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

2bmejor · Apr 20, 2011

If you are a nurse that bullies others SHAME, SHAME AND SHAME on you! Grow up, build up your self-esteem or better yet get a counselor! because I can guarantee you that you'll meet your match and you would not like it. Remember what goes around comes around! My advice- be professional, respectful, cordial and a team player, our common goal is patient care and safety.

heron, ASN, RN · Apr 21, 2011

I believe that a lot of this behavior is influenced by the corporate culture of the company that owns the facility.

If the corporate culture is demeaning, abusive or otherwise rewards bullying with corporate success, then you're going to have a whole lotta poop rolling downhill.

I think that watching how supervisors treat the people reporting to them speaks volumes about what kind of behavior "wins" in that company.

Given what we know about displaced anger and lateral violence, it goes a long way towards explaining how workplace badness gets started.

This is not to say that we aren't responsible for our own behavior. I agree that bullies need to be controlled to minimize the harm they do.

However, humans are a social animal and social context is known to influence behavior significantly.

canesdukegirl, BSN, RN · Apr 21, 2011

You must pick your battles in the workplace. Yes, there are some nurses that just LOOOOVE drama, and will induce it at the first sign of weakness in another. I don't waste my time with these types; rather I just laugh at them and walk away. Their misery is like a neon light that they wear on their foreheads, and I want no part of it. They must be incredibly bankrupt in their emotional lives, and I will not feel obliged to make a deposit.

You handle a bully like you would a drunk. They are acting out, being ridiculous and typically make no sense. State your boundaries, make yourself clear, and make your sentences small. Then walk away. They don't deserve ONE OUNCE of rental space in your brain.

KeepItRealRN, BSN, RN · Apr 21, 2011

It pretty much boils down to "You get what you put up with".

JulieCVICURN, BSN, RN · Apr 21, 2011

It pretty much boils down to "You get what you put up with".

Although in general I feel like this sentiment is true, there are some horrible people out there who are just complete ***** to everyone they work with. How you decide to deal with it is up to you. You can confront them, you can chalk it up to them just being a miserable person and ignore them unless you have no choice but to deal with them directly, or you can shrink into a little ball and let it sink right into your core and affect your self esteem. I prefer to not deal with them unless I see them being directly rude to someone or to me, and then I'll call them on their BS. I don't ever really see a change in how they treat people, but they don't mess with me and if they do, I blow it off because I know it's not me, it's them.

linearthinker, DNP, RN · Apr 21, 2011

I have never been a victim or witnessed any bullying, but in my very limited experience with the accusation, the people complaining have been big whiners that can't be taken seriously anyway.

eagle78 · Apr 21, 2011

I have never been a victim or witnessed any bullying, but in my very limited experience with the accusation, the people complaining have been big whiners that can't be taken seriously anyway.

Hmm, well I have been, although I did not complain it was something that I took seriously. The situation got handled by me, and I did not have any more trouble with the individual. That said, I am not so sure that it is fair to just write it off as the victim being a "whiner" unless you have actually witnessed the situation that is being complained about.

There are bullies out there, it happens. It is great that you have never witnessed it or been a victim but trust me it is not always just a "whiner" complaining.

SilentfadesRPA · Apr 21, 2011

"it pretty much boils down to "you get what you put up with"

it would not surprise me if there is some disagreement with this thought however i also agree with the similar notion ....that i have learned well by example from a very experienced colleague.

there one time was a wonderful rn who lead by example, taught many new staff and was thought of as a humble yet brilliant example of what the profession should be. she was total class and i loved having her as mentor.

all was well until a new assistant nurse manager was employed. within days it was clear that this new hire had zoned in on this established rn and there was a flurry of verbal embarrassments, write ups for minor situations and gossip all with the focus on this wonderful nurse. all originated by the new assistant nurse manager. no matter what she did there was always trouble from the new hire. there were meetings with the nurse manager her new assistant nurse manager and this established faithful employee with no resolve. the chief nurse manager despite years of working together would not come to her defense and seemed to enjoy the new hire method of illicit fact finding and so called discipline.

the history of the unit disintegrated into shambles and all of us felt like we were walking on eggs. many expressed feelings of being afraid of who would be next. anyone of us who expressed their thinking that this was unfair was also. some suggested to their friend to avoid the abuse by transferring / others recommended new employment and others suggested that perhaps it was time to retire or just quit.

it was a horrible thing to watch. all felt helpless and powerless.

