Workplace bullying among nurses and organizational response: An online cross-sectional study.

Aims: To examine prevalence of bullying among nurses and explore associations of organizational betrayal and support with well-being among nurses exposed to bullying.

Background: Bullying is a problem in many nursing workplaces, and organizations have an obligation to support nurses who are bullied. Support or betrayal after bullying could affect nurse well-being, including burnout.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study among U.S. nurses, data were collected in a survey using the Negative Acts Questionnaire-Revised for Nursing, the Institutional Betrayal Questionnaire for Health, the Well-Being Index, a job satisfaction scale and demographic questions.

Results: Prevalence of weekly/daily bullying was 31% (N = 242). Among nurses exposed to any bullying (N = 173), organizational betrayal increased odds of burnout (OR 2.62, p = .02), job dissatisfaction (OR 2.97, p = .04) and absenteeism (OR 6.11, p < .001). Organizational support decreased odds of job dissatisfaction (OR 0.30, p = .001) and absenteeism (OR 0.50, p = .04).

Conclusion: Analysis of study findings suggests organizational betrayal increases likelihood of burnout, job dissatisfaction and absenteeism, and support decreases likelihood of dissatisfaction and absenteeism.

Implications For Nursing Management: Nurse leaders should be aware of the issue of organizational betrayal and support in relation to well-being. Future studies can further explore the concepts of betrayal and support to provide additional evidence.