Are some environments beyond hope?

Nurses General Nursing

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Specializes in NICU, ER, OR.

I have touched upon this subject in other posts, but I had such a bad day today, I feel like venting, and hopefully garnering some encouraging or enlightening responses.

I am in a OR orientation program, I am not a very new nurse, but new to the OR. I had heard that people in the OR are hard to get along with, etc. But these people are horrible. Any advice on how to get along with these bullies, or are some environments just going to stay that way? I mean, mgmt cant make people be nice, or act professional, right? These people I work with are negative, catty, vindictive, and just plain mean to new people,just because they are new.(not only to new people, but especially) And I have to *learn* from these people. I just want to learn to do my job. Thats all. I havent had "words" with anyone in particular, its just , you know, people give you attitude, say things to other people, things like that. There are 5 people in my orientation group, we are all in the same situation, so its not personal to any one of us. Its a hostile work environment, we learned that early on. Any words of encouragement? Should I just move on? How do people deal with this????? It is very discouraging........I like the OR, but I have never experienced such a nasty environment.:confused:

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My advice, move on.............

This occurs and does not get better in my experience.

Its a component of why nursing does not advance. This rite

of passage stuff is foolish and not professional. It also comes

from many nurses from all training backgrounds.

Don't buy its a high intensity field as an excuse.

I worked in a very active crisis intervention setting. It was fast

paced and challenging. I was screened by the whole team in addition

to the director for the job. Quite the interview.

After I was hired, the team told me they were a cohesive group,

personal and gamey stuff left at the door step.

The safety of their patients and the staff took top priority.

Like any family we had our differences, but we worked them out.

I worked there 7 years, it was the best team I have ever worked with.

The State decided to have private industry run the centers,

so the team broke up.

So best of luck in whatever you choose !

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It isn't worth the stress and hassle of dealing with these fools. I would definitely write a detailed letter to the nurse manager about why I would not work around such juvenile, nasty people.

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Specializes in NICU, ER, OR.

motorcyclemama, jahra, thank you. that is what my gut is telling me, that its not worth it.... but then I get the "dont let them get ya down " mentality,and I wonder if I should persevere. That, and the fact that this hosp. is the only level 1 with a training program... (now I know why !!!)

I just dont know if I *want* to be around these people so many hours a week, and I am quite sick of the "have to prove yourself" mantra.. who the hell are they, that we have to prove ourselves to THEM? It makes me so mad that I have to face these issues. I really, really, dont understand the way people think sometimes.

About writing a letter..... if it comes to that, since I am looking , would that put me in a bad light in mgmts eyes? I mean, they DO know, and have even said so much as they were embarrassed of the way the staff acts..... and have counselled people when specific incidences have come up.... so they are aware that there is a problem.....But would that look like I am having sour grapes, or something?

Also, some people have said that they(the nasty ones) are "intimidated" by new, younger nurses. But why? We arent taking anyones job. These people will be here til they die, if they chose. What the hell is so intimidating? They know so much more than us, we are brand new to the OR!!!!!! Please, try to explain, maybe if it comes from an impartial source, I might understand!!!!!

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Trauma, Ortho, Neuro, Cardiac.

Perhaps you should try to finish the orientation and then make a judgement when you are out there on your own. When you're on your own you will be better able judge how it's going to be.

However, some places are toxic and aren't a fit with who we are. We have to examine ourselves, what we can assertively do about the situtation and then perhaps surrender that it's not the right fit. I've left a couple of units in the hospital I've worked in and while it's disappointing it was the right thing to do.

As the old gambler says "you got to know when to hold them, know when to fold them, know when to walk away, and know when to run".

Good luck.

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Also, some people have said that they(the nasty ones) are "intimidated" by new, younger nurses. But why? We arent taking anyones job. These people will be here til they die, if they chose. What the hell is so intimidating? They know so much more than us, we are brand new to the OR!!!!!! Please, try to explain, maybe if it comes from an impartial source, I might understand!!!!!

A true professional is honored to mentor a new or transitioning

nurse into the field or specialty. That's my personal opinion after over

20 years in nursing. The people who place road blocks are often

on their own agenda or just plain mean.

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Specializes in NICU, ER, OR.
A true professional is honored to mentor a new or transitioning

nurse into the field or specialty. That's my personal opinion after over

20 years in nursing. The people who place road blocks are often

on their own agenda or just plain mean.

I would love to copy the above statements onto a big poster, and hang it up in the break room. Really.

tweety, your right, I should really wait til I am on my own, but Iam just thinking that I shouldnt waste the hospitals money to train me for almost a year, and then leave,( hardly professional,) but it happens all the time, for many reasons, I guess. It is enlightening to hear that others have actually left units, due to similar circs. I was starting to wonder if I was being oversensitive, which I never thought I was......

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Don't wait, move on. I was in your position just a couple of months ago. I'm a new nurse and my first job was the OR. The very people who were supposed to support, mentor and encourage me were downright mean and hateful. I moved on to another area and couldn't be happier. Those people will never change and management will never get them under control. What's funny is they are always complaining about being short and always having new people. I wonder why.....

Babarnurse

P.S. Don't let the "don't let them get me down" attitude prevail. It's not worth it. You will quickly find out that you DON'T want to spend that many hours in a day with those types of people.

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Are some environments without hope? YES! I'd get the heck out of Dodge. There has got to be a better place. I guess you have to decide if the prestige of working in a Level I center is worth the snotty people you have to deal with to do it.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Urg Care, LTC, Rehab.

Sounds like a terrible environment. Is there anything terribly unique that you're hoping to learn there that you can't learn anywhere else? If so, maybe that's a reason to hang in there--be selfish and get something out of it. Otherwise, move on. If it's been bad that long,with all the previous problems there, I can't imagine it's going to change anytime soon. good luck!!!

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Yes, but sometimes it's fun to hang around a short while and ask them if they are aware that their behavior is consistent with that of an "a**hole!":D

Or why they have optical rectitis!

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

If you feel the place is truly toxic, and it m akes you sick to work there, then yes, it's beyond hope. Wise to move on, really.

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