Horizontal violence refers to situations where oppressed groups direct their anger towards each other instead of those in power, due to fear of punishment. Nurses experience horizontal violence as they are treated as commodities in a hierarchical system with little clinical autonomy. Acts of unkindness, criticism, and sabotage between nurses are signs of horizontal violence. To deal with being a victim, one should educate themselves on the causes, examine their own role without blame, commit to changing behaviors, involve coworkers, and speak up when witnessing horizontal violence.

1. GROUP 6
6. UnderstandingHorizontal Violence
The term horizontal violence wascoinedafew decadesagoto describe situationsinwhichmembersof
oppressedgroupsfightamongstthemselvesbecause theycan’torwon’tventtheirangerandfrustration
to those inpowerforfear of punishment.Nursesconstitute partof an oppressedgroup.Nursesare
treatedas commoditiesandare lessvaluedthanmore powerful orprestigiousworkersinaninstitution.
Most nursesstill workinenvironmentsstructuredashierarchies,answeringtoindividualswhohave
greaterauthority,power,andprestige.A validconcernamongthose who’ve actuallywitnessedharsh
punishmentsof othernurseswhostooduptoan administratororphysicianona patient’sbehalf.They
may decide thatit’sbesttokeeptheirclinical judgmentstothemselves.Asaresult,grievancesgo
unanswered,andtensionandresentmentbuilds.Researcherssaythatnurseswhoexperience the
greatestamountof conflictwithfellownursesare oftenthose withthe highestratesof burnout. In
manycases a hierarchical systempreventsnursesfromusingtheirclinicaljudgmentandapplyingtheir
intellectwhileonthe job.Actsof unkindness,discourtesy,sabotage,divisiveness,infighting,
scapegoating,orcriticizingcanbe signsof horizontal violence inyourworkplace.
What are some strategiesfor dealingwith horizontal violence whenyouare the victim?
• Educate yourself - Learn as much as youcan about horizontal violence.Understandinghow andwhyit
happenscanbe the firststeptowardrecognizingit—andthenchangingit.
• Examine your role.Thinkabout howyoureact to feelingpowerless,undervalued,or
underappreciated.Askyourself whetheryou’veparticipatedinhorizontalviolence asa resultof these
feelings.Be honest.Whydoyouthinkyoubehavedthe wayyoudid?How can youchange your behavior
the nexttime you’re inthissituation?
• Committo change. Make a consciousdecisiontorefrainfromundermining,criticizing,discouraging,or
scapegoatingothernurses.Theyhave ajobto do,just as youdo. Imagine how difficultitwouldbe for
youto functioneffectivelyundersimilarcircumstances.
• Involve co-workers.Discusshorizontal violencewithyourco-workers.Chancesare they’ve
experiencedittoo.
• Refuse to accept the norm. Horizontal violence isnota“normal” part of nursing.Don’tbe complacent
aboutunacceptable behavior.Evensmall stepstowardchangingahostile atmosphere canmake abig
difference.
• Speakup. If yousee or experience horizontal violence,speakup.Call itwhatitis,and make sure
othersknowthat’swhat they’re dealingwith.Youcan’tsolve aproblemif noone acknowledgesitexists.
You have the power“Noone can make youfeel inferiorwithoutyourconsent,”EleanorRooseveltonce
said.Don’tconsentto horizontal violence.Withhonesty,courage,patience,andcommitment,youcan
helpeliminate itfromyourworkplace andyourlife.
Horizontal Violence Role PlayScenario: 5 mins only per group
A newnurse inthe unit havinga hard time understanding/transcribingadoctor’sorder.She istempted
to ask a seasonnurse justto make sure that she isinterpretingeverythingcorrectly.Asshe approached

2. the nurse she is receivingautomatically anegative reaction.The oldnurse toldthe newbietojustfollow
whatit isin the doctor’sorder forthe reasonthat the doctorsknowswhathe is doingandthat is his
patientanyways.Afterthe breakthe new nurse saw the oldnurse talkingtoa differentnurse inaunit
ward infrontof a patient.The oldnurse didnotnoticedthat the new nurse isjustwithinthe premises.
The newnurse heardthat the old nurse thatis sharingthe informationof whathappenearliertoher
friendnurse andtheystart laughingandspeakingsome words thatisderogatoryandbelittling onbehalf
of the newnurse.Since thattime she don’thave the courage yetto confrontthe two oldnursesshe just
keptit onherself.Afterayear she foundoutthe reasonwhythe twooldnursesare sonegative aboutit
because theythemselvesare frustratedabouttheirfeelingsof powerlessnessandundervaluedbecause
theywere toowas discouragedfromquestioningaphysicianorder.
Take a lookas well onthisYouTube video,thismighthelpusindoingourrole playscenario.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLgEf4wUoos