Other Titles

Clinical Session: Collaborative Strategies to Improve the Workplace

Abstract

Session presented on Sunday, April 14, 2013:

Healthy Work Environments (HWEs) are the responsibility of all healthcare professionals. Several factors contribute HWEs, including skilled communication and true collaboration. Bullying as a disruptive behavior prevents true collaboration between nurses. In the workplace, this negative behavior frequently results in nurse turnover, decreased quality of care, and increased costs to organizations. With the current nursing shortage and with large numbers of nurses retiring in the next 15 years, it is critical that organizations find innovative ways to decrease bullying to retain nurses and contribute to the health of the environment. Further, it is imperative to retain a diverse nurse workforce to promote access to care for all populations. Research examining the prevalence and impact of bullying behaviors on minority nurses is lacking. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the prevalence of bullying experienced by African-American nurses and to analyze the relationship of this negative behavior on intent to leave work positions. The theoretical framework of oppressed group behavior guided the development of the survey tool and study design. Results from a sample of 318 African-American registered nurses active in practice indicate a 19.8% prevalence rate of bullying and a moderately strong relationship of bullying with nurses' intent to leave the workplace.

Author Details

Debra L. Curry, RN, BSN; Kathleen A. S. Cannella, PhD, RN; Jennell P. Charles, PhD, RN

Sigma Membership

Xi Rho

Lead Author Affiliation

Clayton State University, Morrow, Georgia, USA

Type

Presentation

Format Type

Text-based Document

Study Design/Type

N/A

Research Approach

N/A

Keywords:

Bullying, African-American nurses, Intent to Leave

Conference Name

Creating Healthy Work Environments 2013

Conference Host

Sigma Theta Tau International

Conference Location

Indianapolis, Indiana, USA

Conference Year

2013

Rights Holder

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All submitting authors or publishers have affirmed that when using material in their work where they do not own copyright, they have obtained permission of the copyright holder prior to submission and the rights holder has been acknowledged as necessary.

Review Type

Abstract Review Only: Reviewed by Event Host

Acquisition

Proxy-submission

Additional Files

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Workplace bullying experienced by African-American nurses and its impact on intent to leave

Indianapolis, Indiana, USA

Session presented on Sunday, April 14, 2013:

Healthy Work Environments (HWEs) are the responsibility of all healthcare professionals. Several factors contribute HWEs, including skilled communication and true collaboration. Bullying as a disruptive behavior prevents true collaboration between nurses. In the workplace, this negative behavior frequently results in nurse turnover, decreased quality of care, and increased costs to organizations. With the current nursing shortage and with large numbers of nurses retiring in the next 15 years, it is critical that organizations find innovative ways to decrease bullying to retain nurses and contribute to the health of the environment. Further, it is imperative to retain a diverse nurse workforce to promote access to care for all populations. Research examining the prevalence and impact of bullying behaviors on minority nurses is lacking. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the prevalence of bullying experienced by African-American nurses and to analyze the relationship of this negative behavior on intent to leave work positions. The theoretical framework of oppressed group behavior guided the development of the survey tool and study design. Results from a sample of 318 African-American registered nurses active in practice indicate a 19.8% prevalence rate of bullying and a moderately strong relationship of bullying with nurses' intent to leave the workplace.