1. Workplace Bullying & Civility
Presented By:
Brooke Platte
Kim Fazio

2. Introduction
“In the rapidly changing climate of health care, education, and the demands placed on providers and educators, especially nurses, the level of stress is extremely high. The incidences of bullying or behaviors of incivility are on the increase” (Parrish, 2016)

3. Introduction (cont.) Bullying is all too common in nursing
Health care is known as one of the most common occupations where employees “eat their young”
Why does the bullying continue?
Nurses believe it is the norm, and are afraid to risk retaliation
New nurses are too afraid to speak up
Managers use silence as a strategy and typically do not know how to address the issue
(Thompson, 2013)

4. Assessment of Health Care Environment
Bullying occurs in healthcare all over the world
31% of 511 nurses report bullying in their career in the United States
44% of 1,100 nurses state they had been bullied in the workplace in Britain
57% of 152 nurses admitted to being bullied in Australia
21% of 286 nurses employed in Turkey were also victims of bullying
Bullying manifests itself in a multitude of different ways: including personal attacks, isolation, exclusion, intimidation, threats, belittlement, or humiliation
(Keller, Budin, & Allie, 2016)

5. Assessment of Health Care Environment (cont.)
It is difficult to tackle the epidemic of bullying among nurses when a large portion of the population is afraid to speak up
42% of workers stated that they would not report instances of workplace bullying or harassment
Under-reporting of workplace bullying and harassment occurs with both doctors and nurses
These individuals state they are afraid to speak up about their experiences with bullying because they felt unsafe sharing their concerns
(Fleming, 2016)

6. Assessment of Health Care Environment (cont.)
Psychological symptoms
Anxiety, depression, loss of confidence and self-esteem, feelings of powerlessness, and hopelessness
Physical symptoms
Headaches, sleep disturbances, elevated blood pressure, and gastrointestinal symptoms
Work consequences
Decreased job satisfaction, decreased teamwork and collaboration, impaired communication, professional disengagement, poorer performance, and impaired decision making
(Keller, Budin, & Allie, 2016)

7. Interferences, Implications, & Consequences
What gets in the way of a civil work environment?
Miscommunication
Negative relationships
Not working towards a common goal
Complex/stressful situations
(Keller, Budin, & Allie, 2016)

8. Interferences, Implications, & Consequences (cont.)
Physical Responses
Anxiety
Depression
Feeling powerless
Headaches
Loss of Sleep
Increases BP
GI symptoms
PTSD
Effects on Institution as a whole
Reduced productivity
High turnover
Low Commitment levels
High rate of Absenteeism
Financial Harm
(Keller, Budin, & Allie, 2016)

9. Interferences, Implications, & Consequences (cont.)
What does this mean for the healthcare workforce?
A plan is needed
Healthcare workers need to come together & get involved

10. Recommendations Team member education Specialized training sessions
Increased accountability standards
Development of policies and procedures
( Lim & Bernstein, 2016)

11. Recommendations How would you answer these questions about yourself?
Do I think the best of others?
Am I welcoming to newcomers?
Do I communicate respectfully?
Do I avoid gossip and rumors?
Am I respectful of others’ privacy?
Do I encourage and support others?
Do I take responsibility for my own actions?
Do I seek and encourage constructive feedback from others?
(Clark, 2014)

12. Conclusion A call to action! Nurse & Employer responsibility
Remember to take care of yourself so you can effectively take care of others
“Therapeutic communication skills and taking care of yourself are the most important contributions you can make toward creating and promoting civility in your workplace.” (Parrish, 2016)

13. References
Clark, C. M. (2014). Seeking civility. American Nurse Today, 9(7),
Fleming, F. (2016). Workplace bullying: A lesson for OH. Occupational Health and Wellbeing. Retrieved from %205.pdf
Keller, R., Budin, W.C., & Allie, T. (2016). A task force to address bullying. American Journal of Nursing, 116(2). Retrieved from %201.pdf
Lim, F. A., & Bernstein, I. (2014). Civility and Workplace Bullying: Resonance of Nightingale's Persona and Current Best Practices. Nursing Forum, 49(2), doi: /nuf.12068
Parrish, E. (2016). Civility and Self-Care in Nursing Go Hand in Hand. Perspectives In Psychiatric Care, 52(2), p. doi: /ppc.12163
Thompson, G. (2013). Nurse bullying: Whose eating whom? Advance Healthcare Network for Nurses. Retrieved from Whos-Eating-Whom.aspx