Sexual harassment among nursing professionals: Evidence and prescriptions for administrators

The results of this study indicate that the experience of sexual harassment among nursing professionals may be more widespread than previously reported. With only one percent of respondents reporting 'quid pro quo' harassment, the vast majority of harassment fell into the 'hostile environment' category where the victim's perceptions are all important. Health care administrators should be cautioned that harassment and discrimination are evolving and expanding areas of the law, necessitating current knowledge of the standards for actionable conduct. To lower the risk of liability from claims of both victims and the accused, harassment and discrimination policies should be aggressive, proactive, fair, and thorough.