Motivations, consequences, and mechanisms of workplace gossip in nursing groups: a scoping review

Workplace gossip is a pervasive form of informal communication, with significant implications for both individual and organizational consequences. Nevertheless, it remains underexplored, particularly within the distinctive social context of nursing profession.

Using the Arksey and O'Malley framework, a scoping review was conducted across six databases including PubMed and Cochrane Library, retrieving 1,487 articles and examining 30 studies from 1993 to 2025. The selection of studies followed predetermined inclusion and exclusion criteria, and the extracted data were charted using a series of tables.

Grounded in Social Information Processing theory, this study systematically explores the motivations, consequences, and mechanisms of workplace gossip in nursing groups. The findings reveal that: (1) Workplace gossip stems from both intrinsic and extrinsic motivations, deeply shaped by social context of the nursing profession; (2) It has both beneficial and harmful effects on nurses and organizations; (3) Its mechanisms of influence are mediated by organizational and cultural factors such as perceived justice, relational networks, work environment, and group tenure diversity.

As a complex organizational phenomenon, workplace gossip exhibits distinctive motivations, consequences, and underlying mechanisms in nursing groups. A comprehensive understanding and evidence-based guidance of gossip in nursing practice may transform it into a constructive managerial resource, fostering staff well-being, patient safety, and organizational adaptability.