Answer:

WORKPLACE BULLYING

Bullying is any form of force, threat, abuse which is done to another person to aggressively dominate or intimidate the individual.

WHY IT HAPPENS-

Though bullying can arise due to jealously, anger, hatred, misunderstanding, etc but there may also be many other reasons that can associated to it.

BULLYING AT WORKPLACE-

Bullying can happen anywhere. While school children suffer the chunk of it but bullying also happens at workplace. Nursing is no different field. We have seen many such cases in past and the same continues to happen even after there are dedicated leaders and managers working for the betterment in the field. This means that even when we have dedicated professionals such cases are still happening which clearly indicates something more needs to be done and it is high time we start doing it. Bullying is not just limited to physically harming someone, beating someone, etc, but there can be sexual bullying also. Sexual bullying is the threatening another person to form physical relationship with them against their choice. We have seen many such cases where nurses were not able to raise their voice because in the medical profession are taken for granted and considered lower in status to doctors. So, either their voice when raised are not heard or suppressed. It all starts from mere threatening and may sometimes rise to a level where the sufferer might end up getting killed or traumatised. One such case heinous crime was conducted long back in 1973, when a nurse named Aruna Ramchandra Shanbaugh was sexually assaulted by a ward boy and she remained in a vegetative state following the assault for as long as 37 years. Several strikes happened, the case was taken to the Supreme Court and a petition was filed to seek justice for Aruna who was in such state to permit euthanasia and in a historic judgement the petition was successful. But why all this had to  happen because the voices were suppressed and nurse’s issues were not properly looked after and till date we get to see such cases around us. What is the reason? One straight answer we can derive is the lack of proper managerial approaches are where we are lacking. Times have changed and today we have dedicated managers and the leaders for the nursing department but they have to understand that if such cases are still continuing to happen the techniques have to be changed to deal the nuruses issues.

WHAT CAN THE NURSING MANAGERS AND LEADERS DO?

1. There should be equal staffing ratio where nurses can discuss their issues with other women in the staff. Also equal gender ratio will bring a sense of confidence among the nurses.

2. Another practice that the management can adopt is planning a weekly discussion forum. Such platforms will help women to get their voices reached to the upper management, they should be provided with the links and contact details of the persons addressing this issue in the management company.

3. Awareness should be created not just among women but also men to encourage them to treat their female counterparts equally and respectfully.

4. And the above three points will only useful if women’s voices are heard in the first place because many of the cases can be prevented if we listen to what a woman has to say. Equal chances should be given to both men and women to present their side of the case.

5. Because we understand that nursing is such a profession where night shifts are  unavoidable so the duty should be arranged in such a way that there are equal men and women working during night shifts. This way the nurses will feel secure. Also there should be a lady officer appointed during night shifts and proper security should be there so that we can bring down the incidents that happen regularly.

6. NO means NO !! Men as well as women should understand this phrase that if a woman says NO to a man to   further any relationship with them it should be considered as a NO.

These all and more need to be done by the management and the leaders. Crimes are not coming to a halt and nor should the leaders in bringing the best of policies to make women feel comfortable and confident at work.

When all such incidents happen, if affects the entire department. First and the foremost, the nurse / wardboy will get affected. They will not be able properly take care of the patients under them. Focussing on work gets difficult in such situations and the healths of both the victim patients under them are at stake.

** This process of equality should be started as soon as a kid attains an age and starts understanding things.

The subjects like workplace ethics and sexual harassment awareness and prevention should be given equal importance as the other subjects.

While all this will only be useful if it gets properly enforced. The management and the leaders should understand that it is not just about making the policies for women safety but also enforcing them.

We should also keep in mind that not just nurses, the ward boys may also get bullied by their fellow doctors. Nurses & doctors should be treated no less than doctors .

Where  there is no equality , such cases are more prone to happen .

We should ensure an environment which is safe for all. Not just men, not just women, but for all.