Horizontal Violence In Nursing

Horizontal violence is psychological harassment that creates hostility in the workplace between two nurses or a nurse and another healthcare professional (Ditmer, 2010). The idea that horizontal violence exists in nursing is a phenomenon that is as ironic in the healthcare field that is supposed to be a ground for empathy, compassion and humanity. It is common yet many find it difficult and distressing to address. This harassment is usually presented in different ways including both aggressive along with disruptive behaviour, bullying, verbal abuse, humiliation, gossiping, threats, withholding information, and not properly explaining or training the processes (Ditmer, 2010, p. 9). As a nursing student, I have experienced horizontal violence numerous times whether in academics or in the clinical areas. Hence, this topic is important to me as I have experienced it first hand and important to nursing leadership as well because “leadership sets the scene, the attitudinal agenda, for a faculty or hospital.”( Scherbakova, 1995). Nursing leaders play an important role in managing and halting horizontal violence. This paper aims to explore the phenomenon that is horizontal violence, define and identify what constitutes horizontal violence in academics and clinical areas, its effects and the solutions to stop horizontal violence.

Literature review

Bullying, horizontal violence, lateral violence, disruptive behaviours are all related to nursing profession. In several studies, workplace violence is defined as a“catch-all” term which revolves around issues related to physical violence against the healthcare workers, disruptive physician attitudes toward nurses and other health-care personnel, supervisor-subordinate abuse (also known as hori...

... middle of paper ...

...ence took an additional sick leave for 20 days per year (Ditmer, 2010, p. 11).

The authors from the researches have all suggested that the effects of horizontal violence is detrimental to patient care and hospital staff turnover. In addition, authors have stated that education and training about horizontal violence is the primary way to ultimately stop the vicious cycle.

Relevance of findings of literature review to leadership in nursing practice

It is very important for the health as well as wellness of the nurses along with their patients that the whole cycle of horizontal violence be broken. Patient care is without a doubt considered as the first and the foremost critical aspect of nursing. In this regard, leadership should understand and also become aware of horizontal violence. If the managers ignore the problem then in such a case, the problem will continue.