Effects of vertical violence on the work of nurses in hospital settings: An exploratory study

More than 39.7% of nurses report being victims of psychological harassment in the workplace. In 60% of cases, the abuse is vertical, involving a person in a position of authority.

Few studies have examined this phenomenon without conflating it with other forms of workplace violence.

The purpose of this study was to shed light on cases of vertical violence experienced by nurses working in hospitals.

Data was collected by means of semi-structured interviews with six nurses working in hospitals in the province of Quebec (Canada). Descriptive phenomenology was used to analyze the collected data.

The overall effects of the vertical violence experienced by nurses in hospital settings resulted in less diligent and individualized nursing care.

It is recommended that organizational policies against vertical violence put in place in hospital be enforced in a rigorous and transparent manner. Further investigation is needed to identify the organizational factors that contribute to vertical violence in hospital settings.