Mobbing perception among Intensive Care Unit nurses.

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Management
• Nursing
• Workplace Psychology

Background:

• Workplace mobbing, a form of psychological harassment, is a significant concern in high-stress environments like intensive care units.
• Understanding nursing staff perceptions is crucial for developing effective intervention strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore and understand the perceptions of intensive care unit (ICU) nursing staff regarding workplace mobbing.
• To identify the prevalence, forms, and consequences of mobbing within the ICU setting.

Main Methods:

• A qualitative study employing the Grounded Theory approach.
• Data collected from 12 ICU nurses across two public hospitals in December 2017.

Main Results:

• The study identified four key categories: general knowledge of mobbing, its origins and actors, personal experiences as victim or spectator, and implications for working life.
• Female nurses predominated, with an average age of 41.33, mostly married, working night shifts, and trained as nursing technicians.
• A majority of ICU nursing staff reported being victims or witnesses of mobbing behavior.

Conclusions:

• Mobbing is perceived differently due to a lack of clear understanding, association with various forms of violence, and inconsistent terminology.
• Workplace harassment is a sensitive issue for healthcare workers, often exacerbated by a lack of support from superiors.
• Mobbing negatively affects job satisfaction and performance, leading to significant staff turnover in ICUs.