As children, we expected our primary caregivers, usually our parents, to provide for us and guide us. We expected to be reinforced as a result of positive behavior and chastised for negative behavior.
When we entered school, we expected the same from our teachers: provide for our learning needs, and guide intellectually and behaviorally.
Then, we entered the workforce and expected pretty much the same from our supervisors- guide us, allow us to possess the tools we need in order to do our job, give us money & reinforcement for doing our job, and critique areas in which we could improve.
These are general situations that don't always apply to the real world, as parents, teachers, and supervisors can have their issues, foibles, idiosyncrasies, and aberrancies which can foul up endeavors and goals. But the basic concepts are seemingly consensual.
Our powers are limited as children, students, and laborers, but our society allows certain freedoms and methods in order to deal with perceived problems. Sometimes those methods result in desired goals while other available methods done merely for appearance; are all for show.
If our parents and teachers pretty much fulfilled their responsibilities, we can suffer from cognitive dissonance if our supervisors act in ways foreign to our expectations. And if we attempt to right the situation through following suggested methods and realize they were all for show, well, that can be rather disheartening.
NurseBlaq, I have a certain fondness and respect for you as an allnurses member and, in reading many of your posts, I am sure there are many positive attributes that you possess.
Although I have an idea of what you mean by believing this thread will contain areas of "lively debate", I am requesting a NurseBlaq Portends.
Please?
IMO it's your parents job to teach you right from wrong. Once you hit a certain age and degree of independence, it becomes solely your responsibility to continue to do right. You don't forget right and wrong despite which path you choose in life. Administrators are there to enforce the rules but many of them, in my experience, abuse their authority and make up BS as they go along to suit their own personal agenda. Again, despite what they say, you still know right from wrong. If it feels off, don't do it. You, as an adult, then have the responsibility to yourself to do what's right.
Me personally, I learn the policies so when they (management above my pay grade in general) make up rules on demand, I can challenge them and quote the actual policy. From my experience, they fall back and leave you the hell alone or they double down and try to bully you into BS, at which time I still refuse. I'd rather be fired than lose my license and self-worth. I tell them if they feel so strongly about it, they can do it themselves. I've challenged doctors with that same notion. They will try to force nurses to do things they know to be wrong to clear themselves of liability. Nope. I earned this license on my own and I don't need any help losing it.
Specializes in Psych (25 years), Medical (15 years).
Another supervisory method often used by those in power is, "Do as I say, and not as I do". In other words, “Don't imitate my behavior but obey my instructions.”
When those in power allow themselves certain amenities yet deny them to the underlings, a sense of unfairness is perceived.
Those in power are expected to be guides that we can emulate and if we are sanctioned when we repeat their behavior, cognitive dissonance results.
Another power play method the powers use is secrecy. Problems with underlings are dealt with behind closed doors and no discussion are allowed outside of the throne room.
However, we are expected to vulnerate ourselves to the powers and be open and honest and have faith in them.
It's all about the money. Administrators can be counted on every time to protect their interests: $$$. I've seen this play out so many times with physician/nurse relations, even practice issues that directly impact patient safety. Doctors (esp. surgeons) just need to rage a little, threaten to refer their patients elsewhere and the administrator caves like a house of cards everytime-pathetic!
A newer nurse transferred to an OR at a neighboring hospital, but quit after a week and came back because a surgeon threw something at her in a rage. Of course they were having trouble recruiting nurses when surgeons were allowed to take their anger out on the staff. Another nurse I know worked in OR for a short time and left because there was literally too much call and for several hospitals on top of it all. I don't have the answers for this though. The first one became an NP and the other found her niche in a case management position with recently discharged patients at risk of readmission due to chronic conditions and fragile health.
They (administrators) adhere to certain expected and professional standards up to the point that it impacts the bottom line, $$$
That and if they let their power or ambitions go to their head and start to abuse their power and bully staff. I had two such managers, both were short lived. The first went too far and harassed the wrong people and even had the gall to fire a loyal elderly CNA the day before Christmas on trumped up charges! It amazes me how mean spirited some people can be! Well her actions attracted the attention of her Director and the Chief of staff who spoke against her in a meeting with HR and she was subsequently fired.
The last was a crazy bully who spouted Jesus and Mother Teresa one minute and always ended with I will write you up... Also sold questionable alternative health products via facebook on her time off, but that is another story. She stupidly and brazenly told all the new grads she hired how she was going to get rid of the older staff and started writing them up on petty BS crap. She had a major power trip going on, but it didn't work out for her, no one was fired, one older nurse quit for a way better clinic job; but almost all the hold outs are still there and she is long gone. Plus when the Director found out how she stupidly bragged to the new grads about her illegal age discrimination plans she was in hot water and that spurred her to move on quickly. I wish her next staff good luck as they will most certainly need it!
JKL33
7,043 Posts
Just reminiscing on the things I learned in my childhood. It wasn't an easy childhood, but I felt loved for the reasons stated above.
I don't ask anything from large healthcare corporations that isn't completely expected from individual employees every single day.