healthcare staff may become less tolerant of this negative behavior [27,32] .…”

What is Behind Counterproductive Work Behaviors in the Nursing Profession? A Systematic Review

“…Nevertheless, the nursing literature has mainly analyzed harassment and bullying from the point of view of the victim [25]. While many studies have dealt with the aforementioned aspect, research with the aim of understanding the reasons why nurses perform these behaviors is lacking.…”

Workplace bullying and post-traumatic stress symptoms among family physicians in Lithuania: An occupation and region specific approach

“…Research has shown that work situation of the victims may become so difficult that they finally either choose to leave work, or they are forced out of the workplace by means of dismissal or redundancy [14]. Health care workers seem to be more at risk of workplace bullying as compared to other occupations, yet majority of the data so far come from the studies of nurses [15,16]. Some studies investigating bullying arising from patients, colleagues and supervisors among medical doctors during training, residents, emergency physicians, ambulance personnel [17], young doctors and specialists with long career experience exist; including studies conducted in the United States [18][19][20][21], in some European countries [22][23][24][25] as well as in Japan [26].…”