bully

[gonzo1, ASN, RN]

So....if you are at work and go to sit down in your chair and see that someone put ultrasound gell all over it....would that be considered bullying?

[meanmaryjean, DNP, RN]

That would be an invitation to rumble to me!

Geez, what a jerk

[bridgetteRN]

It sounds like someone's being mean but do you have assigned chairs? Are you sure it was meant for you?

[RN403, BSN, RN]

I would consider that immaturity.

[Undone]

Maybe a practical joke meant for someone else?

[mluvsgnc]

More info and context is needed...

[LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN]

More info and context is needed...

This.

My initial reaction is a prankster who is a jack behind.

[ixchel]

Not bullying.

[nursel56]

I think we'd have to know a little more about the suspect (if you have any ideas in that regard). Sometimes a juvenile prank can be called bullying as it was in a case here in my state involving someone spraying air freshener on someone's food in the breakroom because they didn't like the way it smelled.

Sitting on ultrasound gel could ruin someone's clothes and cause them embarrassment and inconvenience. Damaging personal property and attempting to humiliate a co-worker could be considered bullying I would think.

[amzyRN]

More context is needed. Continued pranks like this could be construed as such; but an isolated event, probably not. Why don't you try to find out who did it? Ask them what the intention was. Maybe it was an accident.

[SouthernPoint]

I view it as someone who doesn't truely like their employement and wants to be fired for "Destruction of Property". Yes, I have seen someone for a stunt basically like this.

Sorry this is happening.

[ICURN3020]

This nonsense goes on in my unit.....gel on the phone receiver, squirting others with foam hand sanitizer or saline bullets, intentionally "misplacing" someone's favorite pen....the list goes on.

I've never witnessed these pranks being done with the intention to be mean, it's always between friendly co-workers who usually just want to liven up a boring or long shift. It tends to be the staff who (including the ones I have a friendly relationship with) are younger and haven't had enough life experience to really understand what maturity and respect for others entails.

I don't participate therefore I've never been on the receiving end of a prank, but honestly I think it's rather inappropriate and juvenile as it usually follows up with running/laughing/yelling between staff. We are an ICU with very ill patients and I don't imagine they appreciate the extra noise. It's just unprofessional in this setting. There's nothing wrong with having some fun at work, but I feel there are other, more considerate ways it can be done.