Novice Nurse Productivity Following Workplace Bullying

Purpose: To determine the prevalence and effects of workplace bullying (WPB) on the work productivity of novice nurses (NNs). Design: Internet-based descriptive cross-sectional survey design. Methods: One hundred ninety seven NNs (91.4% female, 8.6% male) in practice less than 2 years completed the Healthcare Productivity Survey, Negative Acts Questionnaire, and a demographic survey. Findings: The majority (72.6%, n = 147) of NNs reported a WPB event within the previous month, with 57.9% (n = 114) the direct targets and another 14.7% (n = 29) witnesses of WPB behaviors. Using a weighted Negative Acts Questionnaire score, 21.3% (n = 43) of NNs were bullied daily over a 6-month period. When asked if bullied over the past 6 months, approximately 44.7% (n = 88) of NNs reported repeated, targeted WPB, with 55.3% (n = 109) reporting no WPB. WPB acts were primarily perpetrated by more experienced nursing colleagues (63%, n = 126). Further, work productivity regression modeling was significant and NN productivity was negatively impacted by workplace bullying (r = -.322, p = .045). Conclusions: WPB continues in the healthcare environment and negatively affects bullied NNs' productivity by affecting cognitive demands and ability to handle or manage their workload.