Background: Workplace bullying among nurses is a prevalent problem with well-documented adverse effects on mental health, job satisfaction, and the quality of patient care. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and characteristics of workplace bullying among nurses working in Emergency Departments.
Methods: This descriptive-analytical cross-sectional study was conducted in 2025 among 242 nurses working in the Emergency Departments of four hospitals in Nasiriyah, Iraq. Participants were selected using stratified random sampling. Data were collected using a demographic information questionnaire and the Negative Acts Questionnaire (NAQ). Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 26. Descriptive statistics (means and standard deviations) and inferential statistical tests (independent t-test and one-way ANOVA) were applied, along with stepwise multiple regression analysis.
Results: The mean ± standard deviation of the total bullying score was 50.40 ± 14.52. The mean ± standard deviation of the occupational dimension was 20.32 ± 7.56, the individual dimension was 10.26 ± 4.30, and the physical dimension was 9.92 ± 4.07. Based on the regression results, work experience in the Emergency Department (β = -0.148, 95% CI: -1.163 to -0.094, P = 0.021) and interest in working in the current department (β = -0.131, 95% CI: -10.466 to -0.238, P = 0.04) had a negative and significant effect on workplace bullying.
Conclusion: The findings showed that although the mean bullying scores were at a low level, planning for their further reduction is necessary. These results emphasize the need for preventive measures such as training and retraining, establishing a safe reporting environment, and addressing the perpetrators of bullying.