Workplace Bullying among Hospital Nurses - Book Report/Review Example

When it comes to workplace bullying among hospital nurses, several factors must be considered what causes burnout and an intent to leave one's current position. In this literature review, several aspects of workplace bullying (WPB) will be discussed, which will include: an introduction to workplace bullying (WPB); and the conceptual framework of Paulo Freire's oppressed behavior model. Workplace bullying (WPB) among hospital nurses is a serious issue. According to Sounart (2008), one study found that up to 90 percent of nurses have witnessed or were the target of workplace bullying, and some experts fear this trend could push more nurses out of the clinical setting (pgh. 1). " 'Lateral bullying' among nurses was also noted in the survey[which] include[s] making inappropriate remarks about other nurses' skills in front of patients, doctors or other staff members, refusing to assist a fellow nurse or making inappropriate personal comments" (Sounart, 2008, pgh. 7). Sounart (2008) says that this can lead to nurses developing psychological side effects like post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, depression, and/or insomnia, each of which can result in poor work performance (pgh. 9). The conceptual model for the framework of workplace bullying (WPB) to be used is Paulo Freire's oppressed behavior model. . ses developing psychological side effects like post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, depression, and/or insomnia, each of which can result in poor work performance (pgh. 9). The conceptual model for the framework of workplace bullying (WPB) to be used is Paulo Freire's oppressed behavior model.

In Paulo Freire's revolutionary book Pedagogy of the Oppressed, he seeks to address this lateral oppression, also called horizontal violence. Freire (2000) argues that "This struggle [for humanization] is possible only because dehumanization, although a concrete historical fact, is not a given destiny but the result of an unjust order that engenders violence in the oppressors, which in turn dehumanizes the oppressed" (p. 44).As Freire states, basically this horizontal violence that occurs in the workplace of nurses is dehumanizing and makes the nurse feel objectified.

Lateral oppression should ideally have no place in the workplace environment. Current research into this area suggests that many nurses are leaving the institutional environment due to this folly, perhaps never to return (Sounart, 2008, pgh. 6).One of the aspects affecting the behavior of the oppressed includes the tendency of nurses who are being oppressed to then become oppressors. "But almost always, during the initial stage of the struggle, the oppressed, instead of striving for liberation, tend themselves to become oppressors, or 'sub-oppressors.

' The very structure of their thought has been conditioned by the contradictions of the concrete, existential situation by which they were shaped" (Freire, 1970, pgh. 7). However, Freire makes sure to note that just because nurses would be oppressing others, that does not necessarily mean they would even be aware of being oppressed themselves. Thus,