Social Justice as a Lens for Understanding Workplace Mistreatment

ANS Adv Nurs Sci. 2016 Jul-Sep;39(3):216-23. doi: 10.1097/ANS.0000000000000124.

Abstract

Workplace mistreatment can be viewed as a social injustice that prohibits one from achieving optimal well-being. Cognitive and interpersonal skills required of nurses can be impacted by workplace mistreatment, thus extending injustices by violating the rights of patients to optimal care. The purpose of this article is to view workplace mistreatment through the lens of Powers and Faden's theory of social justice. Workplace mistreatment is explored through the 6 dimensions of well-being, including health, personal security, reasoning, respect, attachment, and self-determination, identified in the theory. The implications for practice and policy are discussed and recommendations for research made.

MeSH terms

  • Humans
  • Interpersonal Relations
  • Job Satisfaction*
  • Nursing Staff / psychology*
  • Social Justice*
  • Workplace / psychology*
  • Workplace Violence / psychology*