Joselyn Martin

University of New Mexico College of Nursing, USA

Title: Crabs In A Bucket: Lateral Violence In Healthcare

---

Biography

Joselyn Martin began her healthcare journey with an EMT-B certification in 2003 and (not to brag) has been experiencing lateral violence in healthcare since at least 2006. Since obtaining her Registered Nurse license in 2011, Joselyn has filled multiple roles across Level 1 trauma centers, including ICU, ED, and as a Nurse Manager. She is currently faculty at The University of New Mexico School of Nursing where she prepares the next generation of nursing professionals to provide high quality patient care and to be the kind of crabs they want to see in their bucket. 

Abstract

If you place live crabs in a bucket, any one of them could technically climb to freedom with the help of their peers. However, this is not what happens; instead, they scramble, grabbing onto each other, dragging each other back down so that none can escape. Nurses are 

the crabs, the bucket is healthcare, and no one is coming to save us. Though 20-60% of workplace violence incidents go unreported (American Nurses Association, n.d.), studies show the prevalence of inter-nurse lateral violence is as high as 83% (Zang, et al., 2022). The 

result is a year over year increase in rates of anxiety, depression, and burnout (CDC, 2023). This, despite increased attention, regulatory standards, and educational resources. Like it or not, it’s up to us crabs to take matters into our own…pincers. Through evidence-based strategies, learn to identify and address lateral violence where institutional methods have failed. Let’s help each other out of this bucket. Let’s end lateral violence in healthcare.