Virtually every board member and CEO will agree with this as a value and concept. This, as the saying goes, is where the rubber meets the road. Without such processes, the organization will lose either the abuser or the abused. The cost is higher if you have to close beds because no replacement can be found. One hospital in our cover story lost five nurses because of the verbal abuse from one physician.
Nurses also have a responsibility to stop the abuse.
Allowing it to occur without responding to it or reporting it only enables the abuser. You gang up on him or her. You never let the bully corner you when you re alone. Colleagues watch each other s backs. The response, of course, must be professional and not interfere with patient care.