Bullying Behaviors and Self-Esteem of Nursing Students in Clinical Education

Abstract

Background: Addressing bullying behaviors in nursing education is crucial for fostering a positive and supportive learning environment, ensuring the well-being of nursing students, and ultimately safeguarding the quality of patient care. Aim: This study aimed to assess the effect of bullying behaviors on nursing students’ self-esteem in clinical education. Research Design: A descriptive exploratory research design was utilized to achieve the aim of this study. Setting: This study was conducted in six nursing schools affiliated with Kafr EL- Elsheikh governorate Subjects: A cluster sample of 275 nursing students from 6 nursing schools affiliated with Kafr EL- Elsheikh governorate. Tools of data collection: 1- An interview questionnaire, 2- Bullying behavior in clinical nursing education questionnaire, 3- Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale. Results: 66.2% and 33.8% of the studied nursing students had low and moderate levels of bullying exposure. Also, 39.6%, of them mentioned that they didn’t receive any gratitude for their good work from nurses, 62.9%, of them mentioned that their clinical responsibilities were changed without warning them by nurses, and 86.9%, of them mentioned that they were blamed for problem that they didn’t make by their classmates. In addition, 84% and 15.6% of them had high and moderate self-esteem levels respectively. Conclusion: Two-thirds and one-third of the studied nursing students had low and moderate levels of bullying exposure. Also, the study identified that nurses and clinical instructors were verbal bullying perpetrators, nurses were physical bullying perpetrators, and nurses & classmates were psychological bullying perpetrators. Concerning self-esteem levels, the majority and less than one-fifth of them had high and moderate self-esteem level respectively. Recommendation: Conducting educational prevention program for different bullying in nursing schools.