Nursing Profession Violence in the Workplace

Workplace violence in the nursing profession has been extensively reported and documented. It is associated with serious negative consequences both for the nurse and their patients. Such disruptive behaviors in the nursing profession severely impact the emotional and mental well-being of the nurses that in turn affects retaining qualified and experiences staff in a healthcare organization. Such type of violence is considered as a major occupational hazard and condemned by major nursing organizations including the CENTER for American Nurses and American Nurse Organization. In the nursing profession workplace violence includes several types of negative behavior such as lateral violence, bullying and aggression. Lateral or horizontal violence is described as harmful or disrespectful behavior towards a coworker or a group of coworkers which in essence denies them of their basic human right and has a profound negative effect on their self-esteem and confidence (Becher & Visovsky, 2012). While lateral violence is mostly observed among peers or coworkers bullying is generally observed between a higher authority staff and those working under them such as a nursing supervisor and a staff nurse. Bullying is mostly verbal in nature which involves the use of abusive language, intimidation, insult and using authority to subdue, threaten or humiliate their subordinates (Lateral Violence and Bullying, 2008). When nurses are subjected to any kind of horizontal violence or bullying over a period of time it unduly affects them with physical, emotional, mental and financial consequences. In addition such workplace violence also brings forth negative consequences for the healthcare organization and patients in particular. Thus given the seriousness o...

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...iolence (Healthy Work Environment, n.d).

In conclusion, the nursing profession has a majority of female population who can be subjected to violence either by their co-workers or those in the senior position. This situation has resulted in increased mental and physical stress among nurses and has also prevented many nurses from pursuing their career. However, given the high demand for nurses in the healthcare industry in order to manage the increasing health problems among people, suitable workplace strategies and policies should be implemented and followed to prevent any kind of disruptive behavior towards them. The embracing a zero tolerance policy by healthcare companies is now becoming increasingly common and with support from various national and international organizations for such policies, workplace violence can be effectively prevented in due course.