Lateral Violence

Horizontal violence, workplace bullying, horizontal hostility and disruptive behaviors have become embedded in the way that nurses function in hospital environments. According to Simons, nurses have accepted these behaviors as part of the nursing culture (2008). Townsend (2012) defines bullying as repeated, abusive, intimidating and/or insulting behaviors, undermining, sabotage or any abuse of power causing the recipient to feel humiliated or vulnerable. Common bullying behaviors include eye rolling, back stabbing, withholding information, gossiping and silence.