Bullies In The Work Place ! Pt 2

TazziRN, RN · May 12, 2006

Funny you should ask that, because we recently had a bully situation at work. After several warnings and a harassment complaint from one nurse, it came down to Nurse A being given her second official warning. One more time and she's out of a job.

zacarias, ASN, RN · May 12, 2006

Yes. Our manager takes bullying very seriously. It's a no tolerance policy. If a manager doesn't, then HR needs to get involved. It's not to be put up with.

LPN1974, LPN · May 12, 2006

I felt that I had a situation towards me once, that I considered sexual harrassement. I reported it, it was investigated, and guess what?

It was "Unsubstantiated."

And there were 2 other people in the room besides me and the one who was making the comments.

So on the outside it appeared to not do any good, but actually it did, because the one who made the comments GOT the message. He didn't make comments like that again!

I think he learned a lesson. I think he did not want to have to go thru that ever again, and has since then, kept his mouth shut and not made any lewd or inappropriate comments towards me again.

Antikigirl, ASN, RN · May 12, 2006

The ALF I worked in...no, you were a trouble maker or whiner!

Where I work now (agency but I choose to work at this one hospital exclusively), they will not tolerate it that I can see, but again...I see it from a very unique perspective...what seems like typical bullying to me can simply be someone trying to teach me how things are done in their facility...so I give them the benifit of the doubt till they get to know me (and I them) and typically that has worked out Awesome! Now that I am a reg at this facility I am tight knit and love my collegues and other staff, and they seem to love me right back!

One person did get on my nerves once, and I simply avoided her...but she did try to show me up once at the nurses desk about a cardiac med...and I had the correct answer and a doc and charge nurse stood up for me and put her down a peg or two! LOL! But that was about it!

I typically don't stand for bullying..and have no problems discussing or finding out the bottom line if someone acts in a way that upsets me or a fellow staff member...and I find that that works very well so far...

buildingmyfaith57 · May 12, 2006

will what about if you see a certain co-worker that is one that is leave me alone type of person, and you notice that this co worker is being bully by another co-worker what is your respond to this,and manager what would you want from co-workers that is working under you,how would you want them to handle it?

Antikigirl, ASN, RN · May 12, 2006

well...this sounds meanish...but my business is my business...so that person is on their own as far as standing up for themselves!

BUT...and I mean BUT...I would have no probelm listening to them if they wished my help, guiding them to what I feel is a good solution (if they wish to take it or not) and pointing them in the right direction and giving lots of support!

If need be, and I was getting flack too...I would go in with them after discussing it with the victim staff to managment or whatever implementation seems just and professional and tell my story!

If I was to go around defending others...I get to spin my wheels and they learn nothing for themselves or ways to improve by themselves...so discussion and support is a good way to go! Feel the love and learn something...now that is a win win!

Meerkat · May 12, 2006

It is NOT taken seriously at my facility.

Pretty sad, since it was named as a Fortune 500 Top Company to Work For.

Tweety, BSN, RN · May 12, 2006

I haven't worked in a bullying type environment, which may be hard to believe.

I'd like to believe it is taken seriously. I'd like to believe first before I go running to management that I would handle it myself. I try to handle situations with coworkers myself. But there is a chain of command that I'm not afraid to use should it come up. I learned that from a manager long ago who when you would go with her about concerns about a coworker, her first question was "what did they say when you talked to them about it?". Too many nurses are afraid to talk to each other and their first they do is run to management, who deals with employees concerns maybe 20% of the time. (I've read research on this but can't quote the exact stat.)

Prolonged bullying is also a concern of HR, if the management can't handle it. People have a fundamental right to work in a harrassment free environment.

Megsd, BSN, RN · May 14, 2006

When I worked as a CNA I was bullied a lot by other aides since I was the new kid. I put up with it for a while, but the last straw came when I was running behind on something and one of the cranky residents said about me, "Boy, that girl is USELESS" and one of the other aides said "Mmm hmm, she sure is." I told the unit manager about it and she immediately called the aide into her office. I don't know what, if anything, came of it, but she never spoke to me again, and I transferred off the unit a few weeks later to one with a better work environment. To me, the fact that she at least took action by speaking to the aide was at least a bit of comfort.

buildingmyfaith57 · Jun 6, 2006

When I worked as a CNA I was bullied a lot by other aides since I was the new kid. I put up with it for a while, but the last straw came when I was running behind on something and one of the cranky residents said about me, "Boy, that girl is USELESS" and one of the other aides said "Mmm hmm, she sure is." I told the unit manager about it and she immediately called the aide into her office. I don't know what, if anything, came of it, but she never spoke to me again, and I transferred off the unit a few weeks later to one with a better work environment. To me, the fact that she at least took action by speaking to the aide was at least a bit of comfort.

im glad you got notice,im glad you got some help..

chadash · Jun 6, 2006

When I worked as a CNA I was bullied a lot by other aides since I was the new kid. I put up with it for a while, but the last straw came when I was running behind on something and one of the cranky residents said about me, "Boy, that girl is USELESS" and one of the other aides said "Mmm hmm, she sure is." I told the unit manager about it and she immediately called the aide into her office. I don't know what, if anything, came of it, but she never spoke to me again, and I transferred off the unit a few weeks later to one with a better work environment. To me, the fact that she at least took action by speaking to the aide was at least a bit of comfort.

I was called useless alot, and a few other demeaning things. All in a days work!

But in one facility, one fellow aid was very threatening. She told my supervisor I was evil....frankly she frightened me....she hit me hard once with a lunch tray, called it an accident but it definitely was not (she was very angry at the time and smiled after she did it). I really though she would hurt me, so I decided to leave.I am not sure that was the best decision, but I did not want to invite retaliation. She would put curses on me from time to time. Real mental health issues, no doubt.

Funny thing was, the DON approached me and offered to fire her if I would stay. I did not even know she knew about the situation! I said, No thanks.

Arblunt, if you see this happening to someone else, never never participate in it (I am sure you never would!) and I would go to management to discuss the culture of bullying.