A Safe Environment for Nurses and Patients: Halting Horizontal Violence

The scope and implications of workplace violence, including its effects on patient safety, quality clinical outcomes, nurse retention, and the nursing profession, are evaluated.

Abstract

Workplace violence has become a public health problem of epidemic proportion that has implications for health-care providers, regulators, consumers, and society at large. To understand the magnitude of the problem facing nurses today, one must recognize that workplace violence includes not only physical assault but a range of disruptive behaviors, such as intimidation and bullying. These nonphysical disruptive behaviors are called horizontal or lateral violence. This article evaluates the scope and implications of this violence, including its effects on patient safety, quality clinical outcomes, nurse retention, and the nursing profession.