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

Nurses Relations

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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?

Specializes in ICU, HOME HEALTH, NURSING EDUC, CASE MGT.

:balloons:

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?

It's so sad at times what the world in general has come to, and not only in the healthcare profession. :o I agree that mean/arrogant/cut-throat behavior is inexcuseable and it is everywhere you go today. There are so many variables

why we act the way that we do when it comes to life in general....problems at home, stress, insecurity, addictions, loss of a loved one, abuse, etc. The list can go on forever.

Is it right? Of course not! When I am having a bad day, I try to take a deep breath,

and attempt to go forward. And, I always try to treat everyone with respect regardless if they are a janitor or CEO of a company. :redpinkhe Notice...I stated try. It takes more muscles to frown than it does to smile. Those who are negative or on a mission to be destructive and downright nasty, I avoid them if at all possible. Wishing everyone a good day with a smile......:nurse: :up:

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Specializes in Behavioral Health, Show Biz.
Maybe the OP had a rough day. Sometimes the whole world seems against us and we exaggerate things in our minds. Just a thought. I do find the title and the premise of this thread somewhat inflammatory and it's bound to create a reaction here.

I agree.

I DON'T THINK MANY HEALTHCARE WORKERS ARE RUDE AND ARROGANT.

Not my experience at all.

:cheers:

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Specializes in Licensed Practical Nurse.

Arrogance is widespread as many posts above have said, but remember nursing and medicine are very prestigious fields that many people respect, some professionals take that to the head! Also working in healthcare forces you to adjust to different personalities some bossy, other arrogant, some nice etc.. Some people put up a tough exterior in order to protect themselves! Sometimes its just a viscous cycle, I pay it no mind, and try to prevent it! as long as no-one does anything to hurt mine or others reputations or the patient's wrongfully I cannot do a thing about other's attitudes! Sadly!

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Specializes in Operating Room.
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.

Eh, sometimes yelling back DOES get you respect.(or at least, a break from the torment) Not saying it's right but that's how it is. Now, I am not by nature confrontational...once I got my RN though, I suddenly grew a pair. There are some people who will back down and start treating you better once you give them a taste of their own medicine. I sincerely wish that we could all just act like adults but sadly, sometimes you have to stoop to their level.:o

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I'm just a nursing student with limited experience in the clinical setting....but the irony here, in my opinion, is that we're in health CARE and there are some people who seem to lack that fundamental idea of CARING.

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Specializes in OR.

The very essance of this question makes far too many assumptions that are false. Perhaps it is this persons own perceptions that lead them to believe this however untrue reality presents.:nono::grn:

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Specializes in Trauma ICU,ER,ACLS/BLS instructor.
I'm just a nursing student with limited experience in the clinical setting....but the irony here, in my opinion, is that we're in health CARE and there are some people who seem to lack that fundamental idea of CARING.

Burn out,unfullfilled dreams and lives. Poor working conditions and so much more contribute to this state of mind in some. So many go into health care to fill a hole that is inside of them. It never fills but with anger and bitterness. It is these indivisuals that become mean and fresh. The opposite pole is the majority that love what they do, realise the pitfalls and adjust accordingly. My new way is to smile at all my co workers no matter what, my mind might be saying what I want, but my mouth is in happy,tolerant gear. Does not always work, but it will remain a work in progress!

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maybe because of job stress... for us health care providers, specially here in the philippines the overwhelming number of patients and the non therapeutic conditions contributes to stress which causes this type of actions...

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Specializes in Education, FP, LNC, Forensics, ED, OB.

Thread closed for staff review.

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Specializes in Education, FP, LNC, Forensics, ED, OB.

Please, let's stay on topic: Why do you think so many healthcare workers are mean and arrogant?

This thread has nothing to do with medicaid/medicare/healthcare reform, etc.

Engaging others most of the time invites inflammatory responses, does nothing to improve the thread, but does serve to derail it.

Please, if you see TOS, report these. Keep the personal remarks out of the thread.

We thank you!! Carry on........

Thread reopened.

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The folly social nature of Mankind perhaps? I think it's a bit deep to really have a true understanding why people behave as we do, but I believe deep down there is good in most people and those of us that usually recognize this kind of behavior in others, have been guilty of rudeness sometimes ourselves. It's hard enough to maintain composure and hold:yeahthat: it together.....mine is held in by my faith and belief that everting gonna be alright!

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The question is why do healthcare workers feel that it is ok to be mean and arrogent? Dont get me wrong I have yet to experience the life as a staff nurse or any other nurse with a specialty but as a student nurse and what I have experienced at clinicals I am shocked to see how many healthcare workers that are out there who are mean and arrogent or maybe should I say, to them there is an I in team or is it the paycheck that is automatically deposited into their account every Friday. So far I have had many great experiences in some of the units that I have worked but in most of the units there are very few that are their for the patient(s). What happened to the compassion in the title? Although I am a student I have had so many different healthcare workers act like I dont know anything or I am nothing instead of taking me under their wing and showing me the ropes. What is wrong with everyone out there these days?? Is it the paycheck? I do though want to give a huge thanks and a hand of my appreciation to the ones who remind me everyday why I am in the position that I am in today.

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