The incidence and outcomes of nurse bullying in the Russian Federation

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this study was to describe bullying experienced by professional nurses working in the Russian Federation. The frequency and type of bullying behaviours experienced, the personal and professional consequences of bullying and the actions taken to address bullying were all examined. Background/Introduction: Workplace bullying negatively affects nurses, patients and healthcare organizations. To date, no research has been conducted on workplace bullying among nurses in the Russian Federation. Methods: This was a descriptive study using survey methodology. Members of the Russian Nurses Association were invited to participate via email and social media. Participants completed the 26-item, web-based Bullying in the Workplace Survey. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics. Results: Of the 438 participants, 63% reported being bullied at some point during their career. The majority were female and worked fulltime for an average of 20 years. Over half the nurses were working in staff positions when bullying occurred, and administrators were most commonly identified as the bully. Bullying caused moderate to severe distress in 73.5%. Half of the nurses reported that bullying affected their work, and 83.3% reported that it affected their health. Just over 70% took action to address the bullying situation; 59% of those who did were dissatisfied with the outcome. Conclusion: Bullying is prevalent in the nursing workplace in the Russian Federation. The perpetrators were most frequently the nurse administrator or physician administrator. Workplace bullying negatively affects nurses' ability to function and subsequently impacts nursing teamwork and patient care. Implications for nursing and health policy: Identifying bullying, its antecedents and consequences in the Russian Federation are a requisite for developing meaningful interventions and contributing to shaping local and international policy.