Workplace bullying among nurses and organizational response: An online cross-sectional study

To examine prevalence of bullying among nurses and explore associations of organizational betrayal and support with well-being among nurses exposed to bullying.

Bullying is a problem in many nursing workplaces, and organizations have an obligation to support nurses who are bullied. Support or betrayal after bullying could affect nurse well-being, including burnout.

In this cross-sectional study among U.S. nurses, data were collected in a survey using the Negative Acts Questionnaire-Revised for Nursing, the Institutional Betrayal Questionnaire for Health, the Well-Being Index, a job satisfaction scale and demographic questions.

Prevalence of weekly/daily bullying was 31% (N = 242). Among nurses exposed to any bullying (N = 173), organizational betrayal increased odds of burnout (OR 2.62, p = .02), job dissatisfaction (OR 2.97, p = .04) and absenteeism (OR 6.11, p < .001). Organizational support decreased odds of job dissatisfaction (OR 0.30, p = .001) and absenteeism (OR 0.50, p = .04).

Analysis of study findings suggests organizational betrayal increases likelihood of burnout, job dissatisfaction and absenteeism, and support decreases likelihood of dissatisfaction and absenteeism.

Nurse leaders should be aware of the issue of organizational betrayal and support in relation to well-being. Future studies can further explore the concepts of betrayal and support to provide additional evidence.