Stop the bullying

Nurses General Nursing

Published

A coworker friend of mine is currently being harassed by a few nurses at work. I refused to participate in this and almost found myself a target too. Luckily my coworker has a good reputation at work and has friends there. I see what she's going through and it makes me sick to my stomach. I'm asking all other nurses to please watch the way you treat others. My friend carried this home with her and it affected her work, husband and kids, and career satisfaction. If you see this happening to other people, don't join in.

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I've been the victim of workplace bullying too. It sucks. Why can't we all just get along (or at least be courteous)?

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Very good point. I would like to ask all bulliers, and or future bulliers how would you feel if someone went home and killed themselves? This can happen if a person feels they have nothing more to live for. Just like in schools, you need to tell someone, and in this case its a person of authority.

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Specializes in LTC.

If you see this happening, speak up, don't be afraid. People need to put these bullies right in their place especially as it's happening. Tell them right out, it's not going to be tolerated! People need not be intimidated by these losers. Stick up for your fellow coworker if you see this happening to them. Violence in the workplace is not tolerated!

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Specializes in Ambulatory Care, Case Manager.

I was bullied in Junior High because of my eczema that was covered from head to toe. I saw my bully again six years later in Junior College and she apologized about her behavior saying that she felt bad for making my life hell. At that time, my eczema has gone except now I have on my hands due to constant washing at work. Since I'm hearing more about "bullying" in the nursing field (supposedly a caring and helping profession), my question is this: If you are a nurse bully now, were you a bully then who still needs to grow up?

Just my :twocents:.

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Specializes in CCU/CVU/ICU.
If you see this happening, speak up, don't be afraid. People need to put these bullies right in their place especially as it's happening. Tell them right out, it's not going to be tolerated! People need not be intimidated by these losers. Stick up for your fellow coworker if you see this happening to them. Violence in the workplace is not tolerated!

That's it sissies..I'm gonna kick your butts! (cracks knuckles) ;)

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Specializes in ER, L&D, ICU, LTC, HH.

I was bullied in my last job and I left. It is sad and a lot has changed since I became a RN back in 1981.

Tell your friend to hang in there.

~Willow

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Specializes in LTC.
That's it sissies..I'm gonna kick your butts! (cracks knuckles) ;)

No, you don't have to kick anyone's butt or crack any knuckles. If no one says anything, then it's tolerated and it will continue. You need to grow some ballsimages.jpgand speak up to these pathetic, insecure people.

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Cardiology, Geriatrics.

I, too, have been bullied, both as a CNA (one RN would even throw things at me), and as an RN (had to leave my dream job over that one - NO backup from management). It seems that most bullies I've encountered are very insecure, and they feel they must get rid of anyone they consider a threat (real or, more often, imagined). At my former dream job, one 30-year veteran nurse felt the need to get rid of all the new nurses. She would lie, sabotage, and berate us until we all left. It's sad and pathetic. I have rarely found a unit that doesn't have bullies, and that disturbs me greatly. We are supposed to be caring and compassionate, but it seems we don't think we need to act that way towards each other! It does need to stop. It is contributing to early burnout for new nurses. It's the main reason I don't want to do bedside nursing, anymore. It's already stressful enough without the gossiping and bullying! Thank God nursing is so versatile!

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Very difficult situation to be in. I don't quite get how people in management don't see how wrong and dangerous it is to to patients having nurses work in a toxic environment. If managers cared, this would stop. I bet many errors could be traced back to nervous nurses working in a socially stressed environment. Maybe all this new media awe over bulling will bring more awareness to the issue and things will improve (fingers crossed).

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Very difficult situation to be in. I don't quite get how people in management don't see how wrong and dangerous it is to to patients having nurses work in a toxic environment. If managers cared, this would stop. I bet many errors could be traced back to nervous nurses working in a socially stressed environment. Maybe all this new media awe over bulling will bring more awareness to the issue and things will improve (fingers crossed).

I agree Phlavyah and as for management well its it's own kind of bully. Not individually necessarily but as an organic system (remember abnormal psych?). They bully us with staffing, money, resources, patients etc. It's hard to see what their staff is doing when they doing the same thing.

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Specializes in ICU, ER.

I have been a nurse almost a year. My experience has had its very awful times. I love being a nurse, don't get me wrong but the people you work with can make or break the way you feel about the job that you so desired before you knew things like "bullying" happened...

I was extremely bullied in the beginning. My preceptor just so happened to be part of a "clique". Most ICUs have these. You know...the nurses that are all best friends (usually contains management) that seem to thing they rule the unit and make it a goal to make new grads or any new nurse for that matter feel small inadequate and flat out stupd...There were many times I went home second guessing being a nurse and even comtemplated going to real estate school.

My experience was terribly hard...looking back now I am glad I made it through that and that the "clique" didn't drive me off. Thankfully the "clique" left when a new hospital opened up. It was a blessing by God and I am thankful it all turned out that way.

My advice to anyone that goes through this is to never let another nurse (regardless of experience) make you feel as though you are not qualified to be the nurse that the state board says you are.

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