Nurse Retention: A Case Study

The ANA Scope defines a healthy environment as safe, satisfying, and empowering (ANA, 2015). There are factors that can create changes in the workplace that may result as a barrier that prevent the best patient care and health of the nurse. A shortage of nurses can be one of the factors that impedes a healthy environment. Nursing shortages have been linked to increased mortality, staff violence, accidents or injuries, cross infection, and adverse post-op events (McNeil & Sharpe & Benbow, 2012). Staff violence would definitely affect the environment because this would cause a disruption because of the lack of respect in the teamwork that the nurses are supposed to participate in to provide quality

This case study highlights the conflict that can arise between nurse practitioners (NP) and physicians due to lack of proper communication, poor physician attitude, and lack of respect. Clarin (2007) labels these items as barriers that inhibit effective collaborative care and ultimately hinders the goal of medical institutions. In this case study, the way that the physician treated the new NP encourages other physicians in the practice or staff members that it is acceptable to treat another provider in this manner. This poor behavior will continue the cycle of disrespect and distrust when we should be collaborating with one another in the healthcare field. Not to mention, creates an unhealthy work environment.

Violence against nursing staff and peer-to-peer assault is a significant problem on adult inpatient psychiatric units (Delaney & Johnson, 2006). OSHA (2015) reports less than two employees per 10,000 in private industry suffered injuries related to workplace violence compared to 7.8 cases per 10,000 employees in hospitals. The negative result of staff injury is the “hidden costs” of low “productivity, morale and employee retention” (OSHA, 2013, p. 4). The current practice model on psychiatric units is an emphasis on maintaining a therapeutic milieu and the use of de-escalation techniques as needed to address agitated, aggressive and assaultive behaviors (Delaney & Johnson, 2006).

Great post! Lateral Violence/bullying is a very good concern and topic of discussion. I’m glad that your group have chosen this topic because it truly does need change. It makes it a very sensitive topic to discuss in the workplace because of fear of losing your job, causing conflict or the repercussions that may come for speaking out. Some nurses will leave while others may stick around and accept the behavior.

Competitiveness and aggressiveness can assume various forms including bullying, sabotage, and passive aggressiveness to downright fighting if not addressed in time. In a health care setting, the consequences could be dire. Most of the power struggles that occur in the health care setting can be traced to poor communication, lack of understanding, poor job descriptions and poor leadership. In the modern work environment where everyone is empowered, effective management of conflict is necessary to resolve inherent power struggles. Training to avoid power struggles

Bullying amongst nurses causes detrimental effects on patients and healthcare professionals, creating a toxic work environment with negative work performance. Many nurses are threatening to leave an already understaffed profession. Proactive measures such as implementing anti-bullying policies, providing education, fostering a culture of support and accountability, and promoting open dialogue among team leaders can help in the resolution of this epidemic. By addressing the implications of bullying, healthcare organizations can create an atmosphere that encourages collaboration, enhances well-being, improves patient outcomes, and puts a stop to the stigma of “nurses eat their

The purpose of the article is “to examine the current state of knowledge about the scope of the nurse turnover problem, definitions of turnover, factors considered to be determinants of nurse turnover, turnover costs and of most importance to the authors, the impact of turnover on patient, nurse, and system outcomes,” (Hayes, 238). Hayes uses his

Nurses who are victims of bullying might take more sick days, look for opportunities from other organizations and abandon their occupation. Absenteeism from work caused by horizontal bullying is increasing. Many nurses do not have the encouragement or the capability necessary to manage with bullying and just fail to come to work in order to avoid the experience, mainly if they are aware that they are going to be teamed up with a “bully” for that certain shift. Absenteeism increase to costs that are not necessary for the organizations and adds a burden to the remaining staff, resulting to an increase turnover and nurse disengagement. While interning at the Miami Jewish Health Systems, the report shows about 150 nurses who quit at the same time due to horizontal bullying.

The display of lateral violence in nursing is an issue that is hurting the profession as a whole. Lateral violence is an unprofessional display of behavior from one nurse to another that is meant to intimidate. According to Tina Dimarino “researchers have found that the most common forms of lateral violence in nursing include nonverbal innuendo, verbal insults, gossiping, undermining, withholding information, sabotage, infighting, scapegoating, backstabbing, failure to respect privacy, and broken confidences.” This type of behavior is also termed horizontal violence, nurse to nurse, incivility or bullying (Dimarino, 2011).

Moore, Leahy, Sublett, and Lanig (2013) found that nurse to nurse relationships impacte the work environment in either a positive or negative manner. Interestingly, the authors reported that the nurse leader holds the key in fostering a successful work environment. Key characteristics of an effective leader, according to study participants, possessed the ability to apply strategies that resolved poor nurse to nurse relationships. Strategies consisted of a zero tolerance policy, code of conduct, fair treatment, providing education classes and workshops. Through the effective application of these leadership characteristics, the study participants reported feelings of empowerment that contributed to a healing environment, positive employee engagement and organizational commitment.

Many think that bullying is an issue that occurs more often with minors in a school setting, but horizontal violence in nursing negates this thought. Horizontal violence in nursing is best defined as “bullying that occurs between coworkers” (Granstra, 2015). This bullying cannot only negatively affect seasoned nurses, but also new graduate nurses that may lack confidence in their abilities as they are new to the field. Consequentially, this can

The importance of staff retention Nurse retention is to provide staff with implements that will empower them in the workplace. Empowerment in organizational structures include power and opportunity. Employees with high levels of power are included in lines of information, support, resources and opportunities to learn and grow (Schwinger ET AL., 2010). In additional employees who have high levels of opportunity in their jobs tend to be more proactive problem solvers and accept change. When staff have opportunity and power, they are motivated, feel more in control, have increased wellbeing and have greater job satisfaction (Schwinger ET AL., 2010).

Violence against healthcare providers is a significant problem that has been receiving growing attention. Incidents of workplace violence are experienced by nurses and physicians on a day-to-day basis, especially in emergency departments. The corollary of this phenomenon has become a significant matter due to the psychological stress it is placing on healthcare providers, hence affecting their efficiency and productivity. We may often undermine the consequences of workplace violence, but studies show that it may cause distress, apathy, rage, disappointment, helplessness, anxiety, self-doubt, and insecurity of healthcare workers. (Öztunç 360-365)Hence, their entire job performance is decreased and absenteeism is increased.

When looking at the function of professional nursing, the attitude, experiences, as well as factors such as demographics, social class, education, and values, can determine how the nurse will view violence in the workplace. These factors that have contributed to the development of the professional nurse can also determine how the nurse views and even reacts to workplace violence and aggression towards them. The qualities of the professional nurse and their background can determine how the human behavior from the patient is viewed and can lead to de-escalation or escalation of violent situations. The behavior of the patient can include cooperation, calmness, anxiety, aggression, or anger. Behaviors of aggression, anger, frustration, and acts of intimidation when patients are experiencing an illness can exacerbate stressful situations which can turn violent.

Information regarding the reports such as research limitations, level of evidence, research method and design are included in the discussion and implications of nursing. The literature review found that nurse on nurse bullying does indeed effect nurses in a physical and emotional way as well as effecting the adequacy of patient care. Effects of Horizontal Violence in the Workplace on Nurses and Patient Care Introduction Nurses spend approximately 12 hours a day 3-4 times a week working in either a hospital, clinic, or some sort