Bullying of nurses continues to increase in the workplace

Bullying of nurses and midwives in the workplace continues to be a huge issue despite the introduction of a policy aimed to stop it.

Apparently the incidents of bullying in that particular sector are on the increase – so much so that their own union, the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) asked for a repeat of a study initially carried out over ten years ago.

In 1993, the INMO conducted a survey of its own members to review the extent of bullying in the workplace affecting the lives of nurses and midwives.

Yesterday the organisation announced it was teaming up with NUI Galway to undertake a new study following the passing of a motion at their recent annual conference in Kilkenny asking for it.

Following the initial survey carried out over a decade ago, the INMO introduced a policy on bullying and this led eventually to the HSE introducing a policy on bullying and harassment.

Bullying in the workplace within the Irish public health care system is addressed by the HSE’s Dignity at Work Policy which only came into operation in May, 2004.

But despite this policy, academic and practitioner evidence suggests that nurses and midwives working in Irish hospitals continue to frequently experience workplace bullying.

This is reported as having very negative consequences for nurses and midwives’ personal health and personal and family relationships. It also adds to already high levels of stress experienced by members working within the Irish health care system.

The survey is seeking nurses/midwives’ input on how bullying can be reduced and what support is needed if they experience or witness bullying in their workplaces.

The survey will be available on the INMO’s website www.inmo.ie until 1 July 2014. Input from nurses and midwives is critical to the success of this study which is completely anonymous.

See full story in this week’s Sentinel.