Workplace bullying affects a person’s livelihood. The Workplace Bullying Institute (WBI) defines bullying as “repeated, health-harming mistreatment of a person (the target) by one or more workers that takes the form of verbal abuse; conduct or behaviors that are threatening, intimidating or humiliating; sabotaging behaviors or a combination of the three by a cruel perpetrator (the bully)” (Namie & Namie, 2009). WPB impacts the physical and psychological health of nurses, threatens their working relationships, careers, and family.
RN turnover will cost a hospital from $5.2–$8.1 million (Gooch, 2016). Bullying in the workplace can cost over $4 billion yearly (2016). A WBI 2017 survey reveals 19% of adult Americans have experienced abuse.
Thirty percent (including witnesses) have been affected by bullying (Namie, 2017).
63% of Americans now are aware that WBP happens (2017).
Sadly, 9% of those being targeted are believed by others, which prevent people from reporting it (2017)
According to a Namie survey conducted in 2017, 77% want a law against WPB (2017).
The rationale to stamp out WPB is to create a healthier, happier, more satisfying, and positive workplace for all employees and patients, eliminate the needless distraction that bullying causes, and decrease the risk of harm to patients.
Addressing bullying reduces the risk of losing veteran bedside nurses, reduces the financial impact on organizations, reduces the risk of hospital-acquired infections, and, most importantly, holds perpetrators accountable for their pathological behavior.
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) (provided through the Joint Commission) state “over 50 percent of nurses were verbally abused (a category that included bullying) in a 12-month period
During a seven-day work period”, 59% of nurses experienced verbal abuse (Joint Commission, 2016).
60% of newly licensed nurses leave their job within six months as a result of bullying. Fifty percent of nurses are sure they will encounter some form of bullying at one point in their career (Gooch, 2016).
Proposed Solutions
Bullying is a multi-faceted hidden epidemic. These are possible solutions to addressing workplace bullying, each takes effort, patience, dedication, and time.
1. Acknowledge Bullying
Leaders need to acknowledge bullying is occuring. It can be difficult to admit that there is a problem or that it’s “that bad”. Everyone has a right to come to work in a non-threatening and positive work environment.
2. Zero Tolerance Policy
Collaboration with senior leadership, staff representatives and Human Resources coming together to develop and enforce a “Zero Tolerance” policy. Policy effectiveness is strongly encouraged. Perpetrators are encouraged to be accountable for their behavior and take responsibility for their actions. In the ideal world, making amends with those they hurt would begin the healing.
3. Speak Up
Nurses should come forward and expose their perpetrators. Fear prevents nurses from speaking up which is why they stay silent.This isolates the victim and empowers the bullies and their behaviors, allowing them to continue. These repeated behaviors impact mental health. Literature regarding adolescents shows that there is a correlation between bullying and suicide. More studies need to be conducted among the adult population. (Centers for Disease Control, 2014.)
Helpful Resources
There are many resources on combating bullying. Human Resources department can offer guidance. Not every case is the same. There are many online resources: Stomp Out Bullying, Workplace Bullying Institute, and StopBullying.gov.
References
- Centers for Disease Control (CDC). (2014). Division of Violence Prevention. The Relationship Between Bullying and Suicide. Retrieved from: https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/pdf/bullying-suicide– translation-final-a.pdf
- Gooch, K. (2016). Becker’s Hospital Review. 5 thoughts and statistics on nurse bullying. Retrieved from: https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/human-capital-and-risk/5-thoughts- and-statistics-on-nurse- bullying.html
- Joint Commission. (2016). Bullying has no place in health care. Quick Safety, June 2016, Issue 24. Retrieved from: https://www.jointcommission.org/assets/1/23/Quick_Safety_ Issue_24 _ June_2016.pdf
- Namie, G. and Namie R. (2009). The Bully at Work. Second Edition Naperville, IL: Sourcebooks, Inc.
- Namie, G. (2017). Workplace Bullying Institute. 2017 WBI U.S. Workplace Bullying Survey.
- Retrieved from: https://www.workplacebullying.org/wbiresearch/wbi-2017-survey/
- Nursing Solutions Inc. (2016). 2016 National Healthcare Retention & RN Staffing Report.
- Retrieved from: https://www.nsinursingsolutions.com/Files/assets/library/retention-institute/ NationalHealthcareRNRetentionReport2016.pdf
