Ending horizontal hostility/lateral violence

I am a staff nurse at a rural hospital that suffers from rampant horizontal hostility - not only condoned by management, but rewarded by management. There has been a 20% turnover rate in the past year and I would attribute most of the nurses leaving to this hostility.

My question is, what can I do to get management to end this problem? Is there a program to end this problem? How do I approach management and tell them they need to address this issue? Are there legal implications for the facility if they don't address the problem and do something to stop it?

There is lots of research out there about horizontal hotility/lateral violence, but not alot out there about how to stop it. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I like what I do and feel strongly that we need to have a good hospital in this rural setting, but I don't know how much longer I can work in this toxic environment.

Thanks.