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This statement was originally designed for and submitted to the Florence Project for their consideration on July 19, 1998.Whereas, we have come to realize that horizontal violence exists, impedes our mission, and affects the health of our members, and Whereas, horizontal violence harms nurses, and Whereas, we seek to validate the experiences of nurses who experience violence, and Whereas, we are dedicated to breaking the historical cycle of horizontal violence among nurses and establishing a culture in which this behavior is no longer accepted, We, the members of the Florence Organization, have adopted a Zero Tolerance Policy on Horizontal Violence. DefinitionHorizontal Violence is harmful behavior, via attitudes, actions, words, and other behaviors that is directed towards us by another colleague. Horizontal violence controls, humiliates, denigrates or injures the dignity of another. Horizontal violence indicates a lack of mutual respect and value for the worth of the individual and denies another's fundamental human rights. ExamplesSome examples of horizontal violence may be: Name-calling, threatening , intimidating, belittling Gossiping, talking behind the back Sarcastic remarks Ignoring or minimizing another's concerns Slurs based on race, ethnicity, religion, gender, or sexual-orientation Pushing, shoving, throwing objects Physical threats or intimidation Inappropriate or unwelcome physical contact Sexual harassment Limiting the right to free speech and to have and state an opinion Behaviors which seek to control or dominate another Elitist attitudes based on education, specialization, or clinical area of practice Nurse manager practices such as chronic understaffing; belittling the concerns of nurses; and disregard for the safety, physical or mental health of nurse employees
References Cawood, J. (1998, January/February). Aggression in star performers often ignored to the detriment of employers. Workplace Violence Prevention Reporter, 4 (1, 2), 12. Droppleman, P., & Thomas, S. (1996, April). Anger in nurses: Don't lose it, use it. American Journal of Nursing. Friere, P. (1997). Pedagogy of the oppressed (Rev. ed.). New York: Continuum. Giles, P. (1998). Bullying and workplace abuse. Australian Nursing Journal, 5 (8), 4-5. Higgins, J. (1997). Peace profile: Paulo Friere. Peace Review 9:4, 571-577. International Council of Nurses. (1994). Guidelines on coping with violence in the workplace [Brochure]. Geneva, Switzerland: Author. Johnstone, M. (1994). Nursing and the injustices of the law. Australia: Harcourt Brace. Richardson, T. (1997, December). Nurse abuse: UNA examines workplace violence: Part I. News Bulletin. Edmonton, Alberta: United Nurses of Alberta. Serghis, D. (1998). Study depicts widespread workplace bullying. Australian Nursing Journal, 5 (10), 9. Skillings, L. (1992, October). Perceptions and feelings of nurses about horizontal violence as an expression of oppressed group behavior. NLN Publications, 14-2504, 167-185. National League for Nursing. Violence in health care profession enormous and costly problem. (1998, May). Workplace Violence Prevention Reporter, 4 (5), 1-7. Witham, H. (Ed.). (1998, May). Workplace bullying [Letters to the editor]. Australian Nursing Journal, 5 (10), 3-4.
Copyright © July 1998, 1999 by Barbara Mathews Blanton, Carrie Lybecker, and Nicole Marie Spring. All rights reserved. The use of this document for personal and professional reasons is encouraged, with attribution to the authors.
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