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Original Article
A Grounded Theory Approach on Nurses’ Experience with Workplace Bullying
Jiyeon Kang1, Seonyoung Yun2
Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing 2016;46(2):226-237.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4040/jkan.2016.46.2.226
Published online: April 17, 2016

1Department of Nursing, Dong-A University, Busan

2Department of Nursing, Youngsan University, Yangsan, Korea

1Department of Nursing, Dong-A University, Busan

2Department of Nursing, Youngsan University, Yangsan, Korea

Address reprint requests to : Yun, Seonyoung, Department of Nursing, Youngsan University, 288 Junam-ro (Junam-dong), Yangsan 50510, Korea, Tel: +82-55-380-9311 Fax: +82-55-380-9305 E-mail: syyun@ysu.ac.kr
• Received: July 20, 2015   • Revised: August 6, 2015   • Accepted: November 27, 2015

Copyright © 2016 Korean Society of Nursing Science

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution NoDerivs License. (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0) If the original work is properly cited and retained without any modification or reproduction, it can be used and re-distributed in any format and medium.

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  • Purpose:
    The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the workplace bullying experience of Korean nurses.
  • Methods:
    Participants were twenty current or former hospital nurses who had experienced workplace bullying. Data were collected through focus group and individual in-depth interviews from February to May, 2015. Theoretical sampling method was applied to the point of theoretical saturation. Transcribed interview contents were analyzed using Corbin and Strauss’s grounded theory method.
  • Results:
    A total of 110 concepts, 48 sub-categories, and 17 categories were identified through the open coding process. As a result of axial coding based on the paradigm model, the central phenomenon of nurses’ workplace bullying experience was revealed as ‘teaching that has become bullying’, and the core category was extracted as ‘surviving in love-hate teaching’ consisting of a four-step process: confronting reality, trial and error, relationship formation, and settlement. The relationship formation was considered to be the key phase to proceed to the positive settlement phase, and the participants utilized various strategies such as having an open mind, developing human relationships, understanding each other in this phase.
  • Conclusion:
    The in-depth understanding of the workplace bullying experience has highlighted the importance of effective communication for cultivating desirable human relationships between nurses.
Figure 1.
Coping process of workplace bullying in nursing.
jkan-46-226f1.jpg
Table 1.
Relationships among Categories in the Paradigm Model
Subcategories Categories Paradigm element
Repeated error and mistakes Lower job performance than expected Causal condition
Noncompliance with basic rules
Too high expectations
Emotional words Misaligned communication
Hidden intentions of scolding
Attitude that is difficult to understand
Strict teaching to reduce mistakes Teaching that has become bullying Central phenomenon
A profound abyss of bullying
Stigmatization of lower qualified nurses
Driving negative opinion
Heavy workload Unique characteristics of nursing practice Contextual condition
Gap between theory and practice
Non-systematic education
Ambiguous boundaries of work
Hierarchical and rigid atmosphere Nursing organizational culture
Normalization of bullying in the unit
Faction formation
Immature interpersonal relationship Individual disposition
Passive demeanor
No nursing trait
A twofold shield Shield of senior Intervening condition
A precarious protection
Crying on coworker’s shoulder Peer support
Arbitration of head nurse Effort of nursing department
Organizational intervention
Understanding real nursing world Confronting reality Action/interactional strategies
Regretting
Self-blaming
Enduring Trial and error
Rationalizing
Searching for solutions
Resisting
Opening the mind Relationship formation
Making human relationships
Understanding each other
Suffering of the body and mind Physical and psychological effects Consequences
Lowered self-esteem
Psychological withdrawal
Non-healing scars
Reluctant attendance Giving up
Intention to leave
Resignation
Being worth one’s salt Settlement
Not a target anymore
Becoming to a perpetrator The yoke of passing down
Desperation for unchanged reality
A slight change of deep-rooted perception Expectations for improvement
Teaching differently
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      A Grounded Theory Approach on Nurses’ Experience with Workplace Bullying
      Image
      Figure 1. Coping process of workplace bullying in nursing.
      A Grounded Theory Approach on Nurses’ Experience with Workplace Bullying

      Relationships among Categories in the Paradigm Model

      Subcategories Categories Paradigm element
      Repeated error and mistakes Lower job performance than expected Causal condition
      Noncompliance with basic rules
      Too high expectations
      Emotional words Misaligned communication
      Hidden intentions of scolding
      Attitude that is difficult to understand
      Strict teaching to reduce mistakes Teaching that has become bullying Central phenomenon
      A profound abyss of bullying
      Stigmatization of lower qualified nurses
      Driving negative opinion
      Heavy workload Unique characteristics of nursing practice Contextual condition
      Gap between theory and practice
      Non-systematic education
      Ambiguous boundaries of work
      Hierarchical and rigid atmosphere Nursing organizational culture
      Normalization of bullying in the unit
      Faction formation
      Immature interpersonal relationship Individual disposition
      Passive demeanor
      No nursing trait
      A twofold shield Shield of senior Intervening condition
      A precarious protection
      Crying on coworker’s shoulder Peer support
      Arbitration of head nurse Effort of nursing department
      Organizational intervention
      Understanding real nursing world Confronting reality Action/interactional strategies
      Regretting
      Self-blaming
      Enduring Trial and error
      Rationalizing
      Searching for solutions
      Resisting
      Opening the mind Relationship formation
      Making human relationships
      Understanding each other
      Suffering of the body and mind Physical and psychological effects Consequences
      Lowered self-esteem
      Psychological withdrawal
      Non-healing scars
      Reluctant attendance Giving up
      Intention to leave
      Resignation
      Being worth one’s salt Settlement
      Not a target anymore
      Becoming to a perpetrator The yoke of passing down
      Desperation for unchanged reality
      A slight change of deep-rooted perception Expectations for improvement
      Teaching differently
      Table 1. Relationships among Categories in the Paradigm Model


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