Please checkout "Mobbing" in Wikipedia

[rnbob]

Unfortunately this is a very common practice in Nursing. We all need to be familiar with it, so we can guard against being unwitting participants or victims. Please answer and let me know of your experiences from either side of the Mob

[itsmejuli]

Unfortunately this is a very common practice in Nursing.

Also in families, grade school, middle school, high school, college, any work place, social networks, the military, sports teams....etc etc etc.

[Fribblet]

It's not just common in nursing; it's common in life.

[NM nurse to be]

Well that was definitely interesting! I hadn't heard of that concept by name before. And yet I am totally familiar with it's execution There is definitely mobbing going on at my current work. I can't think of anything proveable but the atmosphere is totally 'mob against target of the moment'. The ringleader is someone of power and there is no way to fight it. So I am leaving. The question is whether I work the weekend or just call and quit now.

[dthfytr, ADN, LPN, RN, EMT-B, EMT-I]

Saw a positive use of it when entire ER staff united to get a frighteningly incompetent MD to retire through pressure on management. (ER patient, 5 hour stay, IV, lab, x-ray, CT, lumbar puncture, discharge diagnosis = viral syndrome).

[Fribblet]

I just ignore all that **** at my place of employment, honestly. People seem to like me more because of it.

You can be part of the problem or part of the solution; or just say screw it and do your own thing.

[Healing Soul]

I find it interesting that some healthcare employees are victims of mobbing and several others are never victimized at all. It also appears that some have had to start and stop several jobs because of work environments that breed this type of behavior until they find a supportive workplace. In my opinion, if you find yourself being bullied and mobbed in various and different places you might want to consider leaving nursing all together as you deserve much better. If you are currently going through this I am so sorry; if you have never been a victim consider yourself lucky :redbeathe

[carolmaccas66, BSN, RN]

People usually let themselves become victims by lying down and taking bullying or mobbing whatever it is called now. You have to stand up for yourself as an individual and put a protective wall around yourself - cos if you don't do it, no-one else will bother. Bullies need to be confronted and even if they don't back down immediately, they will eventually leave you alone.

[dthfytr, ADN, LPN, RN, EMT-B, EMT-I]

Now I know a good name for it. Great post. Too bad some people don't have the strongest self esteem making them easy victims. I'd like to read a whole lot more about the dynamics.

[canesdukegirl, BSN, RN]

Stand your ground, no matter what. It is important to recognize bullies for what they are: insecure, ill equipped souls that have either a strong sense of entitlement or have been so hurt in the early stages of development that they find solace in hurting others just as badly.

To those who find themselves as targets for bullies:

Be strong and confident in WHO YOU ARE. No one likes to be the odd man out. We all want that sense of belonging. We love camaraderie. Bullies will pick apart a person who shows any sense of weakness. Unfortunately, sometimes kindness is misinterpreted as weakness. Continue to flourish in the comfort of your own strength and lead by positive examples. It isn't easy; bravery in the face of confrontation rarely is. Trust that little spark of 'what if' that envelopes your mind when you seek to change your environment. Know that you are well grounded. Understand that bullies are jealous of your strength and are intimidated by it-and NEVER believe their hurtful words. Remind yourself that you are better than that. As much as you want to hate them, it is far better to ignore them...because what goes around comes around.

[Healing Soul]

I have posted before on this subject so I do not mean to drag on. However, I was bullied for several years while working as a nursing assistant. I have always been different and came to my own conclusion that nursing was not a good fit. I left the field and today I have a great job with wonderful co-workers who are supportive and accepting, working as a case manager with the unemployed. I'm not sure that I have low self-esteem but I am different and never fit within the nursing culture that might in some ways condone mobbing and bullying. And this bullying happened in every single nursing home that I worked in, eventually escalating to threats against my person and property damage. I would hope that we would strive to work in places where you do not have to be on the defensive. However, I also feel that the problem was me, in that I was a constant, and I just did not fit. In my case, leaving was the answer and in many ways my only option:redbeathe

[ZippyGBR, BSN, RN]

the problem with mobbing etc is that some Nursing workplaces in particular have remained emotionally and relationship wise stunted at the level of the high school , with the 'cool ' girls ( i.e. stereotypically the cheerleaders as per US 'high school' drama) dictating things much more than their actual position should permit ...

this is a sign of weak management pure and simple and if you aren't careful it can wreck a unit -as i have seen where 40 % of the Nurses left in little more than a year because the alleged 'manager' as part of that clique ...