The Degree of Horizontal Violence in RNs Practicing in New York State

Abstract

This study examined the degree of horizontal violence (HV) among RNs practicing in New York State (NYS). The objective was to determine the knowledge of HV and the degree of being a victim among practicing RNs. A descriptive survey using Briles' Sabotage Savvy Questionnaire, measuring occurrences of HV and nurses' knowledge of HV, was conducted among 2659 RNs in NYS hospitals. Findings demonstrate a significantly greater (P < .05) degree of HV in union versus nonunion cultures and less HV in Magnet® organizations. Gender and RN education significantly impacted HV. Developing organizational, leadership, and individual interventions to address HV helps create a culture of safety.

The Development and Psychometric Testing of the Horizontal Violence Scale

“…Subsequent analysis indicted that this item has low standardized loading on the factor of Physical threat (0.33), where the suggested minimum is 0.5. Despite the improvement of the model fix indices to a GFI = 0.91 and the standardize RMR = 0.021, physical violence was retained in the instrument, since several authors have found (Khalil, 2009;McKenna et al, 2003;Sellers et al, 2012;Walrafen et al, 2012). The reaming standardized estimates for all of the direct effects were >0.50.…”

“…The most common displays include verbal or emotional acts, though physical acts have been reported (Khalil, 2009;McKenna, Smith, Poole, & Coverdale, 2003;Sellers, Millenbach, Ward, & Scribani, 2012;Walrafen, Brewer, & Mulvenon, 2012). Horizontal violence is differentiated from bullying in that bullying behaviors can occur across a power gradient, such as from manager to staff (Hockley, 2000;Vessey et al, 2009).…”

“…Horizontal violence is differentiated from bullying in that bullying behaviors can occur across a power gradient, such as from manager to staff (Hockley, 2000;Vessey et al, 2009). Nurses at all levels of practice have reported horizontal violence, including new graduates and experienced nurses (McKenna et al, 2003, Sellers et al, 2012.…”

“…Though there have been studies in nursing reporting the incidence and outcomes of horizontal violence, some have included occurrences between or among different levels of nurses or different healthcare disciplines (Croft & Cash, 2012;Dumont, Meisinger, Whitacre, & Corbin, 2012;Sellers et al, 2012). As aggression from colleagues is perceived as most disturbing to nurses (Farrell, 1999), it is important to understand this unique phenomenon.…”

“…The majority of the instruments used in studies of horizontal violence were designed to measure bullying or other forms of worker behaviors rather than the specific phenomenon of nurse-to-nurse aggression, so they may not capture the unique subtleties of the phenomenon. The measures that have been used include the Briles Sabotage Savvy Questionnaire (Dunn, 2003;Sellers et al, 2012) and the Negative Acts Questionnaire (NAQ-R) (Johnson & Rea 2009;Purpora et al, 2012). The NAQ-R has also been used in studies specifically designed to measure bullying (Chipps & McRury 2012;Laschinger, Wong, & Graum, 2012;Simons, 2008), calling into question what phenomenon is actually being measured.…”