Why do you think so many healthcare workers are mean and arrogant?

[mikethern]

Not all of course, but many physicians, nurses, and other health care workers have mean and arrogant personalities.

Why do you think this is?

Is it that....

1. You have to be very competitive to get into medical or nursing school. Competitive people are often cut-throat.

2. The stress of the job causes workers to be cranky and mean.

3. Unhappy people act arrogant to feel better about their lives.

4. Workers learn to be mean from other coworkers. It's a conformity thing.

5. Most people in the world these days lack manners.

Any opinions?

[GadgetRN71, ASN, RN]

I think I partly understand where mikethern is coming from because I also work in the OR. There are nice people there, don't get me wrong(I try my hardest each day to be one of them)but there are some that will try to get ahead by sabotoging/undercutting others. Some ORs are worse than others, of course. Things are changing little by little. The hazing that used to go on is not looked on as favorably anymore.

Mike, I hope things are going ok for you!

[socalpca]

Not all of course, but many physicians, nurses, and other health care workers have mean and arrogant personalities.

Why do you think this is?

Is it that....

1. You have to be very competitive to get into medical or nursing school. Competitive people are often cut-throat.

2. The stress of the job causes workers to be cranky and mean.

3. Unhappy people act arrogant to feel better about their lives.

4. Workers learn to be mean from other coworkers. It's a conformity thing.

5. Most people in the world these days lack manners.

Any opinions?

I don't think the healthcare industry has the monopoly on mean & arrogant people. Drive on our roads, go to a store, surf the internet...there are mean & arrogant people all over the place. I'd be interested to read what prompted you to write this post.

[mikethern]

I don't think the healthcare industry has the monopoly on mean & arrogant people. Drive on our roads, go to a store, surf the internet...there are mean & arrogant people all over the place. I'd be interested to read what prompted you to write this post.

Eh, I've just been working in the operating room since 1996 and I'm tired of seeing nurses talking to aides like they are dog crap. I'm tired of the general negativity that some workers display everyday. Nursing is hard enough without having to deal with arrogant people.

The way I look at it, I am paid $44 an hour to be a nurse and an tolerator of jerks.

No, not all nurses are like this. Many nurses are sweethearts. It's the jerks that are sickening.

And yes, all of society is like this. Manners are a dying art. It's all a rat race now. Get what you want in life even if it means stepping on other people.

When people are rude to me, I yell back. Then they are nice to me. I have earned their respect. The problem is that they still take advantage of people who do not stick up for themselves. So even if they are nice to me, they are still a jerk.

I saw a movie lately called "No Country for Old Men." It had a good line in it....... "When people stopping saying sir and ma'am, it's all down hill from there."

[socalpca]

Eh, I've just been working in the operating room since 1996 and I'm tired of seeing nurses talking to aides like they are dog crap. I'm tired of the general negativity that some workers display everyday. Nursing is hard enough without having to deal with arrogant people.

The way I look at it, I am paid $44 an hour to be a nurse and an tolerator of jerks.

No, not all nurses are like this. Many nurses are sweethearts. It's the jerks that are sickening.

And yes, all of society is like this. Manners are a dying art. It's all a rat race now. Get what you want in life even if it means stepping on other people.

When people are rude to me, I yell back. Then they are nice to me. I have earned their respect. The problem is that they still take advantage of people who do not stick up for themselves. So even if they are nice to me, they are still a jerk.

I saw a movie lately called "No Country for Old Men." It had a good line in it....... "When people stopping saying sir and ma'am, it's all over."

There is a difference between being rude to a person and yelling at them. If you yelled at a co-worker on the job in the hospital, that may be grounds for disciplinary action levied against you. I'm not saying you deserve it, I'm just telling you like it is in this uber-PC world of 2008. Also, yelling at someone doesn't earn you respect.

[azilrn07]

I think its that the way it is,not only n health workers but arrogant and mean people can be seen in other profession, or i must say from all walks of life.

[mikethern]

There is a difference between being rude to a person and yelling at them. If you yelled at a co-worker on the job in the hospital, that may be grounds for disciplinary action levied against you. I'm not saying you deserve it, I'm just telling you like it is in this uber-PC world of 2008. Also, yelling at someone doesn't earn you respect.

I only yell at mean people. And in the operating room, it DOES earn respect. They are like kittens to me after that.

I am nice to nice people and rude to rude people. I am never mean to nice people.

[Katie82, RN]

I think what you are discribing is a general reflection on society as a whole. But in healthcare, I divide folks into two groups - those who choose it as a job, and those to whom it is a career. Too many people in nursing because they see it as a secure job that pays extremely well for a 2-3 year education. Hopefully most of us see it as a calling, and are doing this because we love it. I get burned out on occasion, but I can't see myself doing anything else.

[FireStarterRN, BSN, RN]

You sound like you are seriously stressed Mike. I've heard ORs are rough places, it sounds like it's rubbing off on you. Maybe you should reevaluate things, huh?

[Scrubby]

Mikethern-From my experience in the OR the truly nice ppl usually are taken advantage of and treated like dirt.

I agree in the OR if someone yells at you or treats you like dirt then deal with it there and then (you may not have another opportunity]. I have found that by yelling back at someone that person will not try it on you again.

I get very angry about the way ppl at my work treat each other. I get sick and tired of being shouted at and feeling demoralised because one little instrument is not there or something isn't working right now. I too shout right back now because talking calmly to some ppl really doesn't work.

[mikethern]

You sound like you are seriously stressed Mike. I've heard ORs are rough places, it sounds like it's rubbing off on you. Maybe you should reevaluate things, huh?

Nah, not stressed, just disgusted.

[socalpca]

I only yell at mean people. And in the operating room, it DOES earn respect. They are like kittens to me after that.

I am nice to nice people and rude to rude people. I am never mean to nice people.

I don't know what it's like to work in the OR, but I would not take it well or calmly if someone were to yell at me in front of all. I'm not trying to attack you or the way you do your job, I'm just telling you how I am.

[mikethern]

I don't know what it's like to work in the OR, but I would not take it well or calmly if someone were to yell at me in front of all. I'm not trying to attack you or the way you do your job, I'm just telling you how I am.

I respect your view, but you would be amazed to see what operating rooms are really like. It's a whole other world. I've seen surgeons yell the "F" word in every sentence. And it was considered common behavior.