Mobbing experienced by nurses in health care facilities

This article deals with the issues of mobbing in health care facilities. The general nurse is one of the professions excessively exposed to the mobbing behaviour. Compared to other sectors, the risk of occurrence of this negative phenomenon in the health care sector is up to seven times higher. The empirical part of the paper includes an analysis and a comparison of the results of the research carried out as a descriptive study with the aim to determine the extent to which mobbing is experienced by nurses, its emotional and physiological effects on the respondents and the steps taken by the individual persons to escape from the mobbing. It focuses also on the possible links between the nurses' personal traits and their vulnerability to mobbing. In order to get the necessary data, a quantitative method - through a questionnaire survey - has been used. The research results point out problems that might occur in the health care facilities, drawing the attention of the facilities' management to emerging problems concerning the staff. It is necessary to define clear rules and procedures in order to prevent the negative behaviour practices from developing among the health care staff and to help establish well-being in the workplace.