Colleague‐Perpetrated Workplace Bullying Among Nurses: Experiences and Perceived Implications for Mental Health and Professional Functioning—A Qualitative Study

INTRODUCTION: Workplace bullying is a persistent problem in nursing that may adversely affect nurses' mental health, professional functioning and quality of patient care. This study aimed to explore Slovenian nurses' experiences of colleague-perpetrated workplace bullying, its perceived organisational contributors, implications for mental health and professional functioning, and nurses' responses and perspectives on prevention. METHODS: A qualitative descriptive study was conducted using semi-structured interviews with 20 nurses employed in different healthcare settings in Slovenia. Study participants were recruited through purposive sampling. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed using Braun and Clarke's six-phase thematic analysis. RESULTS: Through thematic analysis, four main themes were identified: (1) nurses' experiences of workplace bullying; (2) the impact of workplace bullying on mental health; (3) the impact of workplace bullying on professional functioning; and (4) nurses' responses to bullying and prevention strategies. Nurses described workplace bullying as a common and persistent phenomenon characterised by verbal abuse, humiliation, social exclusion and hostile communication. Bullying was perceived to negatively affect psychological well-being through increased stress, anxiety, emotional exhaustion, reduced self-confidence and difficulties detaching from work. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: Workplace bullying remains an important occupational challenge with substantial implications for nurses' mental health and professional functioning. Healthcare organisations should prioritise comprehensive bullying prevention strategies, supportive leadership and psychologically safe work environments to protect nurses' well-being. PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: No patients or members of the public were involved in the design, conduct, analysis or interpretation of this study, or in the preparation of this manuscript. As the study population consisted of registered nurses and nursing professionals rather than patients or members of the public, this study aimed to give voice to nurses' own experiences of colleague-perpetrated workplace bullying as the primary contribution to the research process.