Cut-throad Nurses Even in the ED

LOL Too, too true. Thank God it is not always true. Been a nurse for a long time, and I've had the absolute pleasure of working w/some great people/nurses and others that know the true meaning of teamwork and mutal respect.

Got some information. It matters not. Every nasty word we needlessly inflict upon others, regardless of what we "think" our justification (rationalization) is will eventually find it's way back to us, and it will be negative.



To another poster as well: LOL I'm not "trippin" at all. I am seeking to illuminate things that keep our profession, if you would call it that, from truly being a profession. This is NOT professional behavior, but it happens every day--and sadly it happens A LOT in nursing. That is the saddest commentary on it. We should not allow it. In order to discourage this behavior, well, it involves bringing such destructive things into the open and discussing them.

To the other poster as well,. . .to be fair, there was another "reason." if you would call it that. The salary parameters would be a part of it.

1. It is because of overall experience, etc and where I've worked, so the NM was reasonably sure I wouldn't come in that low. 2.It is also, however, because of the negative response of the newer nurse--a person that sadly has repeatedly shown she cannot rise above things--even when others have repeatedly been the first to seek reconciliation and to apologize. I will not discuss the ridiculous details, but her "issues" against me were/are but tempest in teapots, and in reality, my family did not stir the teapot in the first place. Regardless, more than once, for the sake of peace, I reached out to this person. Some people, however, refuse to truly bend or trust the value of striving for humility , etc. Until she learns this, life will continue to be problematic for her. But this is not something you really can MAKE someone learn. It's called having a magnaminous spirit. Some folks get it, and others do not. Some folks dig their heals in and never grow this way--and they reinforce this ulgy, negative pridefulness in others, like their children, for example. Yet there are people that see through them for what they are. Just b/c people are compassionate, it does not mean they don't see. You can be quite compassionate and still see and accept reality.

On the bigger scale, in my mind a lot of this comes down to leadership in nursing. Some NMs believe whatever--whether it be prior to hiring or after hiring. It's a negative commentary for a number of middle and upper nurse "leaders" that they take the subjective bias from certain people in the work place and make decisions on them in a virtual vacuum. They may bounce it off another in their area, but sadly that leader too takes the easy road or isn't strong in the greater sense of leadership. So it still ends up being a decision that they make in a vacuum.

Mostly it is b/c they feel that have to rely on such folks within the setting, no matter what. So they develop this mentality. And really it is b/c they haven't developed or honed their own sense of discernment and insight --they aren't confident in that part of the leadership package, and finally b/c they have not been encouraged to learn the value of striving toward more objective evaluations and feedback. The really great leaders learn these things. Others just rely on fragmented, subjective pieces of information together with their own or other "vacuumed" bias--b/c after all, they figure, "Why rock the boat?" Anyway the NM may feel that she will need this (or these) person/s for whatever, and she can't afford to get on her (their) bad side/s, b/c she/they could fragment the team further. This will reflect negatively on the NM and inhibit her or his potential for further promotion. So, rather, she will appoint her or them as lead/s on committees, where she/they will sit with other cronies just like her, and where she/they will not at all really demonstrate an overall, fair perspective and representation from the team/group as a whole. Thus the non-appointed "others" stay quiet--lest they be perceived as dissenters, for fear of the appointees' retaliation and negative comments to the NM--and what that will ultimately mean for them as more "limited" staff.

Listen, I've been around a long time. I've seen the game played over and over and over. It is quite prevalent in many units. But the great nurse leaders know or at least learn that allowing this to go on, even in the midst of so-called "shared governance,' will ultimately undermine the unit, the team, and the group as a whole. (Of course I am referring to units where "shared governance" amounts to something that really is in name only. It really is restricted, shared governance, where a few really rule along with administration. But whatever. )
While it is true that some leaders learn this or know this, it is also true that some never do. And the units, hospitals, patients, and on a grander scale, the whole of nursing as a profession all pay for it. And this is precisely why I share the whole sad little event. . .and make such further commentaries on it.

We need to be wise to what is going on, and when the opportunity rises, to speak out against it. After all, that is what a truly free society does.

Thanks

And twinmommy. . .it wasn't that the NM told me that. What? You think she is nuts? Come on. Just remember that it is true what they say. "The walls have ears."