Sheila Blackstock
Thompson Rivers University, Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada
Title: The impacts of organisational factors on horizontal bullying and turnover intentions in the nursing workplace
Biography
Biography: Sheila Blackstock
Abstract
Aim: To examine the impact of organizational factors on bullying among peers (i.e. horizontal) and its effect on turnover intentions among Canadian registered nurses (RNs).Background: Bullying among nurses is an international problem. Few studies have examined factors specific to nursing work environments that may increase exposure to bullying.An Australian model of nurse bullying was tested among Canadian registered nurse coworkers using a web-based survey (n = 103). Three factors –misuse of organizational processes/procedures, organizational tolerance and reward of bullying, and informal organizational alliances – were examined as predictors of horizontal bullying, which in turn was examined as a predictor of turnover intentions. The construct validity of model measures was explored.Informal organizational alliances and misuse of organizational processes/procedures predicted increased horizontal bullying that, in turn, predicted increased turnover intentions. Construct validity of model measures was supported.Conclusion: Negative informal alliances and misuse of organizational processes are antecedents to bullying, which adversely affects employment relationship stability and the implications for nursing management. The results suggest that reforming flawed organizational processes that contribute to registered nurses’ bullying experiences may help to reduce chronically high turnover. Nurse leaders and managers need to create workplace processes that foster positive networks, fairness and respect through more transparent and accountable practices.