Addressing quality of worklife: Examining horizontal workplace bullying behaviors in nursing.

Background: Research suggests that formal and informal institutional workplace structures and processes can create a fertile environment for bullying. Exploration of key organizational antecedents of role ambiguity, role conflict, role overload, and perceptions of nursing supervisor fairness in relation to horizontal workplace bullying among Registered Nurses (RNs) is missing. Purpose: This study explores relationships between workplace structures, processes, and bullying among RNs, and examines the construct validity of Hutchinson et al.'s (2008) Workplace Bullying Instrument (WBI). Method: A web-based survey was distributed to 477 (N=94) RNs employed at a British Columbia hospital. Data Analysis: Correlations assess relationships among variables of workplace structures, processes, horizontal workplace bullying, and intentions to leave. Results: Workplace bullying among RNs was multidimensional (i.e., comprising individual and organization factors) and bullying experiences can be situated within workplace structures and processes. The construct validity of WBI was confirmed. Implications for future research and workplace policy are discussed. --P. ii.