A Matter of Respect and Dignity: Bullying in the Nursing Profession

kakamegamama · Apr 20, 2011

Thank you for this post! As I read it, I realized that I HAVE been a victim of bullying, from a CNO as well as those I supervised. I remember going home once after a particularly rough day as a department manager (I was a new and first time manager and 2 of those I supervised had been managers in their past, and another was jealous that I had been hired for manager) and asking my husband why were people so mean, that I just didn't understand why they were being so mean. MY supervisor suggested the issue was mine by responding when I expressed concern and frustration at their behaviors with:"Oh, you got your feelings hurt because no one wants to play with you now." This said in a childish voice. I've since learned that bullying in any form is a symptom of deeper problems, and I'm not responsible for how I am treated.

Blackcat99 · Apr 20, 2011

Very nice article. I had the experience of dealing with a "bully" just 2 weeks ago. I had to confront her and set her straight within minutes of first meeting her. Now she knows she cannot bully me. The last time I saw her she was nice and polite towards me.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Apr 20, 2011

I'm not responsible for how I am treated.

I respectfully disagree with this statement. Whether you realize it or not, certain people are targeted for bullying due to a couple of specific reasons. Also, I believe that a person who does not demand respect in the workplace is ultimately responsible for the poor treatment that will soon follow.

Have you ever wondered why some people are always victimized by bullies and other people are always left alone? I have observed that bullies always target certain individuals, and at the same time, leave the other people on the unit alone. Unfortunately, it's all about perception. If you are perceived as a softy or a pansy who will not stand up to the bully, you'll be targeted for further harassment. If you're perceived as someone who will put up resistance and not allow anyone to run over you, then the bully will quickly know to leave you alone because you're now viewed as too difficult of a target.

In a nutshell, bullies love easy targets. They thrive on people who will not do anything in response to the bullying. Bullies avoid harder targets and tend to steer clear of people who will openly resist being pushed around.

Bullying is a crime of opportunity. Bullies prey on the most opportune targets: people who are less likely to respond in a defensive manner to the bullying. Also, if nothing is done during the first instance of bullying, the bully will continue the rampage, because he/she knows that he/she can get away with it.

SweettartRN · Apr 20, 2011

My thoughts on "bullying" are different from others.

I believe that which doesn't kill us only makes us stronger, and if you aren't able to stick up for yourself you are putting a target on yourself.

I don't bully, and I don't allow myself to be bullied. I speak my mind and I call it like I see it.

p324l · Apr 20, 2011

I guess my response to this issue is why the people who "bully" feel the need to do so? Is it the apparant low self esteem they have of themselves? In my experience people who need to put others down ,is in response to their own low opinion of themselves. They need to put others down in order to build themselves up. Instead of others who don't feel the need to bully having to get "thick skinned", why don't those who bully take a look in the mirror and work on themselves instead of projecting onto others??

SummerGarden, BSN, MSN, RN · Apr 20, 2011

i respectfully disagree with this statement. whether you realize it or not, certain people are targeted for bullying due to a couple of specific reasons. also, i believe that a person who does not demand respect in the workplace is ultimately responsible for the poor treatment that will soon follow.

blaming the victims is not the right way to go. bullying in nursing is prevalent because it is easy to do by the bedside. not only is it easy to do but it is acceptable behavior in most scenarios. within an office "professional" setting, bully type behavior is not acceptable in most cases and bullying is easily addressed. for example, if someone a start yelling on the floor, the bully is usually justified in his/her frustration at the time and can easily take it out on the supposed weaker nurse in front of everybody because a patient may be in trouble at that time. whereas no such scenarios exist in office settings to hide the poor behaviors of a bully!!!

also, bullies feel comfortable bullying. look at the article, the target is not necessarily a weaker nurse. it is a nurse who is not in the popular clique. the bully usually is popular and thus more powerful and is able to get support for his/her bullying from his/her other co-workers. i agree with you in confronting bad behaviors no matter where it happens. however i have seen bullies get away with things after confrontations and turn the tables around on the victim and make the victim seem too "sensitive" to his/her co-workers. bullies are not stupid. they find a way to continue his/her behaviors by the bedside by making the victim seem like a useless nurse to others. oh, and the bully denies any gossip so it is hard to prove that he/she is not telling the truth. :twocents:

79Tango · Apr 20, 2011

I know of two victims that I no longer feel sorry. Mostly because they bring everything upon themselves. I think they crave the attention. One constantly runs to the stairwell or broom closet for a good cry. The other brought Valentine's day treats for everyone that was "nice" to her and left out all the "meanies."

perfectpractice · Apr 20, 2011

Bullying is RAMPANT in this profession and it is not a matter of the victim speaking up for themselves. This type of behavior needs to stop - the focus needs to be on the patient.

slackula · Apr 20, 2011

How do you stand up to a bully.?

leslie :-D · Apr 20, 2011

i agree with you in confronting bad behaviors no matter where it happens.

i agree, mba.

it's particularly effective in a dark alley.

leslie

Willow Moonsidhe · Apr 20, 2011

I started as a nurse in 1984 and there was no bullying then. People were more interested in giving good quality care than the power struggle I see today. I wish we could move the calendar back to those days and let the new nurses see nursing the way it use to be. There was a lot of pride in becoming a RN and a lot of team work among the nurse. Now all I see is division oh she only has a LPN or AD degree; instead it should be good for you for becoming a nurse and a pat on the back. Today I see a lot of what I dealt with in home health some young new manager trying there best to show administration that they see all the errors by writing up things they don't even know what they are writing about. I actually got wrote up by one of the rudest Clinical Managers I had ever seen in my whole career. The write up was for poor customer service for not getting the order form correct on a bed attachment that holds a warming blanket machine. This same patient I had taken my lunch break to go by the home and help get the lady in the car for an appointment so the daughter did not have to pay $400 for an ambulance ride and I also bought the same lady a contour cloud pillow for Christmas because she needed it for neck pain but could not afford it. But as we all have known before you get written up sometimes so someone with an inferior view of themselves can look good in managements eyes. It is so sad. It was the first time short of one medication error I had ever been written up since 1984. I had a crush injury in my foot and was out of nursing a few years until 10/2009. Since then I have been through 5 jobs looking for one with people who really care about the patients and want to work as a team. That is a sad statement of nursing today.

Blessings to you all on this board who care enough to try and make a difference by posting care and concerns here.

Love

~Willow