But Who Will Help ‘Them’? The Effect of Ethical Leadership on Bullying, Burnout, and Turnover

In this paper, we examine the role that ethical leadership plays in the effect of bullying on burnout and turnover intentions of nurses. Nurses are in a unique position within the organization, having to answer to multiple hierarchies causing systemic stress in a role that is inherently stressful dealing with sick and injured patients. We surveyed 184 active nurses. Our findings suggest that organizations that have ethical leaders in the role of nursing managers can mitigate the negative effects of bullying on burnout and increase nurses’ intentions to stay. This research may help managers understand ways to reduce turnover among nurses in the healthcare field.