Lateral violence or “bullying” among health professionals but especially among nurses is thought to be a very common phenomenon. It is typically characterized by senior level or veteran nurses abusing nurses who occupy lesser positions of power in the organizational hierarchy. Nurses who claimed they were bullied have reported unrelenting condemnation of their work; consistently being given difficult assignments; and even feeling their careers were being actively conspired against by other nurses.

The toll this takes on nursing personnel and their health care organizations can be considerable. The literature reports that bullied nurses frequently suffer serious psychological and physical damage; their care of patients might be compromised; and quitting their positions can result in considerable financial loss to their clinics and hospitals who have to spend money to recruit their replacements.

This presentation will survey the nursing literature examining the nature and suggested causes of lateral violence in nursing; its personal and organizational effects or repercussions; and conclude with some suggestions that seek to remediate the problem.