why do nurses gossip and belittle eachother?

[iscreambiebah]

This happened a few times while I was in inpatient. And I was throughly disturbed and annoyed by it. Like, don't you have anything better to do? I remember once I was listening to nurse/staff person, I think her name was Margaret or something and yelled at her saying :"Shut the **** up!"

[BuckyBadgerRN, ASN, RN]

I dont get it. Are you making fun of me

No one is making fun of you, but it's clear that this is not the forum for you

[psu_213, BSN, RN]

Gah. Just started nursing. So sad to see this going on on my floor. Makes me want to just quit already.

I hate to tell you, this happens in just about every work place….healthcare or not….male or female employees.

[QuarterLife88, MSN, RN, NP]

To answer the original question: I think it's because nursing is a high stress job with often a lot at stake and too little help. We grow frustrated, so we take it out on the nearest targets -- each other. Most of the pettiness at my job comes from people saying so and so is lazy. No one is truly lazy. We all work our butts off. There is only so much help to go around so when one person is perceived as delegating too much or not running to a call light they are deemed as not a team player. Resentment brews and people slam each other behind their backs.

Also, it is NOT because nursing is a women's profession. I am so sick and tired of this notion. FYI, most of the men I work with are also just as nasty as everyone else, but this gets overlooked. WHY? A woman is a witch (with a B) but a man is just doing his job? GAG me. I was recently placed in a higher position for the first time on my floor not too long ago, and sure enough, some of my male coworkers were bitter with jealously and just ugly to me, gossiping right along with my female coworkers. Misogyny is not a good look. Stop it.