Lateral Violence

nurse2033, MSN, RN · Feb 26, 2011

I would document, in quotes, and file a complaint with HR.

iluvivt, BSN, RN · Feb 27, 2011

Every time this happens write up an incident report...then there is a record and a pattern that your managers managerer will see. If higher ups keep seeing thses come across they will begin to question the manger and about why she cannot control her staff. If you use the angle that pts and families can hear these conversations and or did hear them .eventually action will be taken. A zero tolerance policy needs to exist and then be reinforced by disciplinary action

joaks, BSN, RN · Feb 27, 2011

I hate hearing more stories of nurses eating their young aka lateral violence. It happened to me for two years. I switched hospitals. I precepted two new grads before I left. I gave them all my advice, praise, and encouragement to deal with the "dinosaur" nurses on our floor. My parting words, were if they couldn't find a happy medium, follow in my footsteps and leave after your 1 yr of experience. Honestly, it was my managements problem. I complained, gave examples/scenarios Other nurses wrote these nurses up-which just started a ridiculous frenzy of nurses writing up other nurses. Management was "laissez faire" style-nothing was going to change. That floor had been like that for close to 10 years-it had a reputation. So I got out. Best move I could have made. I'm at a magnet hospital now-what a culture difference!

SnowShoeRN · Feb 28, 2011

All in all, I love the hospital where I work.

And I actually did leave one of my previous jobs due to lateral violence that was so bad it was harming patients. People were so cliquey that you couldn't even get help to care for other patients (boosts, advice, whatever) unless you were in on their little club. If I was overwhelmed and having a bad day it was just too darn bad. No one was there to help me, recognize me, etc. That was the case with about 4 of us. We just weren't "in."

I truly love where I work and don't want to leave, but the lateral violence is a concern. Especially when patients hear it and make complaints. Or even if they don't. It's interesting too because I've only once or twice at this hospital found myself in a position where another nurse was saying something directly to my face. Most of it has been backstabbing/gossiping. I find myself constantly "sticking up for" other employees. Which is sort of fine in that I'm proud to defend people I work with. But I shouldn't have to. This isn't junior high.

I really appreciate everyone's opinion on this. I'll keep you all posted. No pun intended. :)

pedicurn, LPN, RN · Feb 28, 2011

Sigh. You guys, I am so saddened by all the lateral violence on my floor. And it's not just that. It's the bad attitudes too.
Anything from calling staff members "weird" or a "snob" to calling them super inappropriate terms pertaining to their body parts and/or sexuality. And the problem is, the biggest perps NEVER take it seriously. I have implored people to think about what they're saying and management even sends out emails now and then.
But today, after I listened to 2 nurses bad-mouth a friend of mine (I have since sent them emails, had no idea what to say at the time), someone was talking about someone else and referred to her as - let's just say - a very-inappropriate-sexual-slur that rhymes with "more," right as a an elderly patient and his wife were walking by!
Patients have mentioned it to me, float nurses have mentioned it to me, staff nurses on MY FLOOR have mentioned it to me....my floor is just SO cliquey to the point where it can be mean and very unprofessional. People don't want to be floated to my floor because of the exclusion. *I'm* a snob because I actually stick up for myself and refuse to gossip.
So I wrote yet another email to my manager and my nurse educator telling them all about the latest and asking them to please re-post the policy, send out another email, and ask staff to take it seriously.
I guess it's out of my hands now. I don't think there's anything else I can do. :/
Anyone out there have similar issues? How did you handle it? I'd love to hear your stories.

Female ghetto behaviour .... our Jerry Springer side

Adult women behaving like catty teenagers and who really have no idea the rest of society thinks this behaviour is dysfunctional.

it is social - social ignorance

Often have a bunch of these people and bad news when the manager is cast out of the same mould.

There is no point staying in this environment where the manager is normalised to this type of behaviour too.

It will never get better when the manager is unable to see the issue

79Tango · Mar 1, 2011

Yes, it is out of your hands now and I would leave it there. Unless you are making a formal complaint about what you "overheard" sending emails & telling on people can backfire. You might be the one let go for being so easily offended! Im not saying its right--just playing devil's advocate. I would tell you to let the people that are being talked about and called names to speak up.

SnowShoeRN · Mar 2, 2011

Yes, it is out of your hands now and I would leave it there. Unless you are making a formal complaint about what you "overheard" sending emails & telling on people can backfire. You might be the one let go for being so easily offended! Im not saying its right--just playing devil's advocate. I would tell you to let the people that are being talked about and called names to speak up.

This was essentially my sister's advice and I hadn't thought about it before but it makes a lot of sense. While I'm on good terms with the manager, I have certainly been used a scapegoat in the past by people on my floor. I never name names when I speak to the manager, but my sister suggested speaking with the subjects of the gossip and letting them know what people are saying about them.

I initially found such an idea to be kind of mean and perhaps more "rocking the boat" I can see where just providing the facts to those being talked about and then letting them make their own decisions may end up being in everyone's best interest.

I do have a tendency to want to fix things and I know that sometimes that just isn't possible and can actually make things worse.

Thanks for your response.

79Tango · Mar 2, 2011

Ive just seen alot bad things happen to good people.. I wouldnt even tell the subjects that are being talked about. That could be construed as gossip or taking sides! You are best to just stay in your lane and mind your business:) Your working dynamic will implode on it's own. You may want to keep a little journal or notes just to CYA.