Faculty Research Journal – Nursing

Abstract

Different countries have different cultures, economies and face different challenges. There have been several published studies on workplace bullying from different countries worldwide. However, none have explored and published studies about this phenomenon in the Philippines. This study aims to explore and characterize workplace bullying from the perspective of nurses in the Philippine workplace. Thus, opening the gateway for future studies that may help improve quality of nursing workplace culture in the Philippines.

The scoping review of literature based on Arksley and O’Malley’s framework was utilized in the study. A research team consisting of six members deliberated study purpose and questions. Three researchers then performed a comprehensive search of related literature through EBSCOhost, PubMed and PROQUEST published from 2007-2017. Inclusion criteria for records were: (1) peer-reviewed nursing workplace bullying studies; (2) having staff nurses and/or bedside nurses in the hospital setting as subjects; and (3) published in the English language. Three other members independently appraised each record based on the inclusion criteria and excluded journals which did not meet criteria required. Disagreements in screening and selection process were settled through consensus.

A total of 642 records were initially screened for eligibility. After removing duplicates only 607 remained. Records were screened through its title and abstract, a total of 535 were excluded and 35 peer-reviewed articles remained. Among the peer-reviewed journals, only twenty-two (22) met the set inclusion criteria. Among the 22 articles, only four (4) were included in the final synthesis. All studies were done internationally, none of the published journals originated from the Philippines.

The findings suggest that there have been no published studies regarding workplace bullying among nurses in the Philippine workplace. Its effects on nurses and its relationship to patient outcomes in Philippine hospitals have not yet been explored. It is necessary to determine its characteristic, prevalence, severity and effects to help improve mental wellbeing of Filipino nurses and subsequently improve patient care in the Philippines.

Keywords: Workplace bullying among nurses, hospital, bedside nurses, hospital nurses, nurses.