Anyone Else Experience Mobbing?

[WeakAnkles]

Hi~

I have been at my new job for over a year now and have become the victim of mobbing by my peers in the ICU where I work.

I have tried every approach with this but nothing has helped my situation. I am going to have to leave this job for it to end.

It has caused me to become depressed, anxious at times, and I have gained weight.

I have also seen mobbing occur at other units where I have worked. I am wondering how prevalent this is now among nurses.

[ukstudent]

I have to ask. What is mobbing?

[WeakAnkles]

Hi UKSTUDENT~

“The mobbing syndrome is a malicious attempt to force a person out of the workplace through unjustified

accusations, humiliation, general harassment, emotional abuse, and/or terror.

“It is a ‘ganging up’ by the leader(s) - organization, superior, co-worker, or subordinate - who rallies others into

systematic and frequent ‘mob-like’ behavior.

“Because the organization ignores, condones, or even instigates the behavior, it can be said that the victim,

seemingly helpless against the powerful and many, is indeed ‘mobbed.’ The result is always injury - physical or

mental distress or illness and social misery and, most often, expulsion from the workplace.”

-Mobbing: Emotional Abuse in the American Workplace, by Davenport, Schwartz, and Elliott, 1999.

[WeakAnkles]

Also, read this link for a better idea of mobbing and nurses specifically:

http://www.leymann.se/English/12310E.HTM

[EmmaG, RN]

Hi~

I have been at my new job for over a year now and have become the victim of mobbing by my peers in the ICU where I work.

I have tried every approach with this but nothing has helped my situation. I am going to have to leave this job for it to end.

It has caused me to become depressed, anxious at times, and I have gained weight.

I have also seen mobbing occur at other units where I have worked. I am wondering how prevalent this is now among nurses.

If you've progressed to the point where you're experiencing physical symptoms, you just need to leave.

[WeakAnkles]

I know I need to leave and will begin job hunting.

However, I am still wondering how often this occurs to other nurses?

I am also curious to know other people's experiences with it, and how they resolved their situations.

[leslie :-D]

you know, 20 yrs ago, the renegade in me would have encouraged you to fight it, w/every ounce of 'oomph' that you had.

but now, the older, wiser spirit in me, says to just go elsewhere.

life is too danged short, to be fighting a low-life mentality.

wishing you peace.

leslie

[EmmaG, RN]

I know I need to leave and will begin job hunting.

However, I am still wondering how often this occurs to other nurses?

I am also curious to know other people's experiences with it, and how they resolved their situations.

I've not personally experienced it, but I've worked for managers who employed a "divide and conquer" mentality among their staff. Leslie is right; life is too short to be miserable. Put your energies where they belong, taking care of yourself and finding a non-toxic work environment.

[Spidey's mom, ADN, BSN, RN]

I've seen it in various jobs since my first job in high school.

Fortunately, most people are not like that.

You found a job in an atmosphere uniquely inclined to treat you with disrespect.

You can't change them. I'd go elsewhere.

Best of luck!

steph

[SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN]

It happened to me.

Get gone. Now.

[WeakAnkles]

As a nurse, I have seen it occur at all my workplaces. Maybe I have been unlucky? However, as I contemplate leaving this job, it has actually led me down another path too.

That of leaving nursing completely because of it.

Give me hope! Are the workplaces without mobbing?

[WeakAnkles]

There is another side to me that feels we should really create an awareness about this too. Bring it into the light. Until we can identify it readily as it occurs, we have no chances of stopping this from happening to others after I leave. It is an insidious poison.

Let's talk about this so others may learn.