1128: REPORTS OF BULLYING, DISCRIMINATION AND SEXUAL HARASSMENT IN ICU NURSES IN AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND

Abstract

Introduction: Bullying, discrimination, and sexual harassment are under-reported behaviours in healthcare. These behaviours affect staff well-being and patient care and may be seen as increased staff turnover and reductions in the quality of patient care and outcomes. There is little evidence of the extent and impact of these behaviours in nurses working in Intensive Care units worldwide and none in Australia and New Zealand. We wanted to understand the extent and experience of these behaviours in ICU nurses in Australia and New Zealand. Methods: A prospective, cross-sectional, online survey of ICU nurses in Australia and New Zealand was undertaken May – June 2021, distributed through critical care colleges, and social media. Questions addressed bullying, sexual harassment and discrimination. Results: We analysed 629 survey responses. In the preceding 12 months, respondents reported the extent of bullying, discrimination and sexual harassment as 57.1%, 32.6% and 12.9% respectively. Predominantly nurses were the main culprits of bullying (59.6% overall, with 57.9% of these being ICU nurses). Nurses were also reported as the main culprits of discrimination (51.7% with 49.3% being ICU nurses); while patients were the main culprits of sexual harassment (34.6%). Significant differences were observed in bullying and discrimination according to age, gender, ethnicity and/or country of residence. Behaviours were seen predominantly in public, metropolitan, Level 3 ICUs. Most commonly there were policies regarding these behaviours of concern, in ICUs or hospitals and mandatory training provided, however these behaviours were most often not reported (66%). Conclusions: Determining the true extent of these behaviours is challenging however it is clear that they are significant issues for ICU nurses in Australia and New Zealand. Of concern is that the culprits were often ICU nurse colleagues and that these behaviours are routinely not reported. We have identified a problem that needs to be recognised and owned and mechanisms developed and enacted to support and retain ICU nurses.