Lateral Violence In Nursing

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Pages: 3

Lateral Violence is defined as a deliberate and harmful behavior demonstrated in the workplace by one employee to another who is in an equal or lesser position. It is also known as horizontal violence or workplace bullying.
Every nurse or nursing student has heard the phrase, “Nurses eat their young.” Unfortunately that is very true, not for all, but it rings true for a high percentage of them. Throughout the years there are countless acts of bullying and violence within the nursing profession, and many incidents get pushed by because it was accepted that nurses are rough with the new nurses and it is just how it is. Well that might be true, but is it right? Some see it as some sort of a hazing ritual; quickly forgetting they were once new themselves.
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New nurses are afraid to say anything because they go into their first jobs expecting it to be rough and knowing this is status quo at some places. This is not a problem with just new nurses, but seasoned ones as well. Depending on the facility they are working at, there can be cliques like there were in high school and if they don’t fit in, life there can really be rough, putting a damper on their dreams of being a nurse.
According to the results of a survey, the demographics show by a large percentage that the main nurses bullying were white female l nurses who are 46-55 years old with their BSN. They have 21 or more years of experience and have been at their place of employment between 0-10 years. It is disturbing to know that these nurses, with all of their vast knowledge and experience would not mentor their nurses and make them better; instead, they will tear them down and make them regret entering the field. (Walrafen, Brewer, Mulvenon