Toxic leadership: Lessons for mental health nurses

The world of television and movies is often a simple one of heroes and villains. The heroes are universally respected and overcome adversity while maintaining an integrity that rarely dips; in contrast, the villains are one-dimensional in their nefarious ways. In the real world, however, heroes are rarely incorruptible or villains irredeemable. Indeed, people are complex and multidimensional, possessing various qualities that come to the fore in different situations or circumstances. In the same way, a paradox exists in nursing, with societal perceptions of nurses as selfless caregivers (the heroes) leaving little room for villainous behavior. While exceptions exist to this ideal, such as Nurse Ratched in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, nurses continue to top polls as the most trusted profession, with the highest ethical standards out of a wide range of professions (Institute of Health & Nursing Australia, 2022). However, ongoing reports of toxicity among nursing leaders suggest that societal perceptions of an honorable profession do not reflect reality (Tang & Thomson, 2019). Moreover, this toxicity has given rise to negative consequences, affecting the reputation of nurse leaders, nursing staff, other healthcare colleagues and patients (Indradevi, 2016).