Bullying in nursing students: A integrative literature review

Abstract

The purpose of this integrative review was to analyse the current situation of bullying in nursing students through an exhaustive review of the last 10 years. As the sources of information, we used electronic databases, such as Medline, CINAHL, PubMed, Cochrane, and SciELO, using bullying, nursing students, and clinical environment as search terms. We based the methodology of the study in PRISMA checklist. Articles were selected for their relevance and suitability for the purpose, and they were constructed into a table. A critical appraisal was done using MMAT TOOL and AACOODS checklist. Papers were analysed using a constant comparison and a concept mapping. Finally, 30 articles were included. We analysed: prevalence, profile of the victim and perpetrator, type of violence, and bullying consequences. Bullying prevalence varied from 9-96% according to the author. Differences about the influence of sociodemographic variables were detected, there is no consensus about age, gender, or educational level. Bullying in nursing students is an important problem that affects all spheres of their life. Harassment also has consequences for the patient and for the health organization, so it is really important to take action regarding bullying and to act to victims, perpetrators, and health organizations. Regarding to implications for nursing practice, we found that some interventions were useful to reduce bullying, so it is important to participate in intervention programmes to eventually stop this problem. This study has revealed that more research on the efficacy of psychological intervention programmes to help students cope with bullying situations is essential.

Education on the Sustainable Development Goals for nursing students: Is Freire the answer?

“…In Pedagogy of the Oppressed (1970), Freire argues that the dominant elites (oppressors) use their power to manipulate and dominate people to the point they feel owned and dehumanised (oppressed) (Freire, 1970 ). Many authors use the term “oppressed” as a label for nursing (Fernández‐Gutiérrez & Mosteiro‐Díaz, 2021 ; Hutchinson et al, 2006 ; Vickers, 2008 ; Whitehead, 2010 ). These authors present several arguments for why nursing students (and the wider nursing profession) may be considered oppressed (and therefore be benefactors of critical theory).…”

“…Nursing education is also argued to be a source of disparate power structures (Valderama‐Wallace & Apesoa‐Varano 2020 ), and, findings have suggested, “ the oppression that nurses suffer is especially visible in nursing students ” (Fernández‐Gutiérrez & Mosteiro‐Díaz, 2021 , p. 822). Nurses that are oppressors and oppressed may be seen to originate in undergraduate nursing.…”

“…The well‐known phrase, “nurses eating their young” was first identified in 1986, with the author describing nursing academics as the “first offenders of insidious cannibalism ” (Meissner, 1986 , p. 52). The case of bullying and dominating exertion of the power of academics over students is a trend that continues to be reported on today (Abdelaziz & Abu‐Snieneh, 2021 ; Courtney‐Pratt et al, 2018 ; Fernández‐Gutiérrez & Mosteiro‐Díaz, 2021 ), the consequences being a disempowered group of students (Courtney‐Pratt et al, 2018 ). This is not to say that teachers, including nursing academics, oppress students necessarily with intent or malice.…”

Nursing students’ experiences of workplace violence in clinical practice: a qualitative systematic review protocol

“…17,18 Internationally, the estimates of bullying in nursing students range from 9% to 96%. 19 This WPV contributes to students ceasing their training. Up to 20% of nursing students in the UK and 15% in Israel 20 have considered leaving their program as a result of WPV.…”

“…In Iran and Turkey, 73% and 92% of nursing students, respectively, have experienced verbal violence 17,18 . Internationally, the estimates of bullying in nursing students range from 9% to 96% 19 …”