Chapter 25

Workplace Violence and Incivility

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Objectives

Describe the types of horizontal violence/incivility that may occur in the workplace and its effects on productivity and morale.

Summarize interventions that can help prevent horizontal violence and incivility.

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Horizontal Violence/Incivility

Any unwanted abuse or hostility within the workplace (Stanley, Martin, Nemeth, Michel & Welton, 2007).

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Horizontal Violence/Incivility (Cont.)

Hostile, aggressive or harmful behavior by a nurse or group of nurses toward co-workers via attitudes, actions, words and/or behaviors (Thobaben, 2007).

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Consequences

Impaired intrapersonal relationships

Accidents and poor work performance

Errors

Attrition

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Toxic Work Environment

Tolerance of bullying or intimidation

Lack of trust among workers

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Toxic Work Environment (Cont.)

Lack of trust between workers and management

High levels of stress, frustration, and anger

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Joint Commission Recommendations

Educate all team members.

Hold all team members accountable for modeling desirable behaviors.

Develop and implement policies and procedures.

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Joint Commission Recommendations (Cont.)

Develop an organizational process for addressing intimidating and disruptive behaviors.

Provide skills-based training and coaching.

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Solutions to Incivility

Nurses and nurse leaders, managers, and supervisors adopt and model professional ethical behavior

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Solutions to Incivility (Cont.)

Recognize and appropriately address bullying and disruptive behavior in the workplace through enhanced conflict management and conflict resolution

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Solutions to Incivility (Cont.)

Reflect on your own behavior and communicate respectfully with each other

Participate in collaborative interdisciplinary initiatives to prevent abuse

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Discussion

Think about your behavior in the workplace. Have you ever acted in a way that might be described as lateral aggression or horizontal violence?

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Discussion (Cont.)

How might you guard against such behaviors?

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Discussion (Cont.)

Do you think you could confront a co-worker participating in an act of lateral aggression?

What would you say?

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References

Center for American Nurses (2008). Policy statement on lateral violence and bullying in the workplace. Author. Approved February 2008. Retrieved February 15, 2013, from http://www.mc.vanderbilt.edu/root/pdfs/nursing/center_lateral_violence_and_bullying_position_statement_from_center_for_american_nurses.pdf.

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References (Cont.)

Stanley, K.M, Martin, M.M., Nemeth, L.S., Michel, Y., & Welton, J.M. (2007). Examining lateral violence in the nursing workforce. Issues in Mental Health Nursing, 28(11), 1247-1265.

The Joint Commission. (July 9, 2008). Behaviors that undermine a culture of safety. Sentinel Event Alert, 40. Retrieved October 28, 2009, from http://www.jointcommission.org/sentinel_event_alert_issue_40_behaviors_that_undermine_a_culture_of_safety/.

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References

Thobaben, M. (2007). Horizontal workplace violence. Home Health Care Management and Practice, 20(1), 82-83.

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