Lateral Violence In Nursing

RUNNING HEAD: LATERAL VIOLENCE

Lateral Violence

Introduction
The aim of this paper is to explore the administrative challenge of lateral violence in nursing. According to Koch (2012) the top ten forms of lateral violence in nursing include nonverbal innuendo, verbal affront, undermining activities, withholding information, sabotage, infighting, scapegoating, backstabbing, failure to respect privacy, and broken confidences. Furthermore, as described by Stokowski (2010) lateral violence is bullying. Additionally, Dimarino (2011) described lateral violence as horizontal violence, nurse to nurse violence, incivility, and disruptive behavior. Interestingly, even popular social media has picked up on the
Due to down-sizing and budget cuts, the unit which the author had previously work has been closed. This has resulted in registered nurses, emergency department techs, and unit secretaries bargaining for new positions within the hospital. Unfortunately, lateral violence has been swirling around these changes, adding to the stress of an ugly situation and creating a highly toxic work environment. Behaviors currently being exhibited by the staff include undermining activities, withholding information, sabotage, infighting, scapegoating, backstabbing, and broken confidences. These behaviors are seven of the ten most common behaviors of lateral violence listed above according to Koch (2012). As an additional personal experience in lateral violence in the current role as a registered nurse is the role of preceptor and orientee. As an experienced registered nurse, the expectation is to train new nurses in a respectful and professional manner. Recently, the additional pay for the hard work of training new nurses has been discontinued. The first response of many experienced registered nurses (myself included) was simple, “I will no longer take on orientees”. However, now that the shoe is on the other foot and additional training to excel in a new position is needed by the author, the hostility of the former preceptors is tangible, creating a very uncomfortable and stressful work
When nurses participate and engage in acts of lateral violence they may be violating laws against harassment of coworkers (Matt, 2012).Harassment of coworkers can be considered a criminal offense in some states. Civil laws such as defamation may also be applied to cases of lateral violence when rumors damage the person’s reputation (Matt, 2012). Additionally, it should be noted that as of May 2011, there were 14 bills addressing the issue of lateral violence in 10 different states (The healthy workplace campaign, 2011). Unfortunately, Michigan does not have any legislation pending. Additionally, noted by Matt (2012) are federal laws under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970. The act mandates employers to “furnish to each of his employees employment and a place of employment which are free from recognized hazards that are causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm to his employees” (OSHA, 1970). Thereby, placing responsibility on the employer for ensuring that lateral violence is not perpetrated in their