Horizontal violence among nurses: Experiences, responses, and job performance

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• Organizational Psychology
• Healthcare Management

Background:

• Horizontal violence (HV), defined as nonphysical intergroup hostility, is a long-standing problem in nursing.
• HV negatively impacts nurses and patient care, leading to high turnover, illness, and reduced productivity.
• Understanding the origins and sustainability of HV is crucial for its mitigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine hospital nurses' experiences with and responses to HV.
• To investigate the effects of HV on job performance.
• To identify factors contributing to and mitigating HV in nursing.

Main Methods:

• A mixed-methods approach was employed, combining an online survey of 76 nurses with in-depth interviews of 7 participants.
• The survey assessed nurses' experiences, responses, and the impact of HV on their job performance.
• Follow-up interviews provided deeper insights into the phenomenon.

Main Results:

• Nurses identified HV as a behavior often encountered early in their careers, beginning as novice nurses.
• Factors promoting HV include increased workload, stress, and its acceptance as standard practice.
• Manager and staff support, along with workplace education, were reported as most effective in reducing HV.

Conclusions:

• The academic environment is vital for teaching appropriate responses to HV, emphasizing peer support.
• Workplace interventions focusing on education and supportive management are necessary to combat HV.
• Further research and intervention studies are needed to effectively reduce HV in nursing.