Overview:
Nurse to nurse bullying threatens the safety and well-being of patients and nurses. The misconduct is a major problem for all nurses and causing 60% of new nurses to leave their first nursing position and 1 in 3 nurses to quit the profession.
Sometimes the bullying is so subtle it is almost invisible yet causes cumulative damage to the targeted nurse as well as those nurses who witness the behavior. The Joint Commission requires healthcare organizations seeking accreditation to address the misconduct.
Yet, healthcare is notoriously known for not preventing the behavior or intervening when it occurs. What should you do if you are targeted or a witness to the behavior? If you are a nurse leader, what are your responsibilities to prevent and intervene with the bullying occurring in your environment?