Horizontal Violence In The Workplace: A Case Study

Horizontal violence in workplace has significant effects on new graduate nurse which can last for a long period (Longo& Sherman, 2007). Studies show that horizontal violence in new graduate nurses can have serious implications for target's physical and mental health (McKenna et al., 2003; Murray, 2009; Tepper, 2000; Vickers, 2006). Einarsen (1999) found out that horizontal violence increased psychosomatic symptoms and physical illness in new nurses. Felblinger (2009) highlighted that headache, eating disorders and sleeping disturbance are the three most frequent physical symptoms the targeted nurse may suffer. Vickers (2006) reported that workplace violence was a major cause of emotional stress and poor mental health. Stanley et al. (2007) demonstrate that 24% of new staff agreed that horizontal violence cause stress and tension. Workplace bullying can cause serious mental problems like post-traumatic stress disorder (Laschinger&Nosko, 2015).
Horizontal violence impacts the target's job performance and lead to poor patient outcomes (Vogelpohl et al., 2013). Nursing is a profession with high stress especially for new nurses. Workplace violence induced pressure may increase the tendency of making errors which threaten the safety of patients. Withholding of …show more content…
Job satisfaction is an important factor that motivates nurses stay in their current position. Nurses with low job satisfaction have higher intention to leave their current job or even nursing profession. On the other hand, workplace violence induced stress and emotional exhaustion which can lead to burn out in new nurses. Studies found that horizontal violence is associates with high absenteeism and turnover rate and low retention rate in new nurses (McKenna et al., 2003). Rocker (2008) states that one third of new nurses left the job within a year because of the hostile work