To ensure the healthcare workers are providing safe care to the patients, …show more content…
All staff deserve to be treated with dignity and respect. Unfortunately, although nurses are perceived by their patients to be compassionate and caring, they have a tendency to “eat their young”, in a way that can be perceived as bullying. Alarmingly, studies in the United States found rates of bullying to range between 23% and 27.3% (Wilson, 2016). Bullying behavior can create psychological distress, depression and negative impact on patient care (Wilson, 2016). At my hospital there is zero-tolerance for bullying. However, if not seen by the leader, staff must feel comfortable to speak up. This is the dilemma I have recently encountered at my hospital. Fortunately, I have developed a relationship with my staff based on mutual trust and respect. My nurses know that I have an open door policy and, much like with my own children, they can talk to me about anything. Unfortunately, I had an alarming conversation with a relatively young nurse that has a bright future ahead of her. She had a very uncomfortable encounter with a much more seasoned nurse that has the potential to be a bully. After our discussion, I understand that I have the obligation to eradicate some negative behavior in order to revive our healthy work environment. I am not looking forward to the necessary crucial conversation, but when I took this role, I made a commitment to do no harm and to treat everyone with dignity and respect, the very essence of beneficence and