Relational Aggression

[artistnurse]

Nursing is a field that has women as a majority. There are many research articles on the way that females, from youth on relate to others. I work in a hospital where many are unhappy due to the backstabbing, passive aggressive behavior, and just outright nastiness. Especially in the ER. It's sad. I was thinking of doing a research article on this and maybe take steps toward a program that will help new nurses deal with the ugliness or that will help older nurses deal with their aggression in a more logical manner...any thoughts?

[leslie :-D]

what you are referring to, is a cultural event, and not a professional one.

don't get me wrong:

this back-biting indeed, occurs amongst the females...new and experienced.

do not let anyone tell you differently.

recognizing the facetiousness that we are prone to, i have mostly had male friends all my life.

when i had my dtr, i raised her hoping she would grow up to be tolerant, respectful, assertive and open-minded.

(other desirable qualities, cannot be taught, ie, warmth, intelligence, integrity)

same with my boys:

i raised them all the same.

as teenagers, they're up to the normal pranks that come w/adolescence.

but as human beings, i couldn't be prouder.

they will all be aware of workplace b.s. and know how to deal with it, competently.

one step further, i profess they will all instinctively run to the underdog's defense.

this female phenomena is pervasive.

and i maintain, it's mostly about upbringing and what we as parents, can do to turn it around.

leslie

[artistnurse]

I absolutely agree it's not professional. It's actually unprofessional and is totally a personal thing. The aspects of the negative behavior that come from upbringing as well as environment are very clear. It is cultural indeed.

[teeituptom, BSN, RN]

If you dont enable negative behaviours, then they dont exist

[llg, PhD, RN]

I recently did an educational program on the topic. If you do a literature search, you'll find a whole bunch of stuff to use as a foundation for any future project you might choose to do.

Good luck!

... and remember ... It's not just "older" nurses who engage in bad behavior -- it's younger and newer nurses, too.

[artistnurse]

Thank you. I apologize to all for "older" term.

[bopps]

I agree alot of it is cultural. My family drilled into my head respect, honor, dignity, and the code,"love your neighbor as yourself."

As a result of this training, this emersion of accepptance, nonpredjeduceness and love I have always thought of myself as a very easy-going nonviolence prone person. I am even a staunch pacifist! However after working as a nurse in the high stress enviroment I do, I find myself prone to road rage, sleep disturbances, and relationship difficulties. I chalk it off to stress and sleep deprivation, and I pray I will not let it destroy my life as it has some of my coworkers. We nurses are human beings. We can only take so much. Taking time for ourselves in out personal lives is essential. I find working out, sleeping, and spending some quality time with my family helps me get control.

I know there are spelling errors in this posting.

[morte, LPN, LVN]

"woman's inhumanity to woman" by phyllis chessler