Nursing is a health 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 inappropriate behavioral confrontation or conflict that causes low self-esteem or other injury. It is known that horizontal violence is the type of violence between colleagues. For some people this type of violence is new and in the healthcare field, in the world of nursing, it describes the behavior that nurses have towards colleagues or other healthcare entities. This type of behavior interferes with the communication and teamwork necessary to promote and care for others. For this reason this type of behavior not only affects healthcare workers but also the community and families we care for. Ultimately, if there is behavior that causes another nurse to be offended or unable to do their job it is considered horizontal violence (Morse, KJ, 2008). Horizontal Violence in Nursing Horizontal 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 provided negative and serious outcomes for the nursing profession and patients. “Horizontal violence is the act of threatening, humiliating, or actually 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 horizontal violence can... middle of paper... th department today . Creating a safe and stimulating environment can only be achieved through the collaboration of nurses and adherence to their own code of ethics; for this reason we should safeguard the safety of our nurses by eliminating violence, educating them and supporting them when necessary. It is critical that the nursing profession address violence to improve nurse retention and recruitment. Horizontal violent behaviors do not foster a culture of safety, which is what healthcare should be about. Nursing leaders, hospitals and other organizations must have a “zero tolerance” policy for these behaviors and a policy of protection for nurses who report such situations. Only we, as nurses and other healthcare personnel, have the ability to eliminate horizontal violence and fulfill our commitment to patients, families and communities in a safe environment.