| The nursing profession is focused on serving others and has high expectations that each member
behaves professionally and ethically, as articulated in nursing codes of practice and conduct.
Where these are not upheld, inappropriate and unprofessional workplace behaviors
follow. Regrettably, unprofessional behavior is neither new nor constrained to the nursing profession,
but is known to negatively impact staff and workplace relationships, and importantly,
patient safety and care. The aim of this qualitative study was to explore Iranian nurses’ experiences
of professional communication between colleagues in the emergency department. Fifteen
individual interviews were conducted. The overarching theme to emerge from the data
was workplace communication, supported by two subthemes: unprofessional behavior and
stressors in the workplace. Individually and collectively, these subthemes demonstrated staff
attitudes and behaviors that are inconsistent with expectations of professional behavior and
practice. Management proactively addressing unprofessional workplace behaviors is fundamental
to establishing and |