Citation

Hockley C. Collegian 2000; 7(4): 24-29.

Affiliation

Charmaine Hochley and Associates, Education and Training Services.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2000, Royal College of Nursing, Australia, Publisher Ink Press International)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

11858308

Abstract

Violence appears to be ignored among nurses, in part, because of the metaphors and euphemisms used to identify this significant phenomenon. Nurses rarely use the term 'violence' and may use metaphors and euphemisms or generally ignore the terms usually associated with violence, such as victim, perpetrator, horizontal violence, bullying and mobbing when discussing violent behaviour among, and with, their female colleagues. The reluctance to use unequivocal language when discussing workplace violence contributes to the issue remaining poorly recognised and poorly addressed; and increases the negative impact of workplace violence on the health and wellbeing of the individual. Moreover, the language that is used to describe violence among female nurses often carries with it different connotations from those that may be common in general society. This paper draws upon data from the author's doctoral research study to report the language used to describe interfemale violence in the workplace; and the consequences of using that language.

Language: en