Workplace Ostracism in Nurses and Its Determining Factors

This study attempted to identify workplace ostracism in nurses and its determining factors.

Ostracism, which is a form of mistreatment in the nursing workplace, is neglected in the nursing profession although it can affect the quality of healthcare services.

The present study was a descriptive correlational study.

Nurses in healthcare centers (n = 340) that had at least 12 months of clinical care experience were selected through proportionate stratified random sampling for the period from 2018 to 2019. The study instruments were a modified questionnaire based on the workplace ostracism scale and a questionnaire that assessed personal-social factors. To analyze the data, descriptive and inferential statistics were used.

Participants' average ostracism score was 9.03 ± 36.63, and there were statistically significant relationships between ostracism and employment status, university of education, a record of getting an incentive, nurses' current physical disorders, and feelings of colleagues' envy and managers' discrimination.

Applying some approaches to educate nurses about interpersonal relationships and clearly communicating mutual expectations between the staff and nursing management could help solve this problem.

The study results will serve to guide legislators and managers in developing interventions to create supportive and safe work environments, both for nurses and patients.