Relationships with managers and harassment: the Italian nurse experience

Abstract

This paper examines the link between workplace relationships with management and work harassment for Italian nurses. The relationship with the supervisor was a key predictor of work harassment, and work harassment was found to have a major negative effect on engagement. There are significant differences in nurses’ perceptions of work harassment, engagement and job satisfaction for public and private sector nurses.

Keywords:

• Healthcare management
• Italy
• nurses
• social exchange theory
• work harassment

Acknowledgements

We thank the following healthcare organizations for their assistance with data collection: Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo (Pavia), Azienda Ospedaliera Guido Salvini (Garbagnate), Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori (Milan), Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta (Milan), IRCCS Istituto Europeo di Oncologia (Milan), IRCCS Policlinico San Donato (San Donato). Special thanks are extended to Cristina Cerati, Tiziana Fiorini, Giusy Grugnetti, Giorgio Magon, Clara Moreschi and Laura Zoppini for their active and continuous support in the fine-tuning of the survey and the data collection.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Elisabetta Trinchero

Elisabetta Trinchero is a Professor in the Public Management & Policy Department, SDA Bocconi School of Management, Bocconi University, Milan, Italy.

Ben Farr-Wharton

Ben Farr-Wharton is a Lecturer in the University Technology Sydney, Management Discipline Group, Australia.

Elio Borgonovi

Elio Borgonovi is a Senior Contract Professor, Department of Policy Analysis and Public Management, Bocconi University, Milan, Italy.