Ask A Nurse: How To Combat Nurse Bullying In The Workplace

You have probably heard the phrase "nurses eat their young," shorthand for experienced nurses bullying or harassing newer ones. It is an old problem and still a real one. New graduates get called "baby nurses," which, as nurse educator Jenna Liphart Rhoads, PhD, points out, leaves them feeling inexperienced and undervalued.

Bullying shows up across nursing, regardless of experience. Maybe you have been on the receiving end or watched it happen. So how do you handle it?

Combating bullying as a new nurse is hard, and you should not have to do it alone. Experienced nurses and nurse leaders can help by acknowledging it, addressing it, and building a culture of zero tolerance. "Nurse leaders can combat bullying by promptly identifying bullying behavior directly to the bully," Rhoads says. "Nurse managers should cultivate an environment of safety and encourage reporting of bullying behavior."

There is no single right way to respond, as long as you stay nonviolent in word and action. When you see it, call out the action but call in the person. Calling someone in is less reactive: you pull them aside and speak privately about what they did. Then hold them accountable for changing it. If calling out the behavior is not safe or effective, escalate to a manager.

The Impact of Bullying in the Workplace

The Joint Commission defines workplace bullying as lateral or horizontal violence, "repeated, health-harming mistreatment of one or more persons (the targets) by one or more perpetrators." It takes different forms, and new nurses should know them. One study found over 30% of new nurses reported being bullied.

The fallout for new nurses includes frequent callouts, leaving the unit, leaving the profession, depression, anxiety, poor mental health, weakened communication, and trouble working as part of a team.

The cycle is self-perpetuating, often downplayed by management with lines like "they're always like that" or "they didn't mean it." Rhoads notes that nurses who bully were frequently bullied themselves as new nurses and feel newcomers need to "grow thick skin."

At some facilities it is flatly ignored. Donna F. Brown, a retired nurse, recalls another nurse grabbing a chart out of her hand and implying she was interviewing the patient wrong. When Brown reported it, nothing happened. "Going through the hospital's grievance process brought no satisfactory resolve," she says. She grew reluctant to come to work and often felt tired and depressed. "Despite all odds, I still delivered high-quality nursing care to my patients because that was what was expected of me, and that was my work ethic," she says. The repeated bullying and burnout eventually drove her out of the profession.

Why Bullying Happens in Nursing

The pattern is well documented, with stories of sabotage and verbal abuse going back to the 1970s. "Nurses eat their young" has been in use internationally for over 30 years. Literature reviews trace the roots to nursing's hierarchical structure and point to misuse of power, structural constraints, the corporatization of healthcare, and divisions within the ranks of nurses and doctors.

New nurses report the most bullying during their first three months after licensure, often framed as a rite of passage. Brown believes fear drives much of it: "Fear of appearing incompetent, lack of teamwork, lack of respect for nursing coworkers, and stressful and demanding working conditions are among the most significant factors that contribute to nurse bullying."

What to Do if You Experience Bullying

Take it seriously, whether you are the target or a witness. If you feel safe, call out the behavior and address it directly. Use your facility's chain of command, starting with the assistant nurse manager, nurse educator, or nurse manager. If your manager is the one bullying, go to human resources. If it is severe and nothing is being done, report it to the director of nurses. You can also report it to your state board of nursing.

What Nurse Leaders Should Do

Nurse leaders are responsible for their nurses' safety and mental health. Identify the person bullying and address it immediately. Encourage nurses, especially new ones, to report. Put a reporting system in place with a designated person who follows up. Build a mentorship program for new nurses, particularly in their first three months. And hold people accountable so zero tolerance actually means something.