Exploring Mental Health Nurses’ Lived of Workplace Anti-bullying Rights: A Qualitative Descriptive Study in the Philippines

Abstract

Aim: Workplace bullying remains a significant occupational hazard in nursing, contributing to psychological distress, burnout, and workforce instability. Philippine health policy affirms healthcare workers rights against bullying, harassment, and discrimination; however, limited qualitative evidence exists on how these protections are recognized and implemented in practice. This study explored the perspectives of mental health nurses on institutional recognition and implementation of anti-bullying rights in the Philippine healthcare context. Methods: A qualitative descriptive design was employed. Ten mental health nurses in the Philippines, each with at least ten years of clinical experience, were selected purposively. Data were gathered expert-validated semi-structured online interviews, audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed through reflexive thematic analysis following Braun and Clarke’s framework. Data collection continued until saturation was achieved. Results and Discussion: Three interrelated themes emerged: (1) institutional protection, enforcement, and compliance; (2) organizational and sociocultural barriers to exercising rights; and (3) psychological and professional consequences of protection gaps. Although institutional policies formally recognize healthcare workers’ rights, inconsistent enforcement, limited transparency in reporting systems, and variable leadership accountability hinder meaningful protection. Hierarchical workplace culture, fear of retaliation, and normalization of incivility further restrict nurses’ ability to exercise their rights. These gaps contributes to emotional distress, burnout, reduced job satisfaction, and intentions to leave the profession. Conclusions: Workplace bullying in mental health nursing is a systemic organizational phenomenon shaped by policy implementation, workplace culture, and individual psychological outcomes. Formal recognition of anti-bullying rights is insufficient without consistent institutional enforcement, psychologically safe leadership, and supportive organizational environments. Recommendations: Institutions should enforce policies consistently, ensure confidential reporting, promote psychological safe leadership and provide mental health support. Health-system monitoring and multi-site or longitudinal research are recommended to sustain protection and support quality of mental health services.