Bullying at Work - What is your experience?

compassionresearcher · Dec 6, 2016

I would think there would be some interest in the rate/frequency of bullying within nursing and that that would have some relevance to the discussion, but, I guess not.

There is interest in rate and frequency, those studies have been done for years in multiple countries all over the world, in the nursing profession and outside of nursing. Those studies are referenced in my literature review. This study goes deeper to get an understanding of a different angle of the issue.

compassionresearcher · Jan 25, 2017

So here's an update on this study...I've collected some really wonderful, sad, meaningful stories from nurses experiencing bullying all over the US and a few from other countries. It crosses all spans of age and years of experience. And it is affecting their work. I need about 10 more. So please, please, please share this with any/all nurses you know. Thank you!!

Amethya · Jan 25, 2017

I experience this at my first job, desperate for anything, I took it. It should of been a red flag when the Office manager told me on my first day that "We have a weird sense of humor and it may come off as mean, so if you can't take it, this is not the job for you." And stupid me, decided to show that I do belong there and I can take their jokes and took all the bullying. After a year there, I felt so burned out, so anxious and sad. Sometimes I would find myself crying in the bathroom because of the co-workers, since I wasn't like them, they ostracized me and basically treated me like I was stupid.

In the end, I got myself fired because I was stupid enough to look for a new job after work on the computer. Someone at work saw me and told the OM. Before I left, she told me I was fired. She said she would help me find a new job when someone calls, but we didn't work out. I agreed and left, you would think I would cry or be mad, but no I was happy and free. After that I took another job but that didn't last a week either because I was still anxious and traumatic from the last job, so I got fired too from there. I took a month off and then once again tried to find a job and found a good job at a school, where for the first time, I feel very relaxed and happy here. I'm treated well here and I love my job.

compassionresearcher · Jan 25, 2017

I experience this at my first job, desperate for anything, I took it. It should of been a red flag when the Office manager told me on my first day that "We have a weird sense of humor and it may come off as mean, so if you can't take it, this is not the job for you." And stupid me, decided to show that I do belong there and I can take their jokes and took all the bullying. After a year there, I felt so burned out, so anxious and sad. Sometimes I would find myself crying in the bathroom because of the co-workers, since I wasn't like them, they ostracized me and basically treated me like I was stupid.
In the end, I got myself fired because I was stupid enough to look for a new job after work on the computer. Someone at work saw me and told the OM. Before I left, she told me I was fired. She said she would help me find a new job when someone calls, but we didn't work out. I agreed and left, you would think I would cry or be mad, but no I was happy and free. After that I took another job but that didn't last a week either because I was still anxious and traumatic from the last job, so I got fired too from there. I took a month off and then once again tried to find a job and found a good job at a school, where for the first time, I feel very relaxed and happy here. I'm treated well here and I love my job.

I'm sorry to hear you experienced that, thank you for sharing your story. Congratulations on finding a healthier work environment.

Amethya · Jan 27, 2017

Thank you. If I can tell new students is that don't just take any job, find that place where you feel comfortable and happy, because if it's something you love to do, you will always be happy to go to work.

allnurses Guide · Jan 27, 2017

It's not that I'm not interested in those who feel they've never been bullied, but for this study I am looking at people with a bullying experience and how it related to patient care. I suppose another study could look for people not experiencing a phenomenon but I'm not sure how to ask those questions. "Tell me about the time nothing happened to you" just seems very broad.

I see your point but for your study to be valid you would need a control group of nurses who were not bullied to compare your data to.

I for one am not convinced that bullying in nursing is as big a problem as some make it out to be. Perhaps because I have a strong personality and in 17 years I have never allowed anyone to bully me. I really feel like the whole phenomenon is a result of people being raised to believe that life is always fair and everyone gets a trophy no matter how good or bad they played the game. Then they step out into the real world which is results oriented and they can't function.

Just my two cents.

