Nurse Bullying. Have you experienced it?

Nurses Relations

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So, recently I have noticed on Facebook sites a lot of nurses actually bullying fellow nurses on social media.

Things I have seen nurses bully about:

-nurses who were really put together for a shift

-nurses who had polished nails

-nurses with tattoos

In fact, on my Instagram handle, I was actually bullied once because a girl thought I wore too much makeup for a shift in the ER. With all this bullying I see on social media, it makes me wonder whether this also occurs in the work setting?

Do any of you guys have any input on nurse bullying? Have you ever experienced it? If so, what was it regarding?

On one my favorites scrub brands Facebook, a nurse literally bashed another nurse and stated "I would NEVER want you as my nurse" and this was all said because the nurse in the photo had her nails painted.

Why do people go out of their way to be rude to others? And if its ok with their hospital policy to have painted nails and tattoos showing, then why do so many others care??

Let me know what you guys think.

xox

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Personally, I have! While working as a CNA at the young age of 15, I had a charge nurse who was jealous that I was so on track and ahead of the game with school. I don't think she wanted me to succeed, everyone tries to tackle the person with the ball. So I would always get the heaviest patient load, she would single me out in the workplace. She actually caused me so much stress and unhappiness that I got stress ulcers on my stomach and that's something I have to live with for the rest of my life. I also know that one of the nurses in my workplace bullies another nurse over her earrings. YES EARRINGS. She tells the nurse that wears them that they are "too big" while working as a nurse . They're nothing over the top and I definitely don't think they are too big.

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Specializes in ER.

I don't think saying you wouldn't want someone to be your nurse is bullying.

As far as Instagram, why don't you block the offensive person? When you post controversial opinions online, yes you open yourself up to criticism.Yes, some people think tattoos are low class and want nurses to look more wholesome. That's life.

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Personally, I have! While working as a CNA at the young age of 15, I had a charge nurse who was jealous that I was so on track and ahead of the game with school. I don't think she wanted me to succeed, everyone tries to tackle the person with the ball. So I would always get the heaviest patient load, she would single me out in the workplace. She actually caused me so much stress and unhappiness that I got stress ulcers on my stomach and that's something I have to live with for the rest of my life. I also know that one of the nurses in my workplace bullies another nurse over her earrings. YES EARRINGS. She tells the nurse that wears them that they are "too big" while working as a nurse . They're nothing over the top and I definitely don't think they are too big.

I literally rolled my eyes over that earrings comment. People have far too much time on their hands. Its honestly so sad.

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I don't think saying you wouldn't want someone to be your nurse is bullying.

As far as Instagram, why don't you block the offensive person? When you post controversial opinions online, yes you open yourself up to criticism.Yes, some people think tattoos are low class and want nurses to look more wholesome. That's life.

If someone doesn't like what they see on social media, they're not REQUIRED to comment on it. They can always keep their comments to themselves, but they fail to do so because they find it necessary to post their negativity on other peoples pictures and/or pages. It's unnecessary and rude. Tattoos are also apart of 2018, they should get used to them. Nurses do not need to be wholesome and there is no such thing as a picture perfect nurse.

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Specializes in Hospice.

I agree with Emergent, I don't believe those examples are bullying. Telling someone their earrings are too big might be for the benefit of the nurse, what happens when a patient yanks them out of their ears?

I don't understand how giving good sound advise is bullying.

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Personally when I worked inpatient I was always too busy to look my co-workers up and down and critique their appearance, even if I cared (which I didn't).

Take the criticisms on social media for what they are: opinions of immature and insecure individuals. They don't even rate a response from you.

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Definition of bullying

: abuse and mistreatment of someone vulnerable by someone stronger, more powerful, etc. : the actions and behavior of a bully

Personally, I have! While working as a CNA at the young age of 15, I had a charge nurse who was jealous that I was so on track and ahead of the game with school. I don't think she wanted me to succeed, everyone tries to tackle the person with the ball. So I would always get the heaviest patient load, she would single me out in the workplace.

Bullying

On one my favorites scrub brands Facebook, a nurse literally bashed another nurse and stated "I would NEVER want you as my nurse" and this was all said because the nurse in the photo had her nails painted.

Rude and possibly hurtful behavior but not bullying.

What you are describing is incivility and there is a lot of that going around but not just in nursing. The difference is as a nurse you are stuck with the jerk for sometimes 12 hours at a time with nowhere to get away from it.

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I agree with Emergent, I don't believe those examples are bullying. Telling someone their earrings are too big might be for the benefit of the nurse, what happens when a patient yanks them out of their ears?

I don't understand how giving good sound advise is bullying.

I totally understand that telling them their earrings are too long can be seen as advice, but honestly, if the nurse wants to risk getting them pulled out, then thats the nurses prerogative.

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Personally when I worked inpatient I was always too busy to look my co-workers up and down and critique their appearance, even if I cared (which I didn't).

Take the criticisms on social media for what they are: opinions of immature and insecure individuals. They don't even rate a response from you.

AMEN!

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Definition of bullying

: abuse and mistreatment of someone vulnerable by someone stronger, more powerful, etc. : the actions and behavior of a bully

Bullying

Rude and possibly hurtful behavior but not bullying.

What you are describing is incivility and there is a lot of that going around but not just in nursing. The difference is as a nurse you are stuck with the jerk for sometimes 12 hours at a time with nowhere to get away from it.

Regardless of what it is called in the dictionary, both are examples of other nurses being rude.

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Regardless of what it is called in the dictionary, both are examples of other nurses being rude.

Of course and I never disputed that but to call everything "bullying" dilutes the definition and takes the focus away from the really damaging things. They are anonymous strangers on the internet. They have no power.

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