- Email: [email protected]
On Bullying in the Nursing Workplace
JOGNN
LETTERS
On Bullying in the Nursing Workplace To the Editor, ongratulations and thank you to Dr. Dianne Felblinger for her exceptionally well written scholarly article, ‘‘Incivility and Bullying in the Workplace and Nurses’ Shame Responses,’’ featured in the March/April 2008 issue of the Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic, & Neonatal Nursing (JOGNN). Also, a special thank you to the editor of JOGNN and the Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN) for recognizing the importance of informing nurses about such a serious issue a¡ecting our profession. I commend you for having the courage to make nurses aware of such a di⁄cult topic to discuss.
C
The Federal Nurses Association (FedNA) has worked unrelentingly over the past 3 years to address the problem of workplace abuse and harassment of nurses as well as seek methods to ensure nurses who speak out about this growing problem in nursing are protected from reprisal. Dr. Felblinger did an outstanding job thoroughly researching the topic and writing about the issue in a complete and precise manner. We applaud her extraordinary work. Colonel John S. Murray, PhD, RN, CPNP, CS, FAAN John S. Murray is Director of Education, Training & Research Joint Task Force National Capital Region Medical, Bethesda, MD and President, Federal Nurses Association, 8901 Wisconsin Avenue Bethesda, MD 20889. [email protected]
matters. True collaboration occurs in the presence of civil behavior and professional relational competence. Civil behavior emerges when professionals develop healthy self-respect and subsequently demonstrate respect for each other. Respect is not an easy art . . . it requires self-esteem, self-control, sensitivity, tolerance, fairness, and generosity (Forni, 2002). The generous action by the Federal Nurses Association on behalf of nurses bene¢ts our ‘‘common humanity’’ and is an inspiring example of the power of self-esteem and self-respect. When nurses have self-respect they are able to ask for what is needed and lobby for what is fair. The FedNA understands that what is needed is an increase in workplace civility and protection for nurses who speak out. When nurses in organizations such as the FedNA call for the elimination of workplace abuse they indirectly emphasize the need for sensitivity and tolerance among colleagues. They are principled and courageous. Courageous nurses are a driving and formidable force because they display self-respect, demonstrate respectful behaviors, and are determined to command respectful treatment in return. Be courageous. Dianne M. Felblinger, EdD, MSN,WHNP-BC, CNS, RN Dianne M. Felblinger, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH.
REFERENCES Forni, P. M. (2002). Choosing civility: The twenty-¢ve rules of considerate
In Response: urses are all members of a ‘‘common humanity’’ (Woodru¡, 2001). For this reason, civility
N
http://jognn.awhonn.org
& 2008 AWHONN, No claim to US government works
conduct. New York: St. Martin’s Press. Woodru¡, P. (2001). Reverence: Renewing a forgotten virtue. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
393
LETTERS
On Bullying in the Nursing Workplace To the Editor, ongratulations and thank you to Dr. Dianne Felblinger for her exceptionally well written scholarly article, ‘‘Incivility and Bullying in the Workplace and Nurses’ Shame Responses,’’ featured in the March/April 2008 issue of the Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic, & Neonatal Nursing (JOGNN). Also, a special thank you to the editor of JOGNN and the Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN) for recognizing the importance of informing nurses about such a serious issue a¡ecting our profession. I commend you for having the courage to make nurses aware of such a di⁄cult topic to discuss.
C
The Federal Nurses Association (FedNA) has worked unrelentingly over the past 3 years to address the problem of workplace abuse and harassment of nurses as well as seek methods to ensure nurses who speak out about this growing problem in nursing are protected from reprisal. Dr. Felblinger did an outstanding job thoroughly researching the topic and writing about the issue in a complete and precise manner. We applaud her extraordinary work. Colonel John S. Murray, PhD, RN, CPNP, CS, FAAN John S. Murray is Director of Education, Training & Research Joint Task Force National Capital Region Medical, Bethesda, MD and President, Federal Nurses Association, 8901 Wisconsin Avenue Bethesda, MD 20889. [email protected]
matters. True collaboration occurs in the presence of civil behavior and professional relational competence. Civil behavior emerges when professionals develop healthy self-respect and subsequently demonstrate respect for each other. Respect is not an easy art . . . it requires self-esteem, self-control, sensitivity, tolerance, fairness, and generosity (Forni, 2002). The generous action by the Federal Nurses Association on behalf of nurses bene¢ts our ‘‘common humanity’’ and is an inspiring example of the power of self-esteem and self-respect. When nurses have self-respect they are able to ask for what is needed and lobby for what is fair. The FedNA understands that what is needed is an increase in workplace civility and protection for nurses who speak out. When nurses in organizations such as the FedNA call for the elimination of workplace abuse they indirectly emphasize the need for sensitivity and tolerance among colleagues. They are principled and courageous. Courageous nurses are a driving and formidable force because they display self-respect, demonstrate respectful behaviors, and are determined to command respectful treatment in return. Be courageous. Dianne M. Felblinger, EdD, MSN,WHNP-BC, CNS, RN Dianne M. Felblinger, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH.
REFERENCES Forni, P. M. (2002). Choosing civility: The twenty-¢ve rules of considerate
In Response: urses are all members of a ‘‘common humanity’’ (Woodru¡, 2001). For this reason, civility
N
http://jognn.awhonn.org
& 2008 AWHONN, No claim to US government works
conduct. New York: St. Martin’s Press. Woodru¡, P. (2001). Reverence: Renewing a forgotten virtue. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
393