Hppy

Wuzzie · Jan 27, 2017

I for one am not convinced that bullying in nursing is as big a problem as some make it out to be. I really feel like the whole phenomenon is a result of people being raised to believe that life is always fair and everyone gets a trophy no matter how good or bad they played the game. Then they step out into the real world which is results oriented and they can't function. Hppy

I agree completely and I HAVE been bullied so I know it does exist but I just don't think it's as prevalent as it is being made out to be. I have also worked with people who were just plain mean but being mean isn't the same as being a bully. I really think that our time would be better served in figuring out how to better help our new nurses transition into their new roles. Most of them have not had to deal with the kind of responsibility and personalities they are exposed to in their new jobs especially this newer generation. Perhaps a study on socialization of new nurses. Or articles on how to successfully deal with abrasive personalities. Or how to ask questions in an appropriate manner. Or self-care in toxic situations. I think these would be much more helpful but nobody seems to want to do anything but talk about bullying, gather statistics on bullying, teach new students about how they will be bullied without offering any solutions.

compassionresearcher · Jan 28, 2017

I really think that our time would be better served in figuring out how to better help our new nurses transition into their new roles. Most of them have not had to deal with the kind of responsibility and personalities they are exposed to in their new jobs especially this newer generation. Perhaps a study on socialization of new nurses. Or articles on how to successfully deal with abrasive personalities. Or how to ask questions in an appropriate manner. Or self-care in toxic situations. I think these would be much more helpful but nobody seems to want to do anything but talk about bullying, gather statistics on bullying, teach new students about how they will be bullied without offering any solutions.

Those studies are being done too. It takes baby steps. Part of the problem is there isn't a lot of funding or interest for those topics. An objective of my study is to see if there is a link between workplace mistreatment and decreased quality in patient care. If that link is demonstrated then admin and the public may be more interested in helping out with the problem. I need to do this study first before moving on to the intervention phase.

For the record, I am aware people misuse the terms. That doesn't negate the fact that there are people who have legitimate complaints.

Wuzzie · Jan 28, 2017

For the record, I am aware people misuse the terms. That doesn't negate the fact that there are people who have legitimate complaints.

You are misusing the term! And point me to the post where I or anybody else have said that people don't have legitimate complaints. What we object to is the characterization of a large percentage of nursing, particularly more seasoned nurses, as bullies when they're nothing of the sort. Some are grumpy for sure and a handful are downright mean but to define any behavior that bums you out or makes you feel bad about yourself as bullying or worse, lateral violence, is disingenuous. Anybody with half a brain can figure out that true bullying impacts patient care. No study is needed for that. Here's a premise. Some human beings suck. Some human beings become nurses. Therefore some nurses suck. Documenting stories of perceived or real mistreatment without speaking to the "offender" is purely anecdotal and useless for research. Another poster has told you this repeatedly. All it does is exaggerate the concept into something much bigger than it really is. Surely you realize that the victim is more than likely putting their spin on it. How can that be valid or even useful? Yes bullying is a problem but a rare one. Rude or uncivil behavior is rampant but good god aren't we grown ups? People shouldn't be collapsing into puddles of despair because an eye-roll was directed at them. Nor should the eye-roller be demonized for being a flawed human. I've had my share of ugliness directed at me and have done it myself. What I've learned to do is recognize that which is situational vs personal and responded accordingly and appropriately. I understand the motivation behind your project. I think it's admirable. But I think your approach to this research isn't going to garner you the information you need to really affect change due to the fact that it's extremely biased.

Editorial Team / Admin · Jan 28, 2017

Those studies are being done too. It takes baby steps. Part of the problem is there isn't a lot of funding or interest for those topics.

Possibly because they don't garner the sensationalism or make as much money for the one publishing the research? The amount of research about bullying done in nursing far outweighs the amount of research that would do things like support patient ratios, how to help transition from student to nurse, how to transition from nurse to manager, etc. Priorities are not where they should be. And the way that almost every nursing student is indoctrinated into believing NETY at the hands of their instructors in school is an insult to experienced nurses who already have this stigma against them before the new nurse even sets foot on the floor.

compassionresearcher · Jan 31, 2017

I see your point but for your study to be valid you would need a control group of nurses who were not bullied to compare your data to.

I appreciate your comments. The study design is a pre/post, the nurse serves as her/his own control, how they performed prior to an incident as opposed to after. The tool I'm using has been deemed valid and reliable through prior studies. And the methods have been vetted by my committee, the IRB, and the allnurses.com editors, so I am comfortable with the soundness of the study.

compassionresearcher · Feb 13, 2017

And the way that almost every nursing student is indoctrinated into believing NETY at the hands of their instructors in school is an insult to experienced nurses who already have this stigma against them before the new nurse even sets foot on the floor.

My study does not focus on NETY. It's mistreatment from any direction, any employee or staff member of the hospital. It could be a physician, PT, nurse (older or younger), admin etc. There are nurses in their 60s who have participated in the survey. For what it's worth, I am by no means pushing NETY on anybody; it is not mentioned anywhere in my research advertisement.