Community-Building Process Provides a Way to Address 'Horizontal Violence' Between Nurses
Newswise — Philadelphia, Pa. (October 26, 2011) – Bullying and other types of disruptive behavior in health care settings are common problems that can negatively affect patient care. An approach incorporating emancipatory education and community-building provides a way of addressing "horizontal violence" between nurses, according to a paper in the November issue of Advances in Nursing Science. The journal is published by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, a part of Wolters Kluwer Health.
A group process called "Peace and Power" can transform "alienation and conflict to connection and community," among nurses, according to the new article by Joy Longo, PhD, RN, and Marlaine C. Smith, PhD, RN, AHN-BC, FAAN, of Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton. They write, "This can lead to healthier work environments for nurses and better health outcomes for patients."
When Horizontal Violence Poses Threats to Patient Care…Longo and Smith introduce the problem of horizontal violence and its potentially harmful effects on patient care. Disruptive behaviors such disrespectful language, demeaning behavior, and anger outbursts are examples of "overt or covert behaviors…creating breakdowns in communication and collaboration [and] leading to gaps in the transfer of critical information among colleagues."
While short-tempered doctors are stereotypically regarded as the perpetrators of bullying, Longo and Smith call on nurses and other health care staff to recognize these behaviors in themselves. Horizontal violence occurs when "Displaced frustration resulting from oppression [is] manifested as conflict within the same ranks, from coworker to coworker," they write. Rather than speaking out against oppression, nurses may direct misplaced anger toward colleagues. Alternatively, they may fall silent, becoming unable to speak up for themselves or their patients.
Conflict between nurses may feel dangerous, but actually represents an opportunity for growth, Longo and Smith believe. They write, "When conflict surfaces, there is a chance to reinvent working relationships and begin to build community."
…'Peace and Power' Transforms Conflict into Community BuildingTo achieve those goals, they recommend the Peace and Power approach, consisting of group meetings with shared leadership, in which "every perspective is given voice, respected, and integrated into the whole." Built on the idea of emancipatory education, the process seeks to "level the hierarchy…freeing victims of oppression to move toward meaningful action."
By allowing all group members to speak and have their views respected, the process allows nurses—perpetrators as well as victims of horizontal violence—to build community together, establishing "a new foundation of fairness and respect." Participants can apply their newly learned skills to improving the health care systems in which they work, and thus to improving the outcomes for patients under their care. Through the community-building approach, nurses overcome the cycle of oppression and anger resulting in horizontal violence, leading to "the full realization of nurses' potential to care for their patients and each other."
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About Advances in Nursing ScienceConsistently ranked as one of the most-read and most assigned journals by faculties of doctoral programs in nursing, Advances in Nursing Science (ANS) is the most stimulating publication in nursing science and education today. ANS is intellectually challenging, yet readable; innovative, yet scientifically sound; reliable research without the tedious, traditional hard science approach found in so many other journals. Each issue features a single timely research topic with exciting implications for patient care. Articles in ANS are peer-reviewed and chosen for their pioneering approaches and perspectives, which set the direction for nursing practice today.
About Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Lippincott Williams & Wilkins (LWW) is a leading international publisher for healthcare professionals and students with nearly 300 periodicals and 1,500 books in more than 100 disciplines publishing under the LWW brand, as well as content-based sites and online corporate and customer services.
LWW is part of Wolters Kluwer Health, a leading global provider of information, business intelligence and point-of-care solutions for the healthcare industry. Wolters Kluwer Health is part of Wolters Kluwer, a market-leading global information services company with 2010 annual revenues of €3.6 billion ($4.7 billion).
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