Cliques in nursing field

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Ok maybe someone has touched on this before but this is personal for me. Is nursing the type of job where there is cliques? For instance if there is one bossy nurse that everyone follows or sucks up too and if you dont

"suck up" to her everyone will not talk to you? Please tell me that you can still stay to yourself and not have to be part of the "clique" any one have any experiences with this. Backstabbing problems? I just want to go to work and not have to worry about people talking behind my back.

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Its a professional job, "cliques" don't really exist, not like in highschool anyways. Just be yourself and people will admire that. I wouldn't fret it.

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Yeah your right I quess my last job as a bank teller was like that and I just think that working with just women can get ugly at times

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Specializes in LTC, peds, rehab, psych.

Well all jobs that are predominently women have the chance of becoming catty. It all just depends on the group of women you work with. I don't think one type of job is more cliquey than others.

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Specializes in CCU,ICU,ER retired.

I used to just hate the clique thing. It just hurt my feelings, mostly. Then one day I just said to myself "Self.... Just screw 'em." and went on my merry way. I did my job started making new friends. Besides I had many friends anyway and for the life of me. I couldn't think of any good reason why I wanted friends that were complete and totally uninteresting bunch of "Buffy's like them.

A few weeks after that the charge nurse (Head Buffy) came up to me and ask me if I liked her? I told her no. She started to cry and I almost fell out of my chair but I told her why. Her group all quit CCU over an amount of time. She transferred to another job in the hospital, and every time I see her she wants to hug me???? Weird.

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There be can cliques in nursing. My husband works for USgov't., there are plenty of "cliques" there too. I also know two women who work in a potato chip factory and they have some "cliques" too. Most of these folks, just like in high school feel insecure, so they have to get their fix of self eteem by putting others down. You don't bring you or them up if you participate. Best thing, just walk away or pleasntly say I don't agree w/ you or I don't see that w/ that person. If there is no "emotional" response, then you won't be worth too much of their time. Good luck. It can happen anywhere you go. Heck I even know some SAHM cliques.

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Specializes in ER/Trauma.
Well all jobs that are predominently women have the chance of becoming catty. It all just depends on the group of women you work with. I don't think one type of job is more cliquey than others.
Similarly, I don't think one gender can be more "cliquey" than the other.

Men probably can't be described as 'catty' but "majority male" environments have their own set of 'issues'.

I don't think being 'male' or 'female' makes you prone to certain "issues".

I think individuals are responsible - not collective groups.

JMO.

cheers,

Roy ("male" nurse)

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I wouldn't call it cliquey, but I have noticed that there are alot of people who will follow the lead of negative personalities. It's very strange. I never understood it. We've had nurses who "contaminate" the floor with their attitudes. It's amazing because as soon as they leave,the floor reverts back to normal.

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Specializes in Case Management.

I saw that in my hospital. What I did was I went steady nights with another girl who was "shunned" We became "buddies" and at least they all hated us but we didn't care. We had a great time outside of work and ignored the cattiness. You just have to not care and I know it is a lot easier when there is someone else to be friends with.

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I've worked in other fields, and found this same mentality everywhere. There is always going to be a segment of the population that feels the need to band together against the 'outsiders', or make someone BE the outsider of their circle. Makes 'em feel special, I suppose. Seen it in fields totally unrelated to nursing, AND, for what it's worth, MEN were a nasty little contingent at the last place I worked before nursing school! So it's equal opportunity pettiness :)

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Specializes in FNP, Peds, Epilepsy, Mgt., Occ. Ed.

Some places have this problem, others don't. It depends on the personality mix, and sometimes on the leadership.

When you start a new place, keep your mind, eyes, and ears open and make up your own mind about people. In the not-too-distant past, I started a new job and was told horror stories about one individual, who happened to be on vacation at the time. I decided, based on the perceived maturity levels of the individuals telling me, to reserve judgment. That's just what I did, and the "wicked witch" turned out to be one of my favorite people to work with, ever!

Be cordial but professional and don't get sucked in. And, if a particular work environment proves toxic, vote with your feet!

Then Roy said:

"Men probably can't be described as 'catty' but "majority male" environments have their own set of 'issues'." Roy, I have met a couple of men in my time I would definitely describe as 'catty'!!

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Specializes in ER/Trauma.
Then Roy said:

"Men probably can't be described as 'catty' but "majority male" environments have their own set of 'issues'."

Roy, I have met a couple of men in my time I would definitely describe as 'catty'!!

No doubt.

I think I was just trying to point out that belonging to a certain gender doesn't predispose you to certain behaviors. :)

cheers,

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