Introduction
Violence that does not do outright physical harm remains potent, upsetting the staff, and creating an alarming workplace environment in which few people want to stay. This kind of attack results in a multitude of adverse effects and “staff turnover may be one loss, but patient care that is compromised is an even greater loss” (Christie & Jones, 2013, pp. 11-12). The Scnursing (2008) video attempts to draw attention to possible variations of lateral violence within the nursing profession, presenting three examples.
Retaliation
The scenario within which someone with more connections attempts revenge through them because of a perceived betrayal is a common conception. The video displays the possibility of losing a job transfer to a similar position because of the discontent of a colleague. The frightening detail of this scenario, in comparison to the other two, is the fact that it is an indirect and thus wholly unknown to the victim act.
Bullying
Bullying within the workplace is closest to actual violent confrontations, with it often taking on a physical form with finger jabbing and aggressive behavior. This type of scenario is probably the best for the victim as it is easiest to report due to its demonstrative nature. However, it is also the most physically dangerous, as the video has shown only mild forms of it, and should be treated accordingly.
Exclusion
A case most nursing students, interns, and generally lower-standing specialists deal with is ostracism by those occupying higher positions or having more experience and thus feeling entitled to their dismissive behavior. As one of the more passive forms of lateral violence, exclusion may be dismissed as an unwillingness to talk in general or actual business, and thus becomes very hard to identify for what it is. It is equally as detrimental as the rest of the examples, but auspiciously it seems very hard to find an institution where all of the staff would be practicing of such behavior.
Conclusion
Lateral violence is presented as coming in many forms and becoming a possibility for anyone within nursing at any stage in their career. The video is informative, drawing attention to the problem and giving guidelines on how to classify the received abuse into three categories. Unfortunately, it does not provide any recommendations or suggestions on how to avoid such situations in the workplace, and thus leaves a critical topic untouched.
References
Christie, W., & Jones, S. (2013). Lateral violence in nursing and the theory of the nurse as wounded healer. OJIN: The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing, 19(1), 1-11. Web.
Scnursing. (2008). Lateral violence in the workplace. Web.