Aim: We aim to determine workplace bullying in relation to the professional quality of life of nurses and the mediating role of resilience between workplace bullying and the professional quality of life.
Background: Workplace bullying is an increasingly serious problem worldwide and deleteriously affects the occupational health and quality of life of nurses. However, it has not attracted adequate managerial attention.
Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted using a sample of 493 clinical nurses from two tertiary grade A hospitals in Guangzhou, China. Data were collected through an online questionnaire survey in July 2020 and analysed with structural equation modelling.
Results: Workplace bullying had negative and direct effects on the professional quality of life of nurses. Resilience mediated the relationship between workplace bullying and the professional quality of life.
Conclusion: Resilience is a protective factor that helps nurses cope with workplace bullying. Managers can improve the professional quality of life of nurses by reducing workplace bullying and strengthening the resilience of nurses.
Implications for nursing management: Managers must take measures to prevent the workplace bullying of nurses. In addition, nurse supervisors should pay attention to the resilience of nurses and strengthen resilience training to help nurses withstand the pressure of workplace bullying and improve their professional quality of life.
Keywords: compassion fatigue; compassion satisfaction; conservation of resource theory; personal trait resources; structural equation model.
© 2021 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.