Wounded Healers: Nurses’ Experiences of Workplace Bullying, Trauma, and Professional Identity

Workplace bullying remains a persistent challenge within nursing and is associated with adverse psychological and occupational consequences. However, less is known about how bullying is experienced as trauma and how it shapes nurses’ professional identity. This study explored nurses’ experiences of workplace bullying and its influence on trauma and professional identity. This qualitative study employed an Interpretive Description methodology, and semi-structured interviews were conducted with 24 registered nurses recruited from five public and private hospitals in Indonesia. Data were analysed using the Interpretive Description approach. Four themes were identified: Becoming a Target in a Caring Profession, Living with Invisible Wounds, When the Professional Self Begins to Fracture, and Reclaiming the Nurse within. Participants described bullying as a normalized workplace experience characterized by power imbalances, repeated mistreatment, and limited organizational support. These experiences resulted in emotional distress, hypervigilance, and trauma-like responses that extended beyond the workplace. Bullying also disrupted professional identity, leading to diminished confidence, loss of belongingness, and uncertainty about remaining in nursing. Despite these challenges, many participants described rebuilding meaning and professional identity. The findings highlight workplace bullying as both a mental health and professional identity concern, emphasizing the need for trauma-informed leadership and psychologically safe workplace cultures.