why the cliques in nursing ?

Christie RN2006 · Jul 24, 2007

ICUs are known for having the worst cliques... I have worked with every crew in my ICU now and I have finally found a crew that I really get along with! I had to switch weekends in order to find a group that I really like working with and I don't always feel like an outsider. I worked day shift, evening shift, night shift and both weekend shifts before I finally found my "place" :) I hope you can find your place without having to do all the moving around that I did!! Just do your job and do it to the best of your abilities!

deeDawntee, RN · Jul 24, 2007

I feel for you. When I started on a tele unit a while ago, there hadn't been anyone new hired for a long time and it was the most uncomfortable situation I had been in since Jr High, I think!!! It was so clicky, I hated coming to work for a long time.

I know that on nights in most places where I have worked, there has been this "unwritten and unspoken" rule that people really don't leave the unit, except to get food and come right back, or a quick run to the bathroom. It isn't fair and you do have every right to take your breaks, but if it isn't an accepted part of the "culture" you may be facing some resentment from people if you do it. I know what you are thinking, if the patient is stable, why can't you leave, but as a new nurse on the unit, these people probably really don't trust you and your assessment that they are indeed stable. (I'm sorry, I've been on the ICU just over a year and I have seen this happen to people). I don't know what to tell you, but I think if you regularly try to take your rightful break off the unit you will run into more problems than it is worth. Not fair, but unfortunately true from my perspective. Hopefully, you will get some other ideas.....

phiposurde · Jul 24, 2007

I work in a hospital where the MICU/SICU is known as a tough crowd....i wanted to go down to the cafe tonight for some food and I asked the charge and he said " yea well we go down and bring it right back up " now, if i want to get off the floor for a half hour, considering my patients are stable...aren't I entitled too......anyway, it seems like every time one of my alarms is going off a few nurses seem so mad that it's happening...no one of nights has been flat out mean, but to say the least not friendly
they all know each other for 5 years plus, i will never be in their clique...ahhh...ok needed to vent....Thanks !

****Been the boy in the world of the ladies, I have seen my share of clique. It's part of the job. Unfortunately it's the part that would make me leave it. At my job, they are so bad, that not in the clique= bad nurse. Your not judge by your competence anymore but by who you know!! I am even considering making t-shirt with the inscription: " to cool to be cool !".It got worse especially since everyone is on face book. I feel I'm back in high school all over again."I have 200 friends you just have 40. I am more popular". I think we got 3 memo so far cause patient have complaint. They put pictures of

RN

drunk as wallpaper on our working computer. Last week the talk of the week was:" who's butt it is on the computer?":trout:

RNperdiem, RN · Jul 24, 2007

You may never break into their clique. I work with a group of "oldtimers" often on weekends. I have been there 8 years(fulltime+perdiem) and many of them have 10-20 years in this hospital. I think they just prefer working with experienced people they know. Even most of our respiratory therapists have over 20 years experience there.

dorie43rn · Jul 29, 2007

In our ICU, you are made to go to the cafeteria for your lunch. They want you to have that break from the job. There are times however that none of us get lunch do to the craziness, but most times we leave the floor.

As for cliques, on my unit, it seems to be the younger nurses. I am 49, and just joined the unit, and the older nurses have opened their arms to me. The younger ones work in packs, I swear! They come on a shift, help each other bathe, turn etc, and basically ignore me. They actually get annoyed I'm there I think. And they Btch,Btch,Btch! God I get a headache from them!

I just come to work, do my job, and go home. I am not there to make friends, or go drinking after work with them. I treat people the way I want treated, and don't let cliques bother me in the least bit, thats to highschool.

Dorie

martha joan · Aug 6, 2007

You are entitled by law to a 30 minute break, without interruption. This treatment is clearly an example of poor leadership in your unit. Your charge nurse should be making sure you get your break, with someone watching out for your patients(even the charge nurse herself) You should ask your manager what the process should be for lunch, and maybe (if she is a good manager) she will ask you what the problem is. Situations like this are a manager's nightmare!!

rn/writer, RN · Aug 6, 2007

Cliques are a part of life from kindergarten to LTC. Every occupation. Every organization. Every facility. Any place where insecure people need to make themselves feel better. Developing and "us vs. them" mentality is a way to have the illusion of security at someone else's expense.

The only way around this that I know of is to focus on your work, and reach out to the other "rejects" not worthy of being included in the in group. Eventually, you can start a different kind of group--one that welcomes rather than excludes.

The only way to win is not to play.

--War Games--

Remember who you are.

--The Lion King--

sister--* · Aug 6, 2007

Reaching out to other "rejects" doesn't always work. At some places doing that creates much more to target.

If it continues and professional communication becomes more difficult it is best to leave. Lack of AND/OR difficult communication places you and your patients at tremendous risk.

rn/writer, RN · Aug 6, 2007

Reaching out to other "rejects" doesn't always work. At some places doing that creates much more to target.
If it continues and professional communication becomes more difficult it is best to leave. Lack of AND/OR difficult communication places you and your patients at tremendous risk.

No, it doesn't always. But--using "rejects" to mean nothing more than non-clique co-workers--it can get your mind off the class-conscious conflicts and provide a bit of respite and even shelter. After all, the rejects have been rejected because they don't share the characteristics of the clique. Sometimes that's recommendation enough.

In the case of serious dysfunction, of course, more drastic measures might be needed. But sometimes it's enough to look elsewhere for friendship and validation. More effective than launching a direct assault on a clique is to ignore it.

Again, a distinction needs to be made between unpleasant playground dynamics and serious pathology.

angelladyclaire · Aug 12, 2007

Wow, I feel really blessed to work with so many good people. I just joined my SICU in January and with the exception of a few sour nurses everyone has been super nice and helpful. Course, I work night shift and in our unit at least, it's much more laid back. If you call for help with a patient that's circling the drain or even if you just need advice about something, people come running, willing to help. (Maybe my unit is where all the "rejects" from other places end up! :) )

SoundofMusic · Mar 17, 2008

I can't help but think that cliques are the fault of management. If management KNEW how to foster comraderie instead of clicki-ness, it would be greatly reduced. If morale was fostered and made a focus, it wouldn't be necessary.

Take a bunch of females left to their own devices in difficult situation and I feel you will always get cliques. It takes management to oversee it and eradicate it.