The nursing profession is supposed to be compassionate and caring; however, nursing can be a toxic environment for the nursing student, the novice nurse, and the experienced nurse. History shows that nurses have been subjected to physical, verbal and emotional abuse simply related to the nature of the work. A major source of verbal abuse comes from patients, families, doctors, other healthcare disciplines and unfortunately other nurses. Nurse abuse is also called horizontal violence. Horizontal violence is defined as a covert and consistent pattern of behavior in which the perpetrator exerts control over, diminishes, or devalues ​​colleagues or groups by endangering their health or safety. Bullying is defined as a threat to professional status, a threat to personal reputation, isolation, overwork, the imposition of undue pressure, or the failure to recognize an achievement (Hinchberger, 2009). Research on horizontal violence has shown that such abuse is destructive and threatens the existence of a supposed profession of care and education, especially when the bully is a nurse. This article will focus on the research reviewed regarding horizontal violence and bullying and how these issues affect nurses' health and well-being, patient safety, quality of care, and nursing shortages. Horizontal violence in the nursing profession is not a new phenomenon and usually retained for nursing students and novice nurses; however, experienced nurses may experience the same abuse. An article published by the American Nurses Association (ANA) in “The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing” (OJIN) documented in the study that bullying typically lasts more than six months and can last for years (Rocker, 2008). Individuals Suffering from Prolonged Work...... middle of paper ......oi:10.1016/j.profnurs.2012.01.001Rocker, C. F. (2008, August 29). Addressing nurse-to-nurse bullying to promote nurse retention. OJIN: The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing, 13. http://dx.doi.org/10.3912/OJIN.Vol13No03PPT05Sellers, K., Millenbach, L., Kovach, N., & Yingling, J.K. (2009-2010, Autumn/Winter). The prevalence of horizontal violence in registered nurses in New York state [Journal]. Journal of the New York State Nurses Association, 20-25. Retrieved from http://0-web.ebscohost.com.skyline.ucdenver.edu/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=3&sid=08304246-c732-44b8-908e-fbbf965a863b%40sessionmgr198&hid=127Yildirim, D. (2009). Bullying among nurses and its effects. International Nursing Review, 56(), 504-511. Retrieved from http://0-web.ebscohost.com.skyline.ucdenver.edu/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=afde6a0b-57f2-469c-9f5c-efefed7eef55%40sessionmgr113&vid=16&hid=127