Experiences of mobbing among nurses working in surgical clinics: a qualitative descriptive study

Mobbing is a significant ethical concern that negatively affects nurses’ well-being and the quality of care. Understanding nurses’ experiences with mobbing in surgical settings is crucial for promoting ethical work environments. This study aimed to explore the mobbing experiences of nurses working in surgical clinics within a tertiary university hospital in Türkiye. A qualitative descriptive study was conducted between April and June 2025. The study included 22 nurses working in surgical clinics of a tertiary university hospital, selected through convenience sampling based on self-reported experiences of mobbing. Data were collected via a semi-structured written form consisting of five open-ended questions addressing the definition, perpetrators, causes, effects, and coping strategies related to mobbing. Written responses were analysed using inductive descriptive content analysis supported by NVivo 12 software. Five main themes were identified, reflecting nurses’ comprehensive experiences with mobbing in surgical settings. Nurses described mobbing mainly as verbal and psychological harassment, most often perpetrated by physicians and charge nurses. The causes were linked to unclear role definitions, communication problems, and hierarchical pressure. The most frequent effects were psychological distress, followed by physical and social consequences. Nurses commonly coped by verbally reporting incidents or ignoring them. Overall, mobbing in surgical clinics appeared as a multidimensional problem arising from both vertical and horizontal relationships. The findings reveal that nurses in surgical settings are exposed to multifaceted forms of mobbing and that institutional support mechanisms are perceived as inadequate. Mobbing is an important ethical issue that must be addressed at both individual and organizational levels to ensure a healthy and just working environment. Nurse managers should recognize mobbing as a critical issue in surgical settings and take proactive steps to establish clear job roles, strengthen institutional reporting mechanisms, and foster a supportive work culture.