NR 582 Week 7 Discussion

Student Name

Chamberlain University

NR-586: Population Health and Epidemiology for Advanced Nursing Practice

Prof. Name:

Date

Workplace Bullying and Its Impact on Nursing Practice

During my tenure as a registered nurse (RN) in a primary care clinic, I experienced firsthand the detrimental effects of workplace bullying. A clique of RNs, referred to as the “Mean Girls,” created a toxic work environment by excluding and belittling colleagues. Their behavior included withholding crucial information, refusing to assist others outside their group, and using condescending communication. A particularly hurtful encounter occurred when one of these nurses told me, “No one in this clinic likes you. Even your own doctor hates you. If you think anyone is your friend here, you are very wrong.” This statement left me feeling blindsided and deeply hurt. I was already going through a personal crisis, navigating a divorce, and this hostility exacerbated my depression. The emotional distress led to daily panic attacks and a decline in my nursing performance. I became hypervigilant, constantly anticipating further mistreatment. Trust in my colleagues and the provider I worked with diminished, as I could no longer discern what was truthful. The divisive atmosphere within the clinic affected multiple nurses, and management’s interventions were insufficient due to staffing shortages.

The toxic work environment had a direct impact on patient care. The lack of teamwork resulted in delayed medication refills, unreturned phone messages, and postponed test results. High staff turnover imposed financial burdens on the hospital, and patients sensed the palpable tension, undermining the clinic’s intended healing atmosphere. A healthy workplace is crucial for nurse satisfaction, retention, and positive patient outcomes. One potential solution to preventing such workplace toxicity is the implementation of Standards of Care for a Healthy Work Environment (HWE). The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) has developed six essential HWE standards: (1) skilled communication, (2) true collaboration, (3) effective decision-making, (4) appropriate staffing, (5) meaningful recognition, and (6) authentic leadership. Research indicates that adherence to these standards fosters resilience among nurses, increasing job satisfaction and reducing attrition rates (Williams et al., 2023). Kester et al. (2021) also found that integrating AACN’s HWE framework in an intensive care unit (ICU) resulted in improved nurse retention, reduced moral distress, and enhanced quality of care. Additionally, implementing individual coaching and counseling sessions could have reinforced expectations regarding professional conduct. Clear disciplinary measures against bullying behaviors might have deterred such toxic actions and promoted a more supportive work environment.

Table: Workplace Bullying and Strategies for Prevention

Issue	Impact on Nursing Practice	Potential Solutions
Workplace bullying	Increased stress, anxiety, and depression among nurses	Enforcing strict anti-bullying policies with clear consequences
Lack of teamwork	Delayed medication refills, unreturned messages, test result delays	Promoting AACN’s Healthy Work Environment (HWE) framework
High staff turnover	Increased hospital costs and disrupted patient care	Implementing coaching, counseling, and recognition programs
Poor communication	Misunderstandings and strained professional relationships	Encouraging skilled communication and true collaboration
Toxic work culture	Decreased nurse performance and patient dissatisfaction	Strengthening leadership accountability and promoting inclusivity

References

Kester, K., Pena, H., Shuford, C., Hansen, C., Stokes, J., Brooks, K., Bolton, T., Ornell, A., Parker, P., Febre, J., Andrews, K., Flynn, G., Ruiz, R., Evans, T., Kettle, M., Minter, J., & Granger, B. (2021). Implementing AACN’s Healthy Work Environment Framework in an Intensive Care Unit. American Journal of Critical Care, 30(6), 426–433. https://doi.org/10.4037/ajcc2021108