Verbal abuse of nurses by their colleagues in health care settings is an ongoing and well-documented problem. Now two studies published by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) RN Work Project demonstrate that high levels of such abuse have a significant negative effect on victims. The studies reveal that newly-licensed registered nurses (NLRNs) who are on the receiving end of verbal abuse have lower job satisfaction, greater intent to leave their jobs, and more negative perceptions of their work environments.
The study examining verbal abuse of nurses by nurses found that only about five percent of NLRNs had experienced high levels of abuse (defined as having been verbally abused more than five times in the previous three months). The most common forms of abuse were experiencing condescension or being ignored.
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