ABSTRACT
Bullying.................................................................................................................. 210 Prevalence .............................................................................................................. 211 Institutional Bullying ............................................................................................. 213 Oppressive Group Behavior: Implications for Improvement in Health Care ........ 214 Oppression Theory and Nursing ............................................................................ 214 Some of the Signs and Symptoms of a Hostile Work Environment ...................... 215 Toxic Personality and Marginality ......................................................................... 216 Effects of Institutional Lateral Violence ................................................................ 217 A Matter of Training and Style .............................................................................. 217 Psychosocial and Organizational Factors Demonstrated ....................................... 218 Effects of Bullying on Patient Safety ..................................................................... 221 Mandates ................................................................................................................ 221 Joint Commission Leadership Standard ................................................................. 221 Individual Interventions ......................................................................................... 222 Endnotes ................................................................................................................. 222
Nurse Ortner remembers
An ideology of caring characterizes the nursing practice, yet nurses are not immune to bullying from members of the health-care team, including not only other nurses, but physicians, pharmacists, supervisors, managers, and other disciplines. Lateral violence in the workplace is widespread and can result in low morale, high staff turnover, increased sickness, absence, and low productivity, and it can cause clinical errors.
