The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation reported on the impact verbal abuse plays on the work lives of new nurses through the RN Work Project. This type of abuse, which is “an on-going and well-documented” problem, can hurt patient care and encourage nurses to leave the profession.
The RWJF study found only a small number, about five percent, of RNs experienced high-levels of abuse, but a majority of nurses experienced a condescension, lack of acknowledgement, and other types of more subtle, but equally damaging, types of abuse.
The researchers also found verbal abuse – especially by physicians – is contagious, spreading quickly among colleagues, bringing down perceptions of workplace satisfaction across the board.
Want to learn how to improve provider satisfaction? Visit Education to Practice, Michigan's incubator of interprofessional and team-based care ideas, and download the E2P Tool Kit to build communications and teamwork skills.
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