Lessons learned from a lateral violence and team-building intervention.

Background: Lateral violence is likely to exist in settings characterized by poor leadership and lack of clearly articulated roles, expectations, and processes that guide behavior.

Objectives: The purposes of this process improvement project were to (1) identify and improve baseline levels of nurse satisfaction and group cohesion through planned unit-based interventions, (2) determine the effect of a team-building intervention on factors that impact cohesive team functioning, and (3) determine the effect of lateral violence training and communication style differences in improving team cohesion.

Methods: The sample consisted of registered nurses (RNs) from 4 diverse patient care areas, chosen on the basis of low scores on the National Database of Nursing Quality Indicators (NDNQI) RN-RN interaction subscale.

Group cohesion and nurse satisfaction: examination of a team-building approach.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of a team-building intervention on group cohesion, nurse satisfaction, and turnover rates.

Background: Creating an environment that supports and retains nurses represents a formidable challenge for nursing leaders. Research related to strategies that positively impact the culture in which nurses practice, thus potentially improving nurse satisfaction and reducing turnover, is critically needed.