ATI Professional Nursing Practice Exam

Horizontal violence, also known as lateral violence, refers to hostile or aggressive behavior that occurs between peers or colleagues rather than from a superior to a subordinate. In this context, when a nurse blames a peer for her error, it is an example of horizontal violence because it involves one nurse directing negative behavior towards another nurse in the same level of hierarchy. This act reflects an attempt to shift responsibility and can contribute to a toxic work environment, undermining teamwork and collaboration among nurses.

In contrast, other scenarios do not exemplify horizontal violence. If a provider openly scorns a charge nurse, this represents vertical violence, which involves aggression from a higher-ranking individual towards someone in a subordinate position. Likewise, belittling an assistive personnel by a nurse manager is also vertical violence, as it involves a power imbalance between a manager and a staff member. Finally, praising a colleague for a job well done is a positive and supportive interaction, clearly not aligning with the concept of horizontal violence.