i will never forget the monday when there was phone call that the nurse manager and new assistant nurse manager were called to a meeting immediately. this was totally unexpected and happened during a very busy day as rounds were going on. the charge nurse was assured by them that they would return before rounds began.

neither came back to the floor who was notified that they would not be back for the rest of the shift. no big thought to this as it was assumed some big wig administrative meeting was happening as it often did in this large heath care setting.

the next day we were informed by the nurse manager that she was relinquishing her position in two weeks and would work as a staff nurse after that. also the new nurse manager would immediately be transferred to the night shift on another unit at a sister hospital.

well a few days later it all came out what had occurred at this sudden meeting. :eek:

when they went to the room where they were requested -- the hospitals administrator,hospital legal counsel, the risk manager, human resources and don were waiting for them.

after the door was closed it was made known that a letter from an attorney arrived. in this was specific times, dates and witnesses pertaining to the harassment of the established nurse that had occurred. the letter also indicated that attorney was in possession of all incidents reports and employee warnings that had been given to the nurse since the new asst manager was hired and it was documented that that she never received one prior in her 10yrs of work history.

further it stated that there was a in legal possession various tape recordings of the last three "counseling sessions" that she was given where she was referred to as old and lacking in intelligence as well as her integrity was questioned in loud and abusive manner. in some states one does not need permission of all to make a tape recording.

finally it was mentioned that a copy of all of this had been sent to jcaho as there was no policy in the procedure manual nor was there any history of in-services or policy regarding lateral violence that was made available to staff. in conclusion a cc was being sent to the dept of labor requesting a state investigation for allowing a hostile work environment.

the letter offered resolve that included removal of both managers immediately or the hospital will face litigation with a release to the press of such.

i approached my mentor sincerely offering my admiration for her strength and wisdom in the face of such adversity.she looked at me ever so kind yet with a sly smile she and said "remember this saying and it will serve you well.... there are no victims only volunteers." it has served me well for years. it also served her well as she retired on her terms several years later. i miss her much.

i have never forgotten this and never will. in conclusion i just posted and firmly believe that when nurses as a whole profession and as individuals do not tolerate abuse and show that there is accountability for such actions directed toward us and our patients that such abuse will stop.

when put in such situations of dangerous compromise it is appropriate to have heavy consequence and actions that are proportionate to such risk.

negotiation and denial of the veracity of such situations not only tolerates but promotes that which is clearly never acceptable as a person or as a professional.

marc

ps - both the nurse manager and displaced assistant nurse manager "resigned" within a month of the administrative action. were they missed ? - hell no well maybe by each other lol

marc

KeepItRealRN, BSN, RN · Apr 21, 2011

Great story Marc. I've lived that story but I'm too lazy to type it up. LOL. The other element to that tale is that "Knowlege is Power". Your mentor had the wherewithal to become familiar with the laws pertaining to her situation and to access resources that would put her in a situation of power. She was also smart enought to keep her cards close to her chest until it was time to lay them on the table.

When it comes to being railroaded by management the only power they have is the power of ignorance, meaning their victim doen't know better.

StNeotser, ASN, RN · Apr 21, 2011

I respectfully disagree with those that say that the victims make themselves targets. I assume when you make these statements that you are talking about lateral violence. I am not.

Currently our unit manager seems to be targeting nurses on the shifts she does not work and has introduced a culture of cronyism amongst the shift where she is present. They know that they will never be blamed for anything, that their mistakes will be covered up by her. I'm not going to go into details but it is certainly frustrating.

anotherone, BSN, RN · Apr 21, 2011

There are a couple of bullies on my unit. RNs, LPNs, and CNAs. It is very difficult to stand up to these people when they are all buddy buddy with each other. ESPECIALLY when the head bully is the charge who makes your assignment. If you are not in their group (i am not)you will get the worst possible assignment and NO HELP. THe bully cna will stand around gossiping with the bully nurses while you run around getting your q4 vitals and q2 accuchecks if you have a pt on an insulin drip...etc. Sometimes I feel like I have to befriend these people just so I have someone who I can count on in case there aren't any non bullies on shift that day.... ugh

pedicurn, LPN, RN · Apr 21, 2011

Patient acuity and caseloads are higher now. Every other speciality from doctors to physiotherapists expect the nurses to be at their beck and call. If anything goes wrong it seems the default course of action to blame the nurse.
.

I have never understood why nurse allow themselves to be pushed around by allied health ..... one of my biggest irritations

We need to remember:

- we don't always need to share the influence /power .... many allied fields developed out of nursing

- nurses and doctors are the nucleus and kingpins of the healthcare environment ...others are supportive roles

- to get a backbone