Complaining about your employer, loudly, at nurses' station

TheGooch · Dec 25, 2014

Yeah, at least you have a job.That's what I say to anyone who complains about their workplace.

caliotter3 · Dec 25, 2014

Within earshot of patients, that can be considered placing the patients in emotional jeopardy, and grounds for termination. Creating an unpleasant atmosphere for your coworkers can have an overboard tolerance level too. Supervisors should keep that in control and address it on performance evaluations if they have to correct the employee too often. I agree, there are people out there unemployed and hurting for work. They would be all too happy to have a job and would refrain from complaining about it.

Editorial Team / Admin · Dec 25, 2014

Merry Christmas to you!

Agree, it isn't professional to complain about one's employer where patients and their families may overhear.

Hopefully there are avenues for those so inclined to effect change where it is needed. :)

tarotale · Dec 25, 2014

When patients ask me "do you like nursing?" or "do you like what you do?" my exact word is "No". They ask me why and I tell them that I don't mind the work but health care is full of crooks and that I work for crooks so I hate what I do. I have no problem talking smack about my employer, they are out for themselves in the end and their profit, their money, their bonuses.

BlackMagicGypsy · Dec 25, 2014

I try not to whine *too much* in front of my patients. It doesn't reflect well on me or my employer. However, I am totally honest with my views on the state of healthcare in this country...none of my patients are DME suppliers or in charge of insurance companies, so most of them tend to agree!

roser13, ASN, RN · Dec 25, 2014

When patients ask me "do you like nursing?" or "do you like what you do?" my exact word is "No". They ask me why and I tell them that I don't mind the work but health care is full of crooks and that I work for crooks so I hate what I do. I have no problem talking smack about my employer, they are out for themselves in the end and their profit, their money, their bonuses.

Is this tongue in cheek?

Karou · Dec 25, 2014

I agree with you and your employer. It's unprofessional and distasteful to complain about where you work where patients can overhear. It can't possibly make a patient think highly of the facility if they hear an employee complain, and it automatically sets up their hospital experience as a bad one. Because if even the employees think this place is so awful, then obviously it must be really bad. That's could be their logic anyway.

If there is something legitimate to complain about (sometimes there really is), then employees need to be speaking to their supervisors about it. If one MUST vent to coworkers then do it only in the break room out of earshot from patients and family members.

True also that if someone hates where they work that much, then they are free to find a new job.

tarotale · Dec 25, 2014

No its literal. I don't walk in and tell them hi I'm your nurse, by the way I hate my employer and this hospital, but if they ask, I tell them honestly. However the fact that I hate my employer doesn't affect the effort of my job, because I like my charge and my ER docs. I have seen enough to know that most employers don't care about their nurses.

Ruas61, BSN, RN · Dec 25, 2014

We received a memo that we should stop complaining about our hospital at work, especially where patients can hear, or in front of other employees. Our manager said that, if we hate our jobs so much, there are other options out there, and she'd rather us work elsewhere.
I have to say, I agree. For one thing, we should be careful what we say within earshot of patients. Also, it's a downer, a morale buster, to hear this constant kvetching, b--ching, moaning and groaning. As long as we work for an entity, we are their servants and we should not bite the hands that feed us. We should be thankful for our livelihoods, it feeds us and gives us shelter, we have it a lot better than many people in this world.
Merry Christmas everyone!

I will agree with everything but the 'servant' part.

I am free born and not anyone's chattel.

You can employ me but you don't own me.

Happy Holidays.

dishes, BSN, RN · Dec 25, 2014

@tarotole, not sure if you are aware but high irritability and cynicism with an employer can be the beginning of compassion fatigue or burnout in nursing.

allnurses Guide · Dec 25, 2014

Merry Christmas everyone!

Merry Christmas right back. I love your posts. When I try dry humor nobody gets it.