Civility in the workplace

Absolutely. I've noticed that units that place a high importance on mutual respect have a much higher retention of nurses (not so good if you want to move up quickly on the seniority list, LOL). These nurses also tend to be strong advocates for their patients, possibly because they feel they can make a difference.

Thanks for bringing this up.

I think it has a lot to do with the unit's structure itself. I work in a PACU that is so collaborative that we--nurses, surgeons, anesthesia providers-- ENJOY each other's company, regardless of the situation that occurs at work, super-stressed or an easy-going atmosphere.

I work with these particular surgeons in another place as a perdiem, and although they still treat me with the utmost respect because they know me from their sister hospital, they are RUDE in their behavior towards the nurses in this other unit because of the culture of this unit that allows it. It's disgusting and I've often told the manager that these surgeons don't behave this way at their sister hospital.

I have been a nurse long enough to be very confident to discourse with surgeons who think they are "all that". Some have tried to make me as small as an anthill. It never works because they eat, sleep and poop like everyone else, and inevitably, I don't really care WHO they are--just WHAT they do and what I need from them to help THEIR--OUR patient. They are irrelevant to me out of work, and I never, ever let them bother me. NEVER.

The unfortunate thing is that this is something that is ultimately LEARNED. I have often noticed that this particular profession attracts many women, many of them with low self-esteem or are enculturated differently from another country, and don't know how to overcome some of these obstacles. Some learn, some never learn and perpetuate or even propogate ridiculous behavior. It is never going to change unless there is a DRAMATIC overtaking of these negative behaviors and someone, somewhere just says...NO MORE.

I am a 17-going-on-18 year "veteran" of bedside and I have to say I am one of the few that hasn't been driven away. I love bedside, and probably always will. I hope to change some of these attitudes when I become an advanced practitioner. In that role, I plan on advocating not just for the patients, but the nurses as well. Thank you for this information and I truly hope it helps US ALL become informed and to assist in our endeavors in changing attitudes.

Jo

AMEN!!!!!!