Horizontal violence in nursing is defined as any form of aggression or bullying behavior between nurses. It can take many forms, including verbal abuse, non-verbal abuse, physical abuse, cyberbullying, and social exclusion. Horizontal violence is a serious problem in nursing, and it can have a negative impact on both nurses and patients.
Why is horizontal violence a problem in nursing?
There are a number of reasons why horizontal violence is a problem in nursing. One reason is that the nursing profession is very demanding and stressful. Nurses often work long hours under pressure, and they may be required to deal with difficult patients and families. This can lead to feelings of burnout and frustration, which can increase the risk of horizontal violence.
Another reason for horizontal violence in nursing is the hierarchical structure of the profession. Nurses often feel pressure to conform to certain norms and values, and they may be afraid to speak up against abuse for fear of being ostracized or retaliated against.
What are the causes of horizontal violence in nursing?
There are a number of factors that can contribute to horizontal violence in nursing. These factors include:
- Workload: Nurses are often overworked and understaffed, which can lead to stress and frustration.
- Competition: Nurses may feel competitive with each other for promotions or other opportunities.
- Personality: Some nurses may have personality traits that make them more likely to engage in bullying or aggressive behavior.
- Lack of support: Nurses may not feel supported by their colleagues or supervisors, which can make them more vulnerable to horizontal violence.
What are the consequences of horizontal violence in nursing?
Horizontal violence can have a number of negative consequences for both nurses and patients. These consequences include:
- Nurse burnout and turnover: Horizontal violence can lead to nurse burnout and turnover, which can exacerbate the nursing shortage.
- Medical errors: Horizontal violence can create a stressful and chaotic work environment, which can increase the risk of medical errors.
- Patient safety: Horizontal violence can compromise patient safety by preventing nurses from working together effectively.
- Nurse mental and physical health: Horizontal violence can have a negative impact on the mental and physical health of nurses.
Types of Horizontal Violence in Nursing
Horizontal violence in nursing can take many forms, including:
- Verbal abuse: This includes name-calling, insults, threats, and other forms of verbal aggression.
- Non-verbal abuse: This includes gestures, facial expressions, and other forms of non-verbal aggression.
- Physical abuse: This includes hitting, shoving, and other forms of physical assault.
- Cyberbullying: This includes harassment, threats, and other forms of online abuse.
- Social exclusion: This includes isolating or ostracizing other nurses.
Impact of Horizontal Violence on Nurses
Horizontal violence can have a significant impact on nurses. Nurses who experience horizontal violence may experience:
- Emotional distress: Horizontal violence can cause feelings of anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem.
- Psychological distress: Horizontal violence can lead to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other psychological problems.
- Physical distress: Horizontal violence can cause physical symptoms such as headaches, stomachaches, and sleep problems.
- Professional problems: Horizontal violence can lead to job dissatisfaction, decreased productivity, and increased absenteeism.
Coping Mechanisms for Nurses Experiencing Horizontal Violence
If you are a nurse who is experiencing horizontal violence, there are a number of things you can do to cope:
- Talk to someone you trust: It is important to talk to someone you trust about what is happening. This could be a friend, family member, therapist, or colleague.
- Seek professional help: If you are struggling to cope with the effects of horizontal violence, you may want to seek professional help from a therapist or counselor.
- Report the abuse: If you feel safe doing so, you should report the abuse to your supervisor or HR department.
- Develop a self-care plan: It is important to develop a self-care plan to help you manage stress and stay healthy. This may include activities such as exercise, relaxation techniques, and spending time with loved ones.
Strategies for Preventing Horizontal Violence in Nursing
There are a number of things that can be done to prevent horizontal violence in nursing. These include:
- Create a culture of respect and inclusion: Nurses should feel respected and valued regardless of their experience level, position, or background. A positive work environment where nurses feel supported and valued is less likely to experience horizontal violence.
- Provide training on bullying and harassment: Nurses should be trained on how to identify and report bullying and harassment. This training should also teach nurses how to intervene if they witness horizontal violence.
- Have a clear and concise zero-tolerance policy for horizontal violence: Healthcare organizations should have a clear and concise zero-tolerance policy for horizontal violence. This policy should be communicated to all employees and should be enforced consistently.
- Empower nurses to speak up and report abuse: Nurses should feel empowered to speak up and report horizontal violence without fear of retaliation. Healthcare organizations should have a system in place for reporting and investigating horizontal violence complaints.
Conclusion
Horizontal violence in nursing is a serious problem that can have a negative impact on both nurses and patients. It is important to create a culture of respect and inclusion in the nursing profession, and to provide training and support to help nurses prevent and address horizontal violence.
Call to action:
Nurses, nurse leaders, and healthcare organizations can all play a role in preventing and addressing horizontal violence in nursing. Nurses can create a more positive work environment by being supportive and respectful of their colleagues. Nurse leaders can provide training and support to help nurses prevent and address horizontal violence. Healthcare organizations can develop and implement policies and procedures to prevent and address horizontal violence complaints.
FAQs
What is the difference between horizontal violence and bullying?
Bullying is a form of horizontal violence, but not all horizontal violence is bullying. Bullying is defined as repeated aggressive behavior intended to cause harm. Horizontal violence can be a single incident or a series of incidents, and it can be intentional or unintentional.
How can I report horizontal violence at my workplace?
If you are a nurse who is experiencing horizontal violence, you should report it to your supervisor or HR department. You may also want to consider reporting it to the American Nurses Association (ANA). The ANA has a zero-tolerance policy for horizontal violence and offers resources to help nurses who are experiencing abuse.
What resources are available to help nurses who are experiencing horizontal violence?
There are a number of resources available to help nurses who are experiencing horizontal violence. These resources include:
The American Nurses Association (ANA)
The National Bullying Prevention Center
The Workplace Bullying Institute
The American Psychological Association (APA)
