title: [Nursing workplace bullying and turnover intention: an exploration of associated factors at a medical center in Southern Taiwan].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The chronic shortage of nursing staffs in hospitals continues to increasingly and negatively impact the ability of medical care systems to deliver effective care and ensure the safety of patients. Bullying is one factor known to exacerbate turnover in the nursing workplace.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study explores workplace bullying and turnover intention among nurses working at a medical center in Southern Taiwan.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional and correlation research design was conducted using the Negative Acts Questionnaire-Revised (NAQ-R) and the Turnover Intention Questionnaire. A convenience, purposive sample of 708 nurses was recruited. Inclusion criteria included: holding an RN license, able to communicate in both Mandarin and Hokkienese, >6 months of clinical experience, and an NAQ-R score higher than 23. Data were analyzed using SPSS19.0 software.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Approximately 85% of participants had experienced some degree of workplace bullying during the previous 6-month period. The trend of the turnover intention tended to the right at a high degree. A moderate, positive, and significant correlation was found between turnover intention and bullying total scores (r=.39, p<.05). Multiple regression showed bullying as the most important predicator of turnover intention (15.10%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Based on our findings, we suggest that nurses should enhance their awareness of the negative consequences of workplace bullying. Furthermore, hospitals should implement appropriate mechanisms to decrease the phenomenon of inter-staff bullying, improve the nursing workplace environment, and reduce the rate of turnover intention.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Shiau-Ting
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Chin-Hua
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Li-Fang
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Kaohsiung Medical University, Taiwan, ROC. fanhao@kmu.edu.tw.
authors.forename: Fan-Hao
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: Chou
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D058445:Bullying / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009740:Nursing Staff / Q000523:psychology*; D009784:Occupational Diseases; D010563:Personnel Turnover; D013624:Taiwan; D017132:Workplace
keywords: bully; nursing workplace; turnover intention