Variability of Terminology Used to Describe Unwanted Workplace Behaviors in Nursing: A Scoping Review

Background: Unwanted workplace behaviors impact all organizations, but in the discipline of nursing, these behaviors impact both the welfare of nurses and the quality and safety of patient care. The terminology adopted to describe these behaviors varies widely, leading to confusion and inconsistency in research and practice. Objectives: This scoping review aims to explore the variability in the terminology used to describe unwanted workplace behaviors in nursing, identify the most commonly used terms, and analyze the implications of this variability for research, policy, and practice. Methods: The Population, Concept, and Context mnemonic was used to frame the review, as recommended by the Joanna Briggs Institute. A comprehensive literature search was conducted using relevant databases. Keywords used in the search included “moral harassment, nursing, definition, meaning, description,” “Shaming,” “Mobbing,” “Bullying,” “Vertical violence,” “Horizontal violence,” “Incivility,” “Microaggression,” “Lateral violence.” Boolean operators (AND, OR) were used to combine search terms appropriately. Results: The initial search yielded 299 references. Following full-text screening, 51 studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in the final review. The review revealed 13 different terms used to describe unwanted workplace behaviors. Conclusion: The review highlights a lack of consensus across the discipline. There is a call for a singular term to be applied across the field which would support policy implementation and practice.