Difficulty with coworkers

Specialties Emergency

Published

I have been an RN for just 3 years- this past year has been very difficult. For the past 2 years I have worked in the ER. I knew the staff was known for being " cut throat" but this is just terrible. I work my butt off go above and beyond for every patient and I have always been consistent. I have met alot of resistance from other staff members- asking for breaks and no one will cover me- other RNs questioning my judegment . I feel like I am in highschool and getting bullied. I have little to no friends in this department , I am considering leaving the field of nursing due to this. I have a very short temper but never displayed it at work- I do not know how to handle people at work- I am afraid I will lose my cool and blow a fit. I am guessing this is just expected in this line of work but I really do not know how to handle it !!

Specializes in ED, ICU, PSYCH, PP, CEN.

All of the above are great insights. I am amazed that you have stayed in the unit for 3 years with all this going on. I was bullied bad in my first ER job too. What I did was as new hires came in I befriended them. Nurses and doctors alike. Get to them first. Make them feel welcomed and be helpful to them. ERs usually change staff so much that before I knew it all the nasties were gone and I had become quite popular because I made the new people feel at home.

You might try transferring to another area. I made the switch from ER (after about 6 years) to ICU and am learning so much. Had no idea what I didn't know. It has been a great learning exp for me.

Another thing to consider is signing up with a local agency and getting some daily work at another facility on your days off. I did that and it was great. I learned so much. Ended up doing some travel nursing around the country. Now staff ICU. Agency isn't always easy and you often get the worst patients, but the learning is phenomenal. And the fact that you have put up with all this for so long shows that you have the guts and fortitude to do it. And 3 years ER exp will make you very desirable to agencies. Good luck with your endeavors. Don't quit nursing over 1 bad unit. I have worked at over 30 places now. Some were just okay, some were awful, and some I cried when I left cause I loved them.

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Specializes in PICU, NICU, L&D, Public Health, Hospice.

Why leave nursing?

It would make more sense to change nursing departments or specialty.

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Specializes in PCCN.

I sometimes wonder if it's because of the stress of a crappy job no one else in their right mind would do, that that's the reason why nurses are so nasty to each other.

Really, if we weren't so miserable, maybe we'd treat each other better.

But it's a crapshoot to find a nursing job that would be not stressful.

So it's a problem that will never go away.

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Just as a clarification, these nurses you asked to cover you for breaks-- had they had their breaks? Do you ever offer first, like, "Would you like me to watch these bays for you so you can take a break?" Try doing that now and then, maybe once every other day, to different people, and see if over time things change.

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Specializes in burn ICU, SICU, ER, Trauma Rapid Response.
ER is pure adrenaline, i just love being around.

*** I want to work where you work. Even when i worked in the ER of a large level I trauma hospital in a huge city it was mostly boring, while at the same time being busy and hard work. COPD and CHF exacerbations, chest pain, abdominal pain, kids with ear infections, minor lacerations, drug seekers, broken bones, stroke etc made up most of our patients. Sure several times a shift some cool trauma would roll in but the majority of my hours in the ER were mundane same-o same-o. Bordom was the main reason I left ER nursing.

To the OP: Either there is something wrong with you, or there is something wrong with the culture in that unit. While I have (briefly) experienced similar dysfunctional unit cultures they were the exception. I have worked in far more great units. I suggest you keep searching.

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Specializes in Emergency/ICU.

Not all ERs have a cut-throat mentality. The pressure can be an impetus for causing nurses to seek ways to work "better together" and team up instead of what seems to be happening where you work. Keep doing your best and put in enough ER time to make yourself attractive to other ER employers and move on if things don't improve. Also, don't let anyone make you lose your cool and jeopardize your reputation.

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I know the feeling.

My hospital nursing coworkers were some of the most unprofessional and nasty people I ever met.

I've only been a nurse a year and a half and I don't think I will do it forever and I don't recommend it to a dog.

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Specializes in Women's Surgical Oncology, MIU,MBU.

MiriamRN,

I'm not sure how this feels as far as the way people are being towards you but I know this much. Don't quit your job...If its that bad then start looking to go elsewhere where you will hopefully be appreciated. I have been out of work partly due to a NM and then because of the birth of my last daughter. I have left a position becasue I didn't care for a NM and her demeanor but when I look back perhaps I could have stuck it out just a little longer... just for the experience. Do some soul searching before you make your final decision. Take care~

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The reality is that there will be people that you will not like to work with and there will be people who will not like working for you. The best thing to do is to adapt, toughen up and be more resilient. If this is not possible then you need to find another job where the situation is more favorable to you.

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Pick one person and invite them for coffee after work. Ask them what you are doing wrong then be openminded about the answer. Try to find one person to mentor you at least then they will feel bonded somewhat. Don't expect to win a popularity contest just divide and conquer

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Specializes in CICU.

I thought I could change the world. It took me a hundred years to figure out I can't change the world. I can only change Bessie. And honey, that ain't easy either.

Annie Elizabeth (Bessie) Delany, 1891-1995

Just sayin'.

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I feel lucky. I too am one of those socially awkward people. I've never really fit in anywhere. I've been at this job 4 months and I just don't seem to click with anyone. Everyone is mostly nice to me but it seems more of a nice like you're nice to a pt. very short, cordial one word replies.

I'm usually running around crazy so it doesn't leave much bonding time and even when we do get a chance to talk, again, short and awkward.

I just plug away at it. Anytime anyone offers to help I jump on it. I always ask others if I can lend a hand even when I'm super busy.

I tend to way over analyze things and take stupid petty stuff too personal. No I don't harp on it and it doesn't make me go run into the back room and cry but it still bothers me some at times. It's stupid stuff like they order out all the time and never ask if I'm interested in ordering food. Or I'll see a bunch sitting around and chatting and I try to include myself and the chatting stops and then just kinda half smile n say mmhmmm or something.

Nobody does anything mean or nasty to me. But it does make the long 12 hour shift even longer when you feel like a wart sticking out of someone's thumb. Lol

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