Bullied psych nurse commits suicide

Sour Lemon · Aug 16, 2018

I don't trust her perception of being "bullied " or given "the worst shifts". The headline suggests a "work" issue, but there are plenty of hints along the way that suggest something more extreme and long standing.

Emergent, RN · Aug 19, 2018

It very well may have been a hostile work environment. But, this sounds like an unbalanced, maladjusted woman. Otherwise she would have found a better job with nicer coworkers, and meanwhile coped with crappy ones for a bit longer.

Tenebrae, BSN, RN · Aug 19, 2018

I dunno, some nurses like some people can be pretty foul.

And work place stress can hit pretty hard.

And besides, the daily mail is hardly a reputable source to form solid conclusions on

SpankedInPittsburgh, DNP, RN · Aug 19, 2018

If mean co-workers and bad schedules made nurses kill themselves their would hardly be any nurses left. This sad story goes a heck of a lot deeper than this I think

RNinheart · Aug 19, 2018

Of course, it is very sad! But it seems like a victim was showing signs of an eating disorder especially when she started getting away from her family. Very often eating disorders lead to substance abuse. I think there is something else was going on besides her work environment. Just saying, it is hard to judge from such a vague statement.

Here.I.Stand, BSN, RN · Aug 19, 2018

Getting vulnerable for a moment: I'm in the process of severing an abusive marriage -- mostly verbally and emotionally, although it turned physical a few times. To say I was bullied at home is an understatement, and I had some very dark moments.

The thing that prevented me from becoming suicidal: I could never EVER do that to my children.

For a mother to commit suicide -- especially at home, where her children could potentially have SEEN her -- is not a normal reaction to workplace conflict.

Call in sick if you truly can't stomach the work environment, or go on medical leave. Even if she were to get fired (which we read on the fired-for-being-sick thread that that's not such a pressing threat in the UK) -- isn't that better than DYING? Sure getting fired would suck... but worse than DYING??

That shows a pretty extreme lack of not only coping skills, but an inability to clearly assess and problem-solve and predict the consequences of her decisions.

To become obsessed with appearance to the point of going to the gym FOUR TIMES A DAY and taking stimulants is NOT a normal reaction to workplace conflict either.

I'm sorry for her family, and if she was being legit bullied at work I'm sorry, and of course I'm sorry she was in so much pain.

But she was clearly experiencing MUCH deeper issues than workplace conflict. She succumbed to un/undertreated mental illness -- not bullying.

Wannabenurseneko · Aug 19, 2018

I think more was going on .

Section8UpX68WM6, CNA, LVN, EMT-B · Jun 29, 2019

Workplace mobbing. Gooooogle it. It happens when they want to get rid of you! Too bad for her.

Kooky Korky, BSN, RN · Jul 3, 2019

At first I figured there was much more going on in her life than just working with a bunch of witches.

Then I read the comments here.

Forest2 · Jul 3, 2019

The reason people are suicidal is because of mental pain. She may have been having mental pain before and being bullied by co-workers was probably the last straw. I have resigned positions before because there was one last thing that happened that pushed the decision for me. I wonder what her last thing was? She apparently was not thinking clearly and felt she couldn't go on living. How very sad. Still I would like to know the full story.

Orion81RN · Jul 3, 2019

I was, in fact, bullied in nursing school. I mean, another student literally said to the student next to her that she wanted to kick my ***. Along with other choice words I've since blocked out. Not an isolated incident, either.

The scenario that apparently warranted this comment? It was first day in peds clinical. Our clinical group was waiting in the lobby for our instructor to arrive. She was about 20 minutes late at that point. My classmates started growing concerned for her. I had had her as a clinical instructor before, however. So I knew this was typical of her. I knew it even before my clinical with her as other students had gossiped of her tardiness and even not showing up at all once. So, I said, in an attempt to ease worry, "I'm sure she's ok. She's notorious for being late." Now, I really liked this instructor. She had been my favorite so far. In my mind I was stating a fact to ease worry. I can now see how this could have been interpreted as me bashing on the instructor. Even so, that does Not warrant what was then said about wanting to beat me up.

That's just one example. It was actually quite brutal. I very clearly remember sitting in my mental health class one day, tears welled up in my eyes, avoiding eye contact with the teacher, contemplating suicide. This was right after being called into a different teacher's office having had "a talking to" regarding what "other students" were saying about me. Mind you nothing specific was stated. No specific action I did. No specific statement I made. I boil it down to a handful of "mean girls" gossiping to the teachers about me bc I was a quiet student who probably came off to them as stuck up. Please, I was the most unsure of myself student.

I wrote a paper on lateral violence, it being obviously a very passionate, personal topic of mine due to my experiences. The only comment on the paper from same teacher...."Ironic." That hit me right in my gut. To be accused, in such an unprofessional manner at that, of being a student who bullies others.

Do I have a propensity for depression? Yes. Was the bullying what absolutely sent me over the edge? Absolutely. So I don't take bullying lightly. While it is ultimately the responsibility of the individual who takes their life, I DO believe *some* responsibility lies on other's shoulders who bully.

I had an equally severe case of bullying at my very first nursing job. This time, I completely understand the hate aimed at me. Once again I opened my mouth saying something not meant to have been rude in the slightest. But, looking back, it absolutely, positively came out condescending, no question. The punishment/backlash was far too severe for the crime, though. At night during shift change, the nurse's would come on the unit, go in the dining room and bicker about not wanting to be the one to get report from me. The nursing assistants blatantly told me to do things myself after that when attempting to delegate. When I needed assistance from another nurse, I was told a few times "You're an RN, you can figure it out yourself."

The crime? Oh boy, ok. This is what I said. Background: SNF in the process of hiring only RNs. Was told during interview that they were phasing out LPNs. One night at shift change, an LPN I really admired stated he was just about to finish his RN and start an MSN program. I congratulated him and said that was really cool. Then I proceeded to put my foot in my mouth by saying "One thing I wasn't quite prepared for was the extra responsibility of being one of the only RNs in the building." What I meant? We typically had 2 RNs for 200 residents. All IVs fell on us, of course. So in addition to my 30+ residents, I usually had 2-3 patients on other floors to start IVs and run fluids/ABTs. It was quite the handful to juggle. Just as I would get back on my unit and get back to my med pass, one patient's IV was done, and another pt needed one started.

So THAT'S what I meant. But of course nobody could have known that is ALL I meant. Very stupid thing for me to say. Very. But man the bullying after drove me out. I tried going to management. I was told "You're their superior. You have the authority to write them up " I thought, "yeah, that's going to go over well considering what got me into this. It never let up. One day I couldn't bear to go in. Had a panic attack and called and quit right before my shift. Bullying is no joke.