Purpose: Nosiness is an annoying behavior at the workplace that can lead to negative consequences. It is characterized by being overly curious about other people's affairs. Specifically, this study aims to identify the factors contributing to nosiness among nurses.
Design/methodology/approach: We conducted an exploratory qualitative interview study involving 38 nurses in Iran. The participants were selected by purposive sampling.
Findings: We identified nine themes as the antecedents of nosiness among nurses: defamation motive, the need for certainty, the need for power, recreational motive, empathy, social comparison, the allure of the subject for the individual, having an employee-friendly workplace, and work environment and workload.
Originality/value: Understanding the antecedents of nosiness can help healthcare organizations curtail this phenomenon and foster a positive work environment, particularly in nursing where empathy, compassion, and attention to detail make them susceptible to nosiness.
Keywords: Curiosity; Information-seeking behaviors; Nosiness; Nosy behaviors; Nurses.
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