Perception of Nurses toward Horizontal Violence in Health Care Settings in Taif City, Saudi Arabia

Horizontal violence is one of devastating issues as being an obstacle in developing nursing profession. Objective To identify nurses perceptions toward horizontal violence in health care settings in Taif City in Saudi Arabia. Method Quantitative descriptive correlational design was conducted on 100 nurses in selected settings in Taif city, Saudi Arabia. Results 94 % of nurse participants in this study witnessed at least one type of horizontal behaviors during their work. Findings revealed that covert behaviors were more common than overt ones. Covert acts of horizontal violence as perceived by nurse participants focuses mainly on lack of respect and communication between nurses. Fear of retaliation, fear of being ridiculed if asking questions, discouragement and job dissatisfaction were the most common effects of horizontal violence. Participants perceived that Peers including registered nurses and practitioner nurses were the most common perpetrators of horizontal violence. Conclusion Although horizontal violence was extensively covered in nursing literature, this study demonstrated incessant existence of this problem. Horizontal violence has mischievous effects that extend from the nurse victims to the whole health care team and eventually to the patients. Developing educational programs on appropriate professional behaviors and code of nursing ethics and training courses on conflict managements for nursing staff and managers, is so effective in elimination with horizontal violence cases