Nursing is a health care profession that helps prevent, promote, and optimize the health and capabilities of families and communities. With such a noble and caring profession, it is very sad that violence, or bullying, exists among nurses and other healthcare disciplines. This type of violence is called lateral or horizontal violence. Violence is defined as any confrontation or conflict of inappropriate behavior that results in low self-esteem or other harm. Horizontal violence is known to be the type of violence between coworkers. For some people this type of violence is new and in the health field, in the world of nurses, it describes the behavior of nurses towards their colleagues or other care entities. This type of behavior interferes with the communication and teamwork needed to promote and care for others. This is why this type of behavior affects not only the healthcare staff, but also the community and families we care for. Ultimately, any behavior that offends another nurse or prevents them from doing their job is considered horizontal violence (Morse, KJ, 2008). Horizontal Violence in NursingHorizontal violence is a behavior that has been reported and documented in nursing and other healthcare professions for years and decades. This type of behavior has had negative and serious consequences for the nursing profession and patients. “Horizontal violence is the act of threatening, humiliating or inflicting physical, mental or emotional harm on a peer or group” (Norris, T., 2010). Discrimination, vulgarity, and sexual harassment may be the first things that come to mind when talking about this type of violence, but unfortunately, these are not the only ways that horizontal violence can... .. middle of paper ...... the 1st department today. Creating a safe and nurturing environment can only be achieved if nurses work together and adhere to their code of ethics; this is why we must keep our nurses safe by eliminating violence, educating them and supporting them when needed. It is crucial that the nursing profession addresses violence to improve nurse retention and recruitment. Horizontal violent behavior is not conducive to a culture of safety, which is the essence of health care. Nursing departments, hospitals and various organizations must have a “zero tolerance” policy for these behaviors and a protection policy for nurses reporting the situations. Only we, as nurses and other healthcare workers, have the capacity to eliminate horizontal violence and fulfill our commitment to our patients, families and communities in a safe environment..