ABSTRACT
This chapter outlines the concern that exists about bullying of students while they are gaining experience in the NHS. It identifies common issues that healthcare students generally are likely to face while undertaking clinical placements. The chapter shows that over the three-year training period, nursing students experienced qualified nurses exercising power over them and bullying them, often with them being ridiculed or humiliated in front of others. The survey was based on the questionnaire tool developed by Professor Lynne Quine used in studies that had looked at the extent of bullying experienced by healthcare professionals. Permission was granted to use Quine's ‘workplace bullying’ questionnaire and adapt the wording where appropriate to fit the experience of nursing students. The sample of returned questionnaires was 78.3% of the number issued. Demographic variables of the students who returned questionnaires were compared to national percentages to assess how representative the sample was of the national student nurse population.
