Background Workplace bullying, especially among nurses, is an important problem. Approximately one-third of nurses, globally, are victims of bullying (Spector et al., 2014). Confirming that bullying is a problem that needs to be prevented and addressed in organisations, the Portuguese National Program for Occupational Health 2013/17 includes health promotion, and, also, working practices and healthy lifestyles.

Aims To identify bullying and engagement levels among nurses; to analyse the correlation between these two variables, and to verify their variations according socio-demographic and professional characteristics.

Method A multicenter, descriptive, and correlational study was carried out, with nursing professionals from Portugal, Spain and Brazil. Preliminary results collected among 87 Portuguese nurses from S. Miguel, Açores island (all from primary health care, 94% with a definitive job contract, mean age of 39.4 years, mean job experience of 15.3 years, 89% female), using anonymous questionnaires composed by Portuguese versions of NAQ-R (Einarsen & Hoel, 2001; McIntyre & McIntyre, 2004; Borges & Ferreira, 2015) and the UWES (Schaufeli e Bakker, 2003; Marques Pinto e Picado, 2011).

Results Preliminary results showed more bullying acts associated with Work undervalue and Exclusion (M = 1.57 and M = 1.47 M on a 1–5 points scale). Negative acts identified by nurses in the past six months, were: “To be forced to carry out functions below ones level of competencies” (8%) and “Being pressured to not claim their rights” (7%). However, no one identifies himself as bullying victim according NAQ-R definition. Engagement dimensions were high (vigour M = 4.2, dedication M = 4.3, absorption M = 4.3 on a 0–6 scale). Some significant differences were found, varying according sex and job contract. Moreover, Bullying and Engagement showed a negative association.

Conclusions Bullying perception by nurses must be discuss, and prevention programs for bullying must be prepared and presented by occupational health services, trying to ameliorate the quality of life at work.