Does anyone else feel like there is too much gossip going on?

[ashley7]

Although I do not have that much experience with the activities that go on at my hospital (because I am a nursing student), I feel like I am back in highschool again. I am basically an observer, trying to learn how to act when I get out in the "real world" of nursing. What I have seen, however, is a lot of gossiping from the nursing staff. Everytime one nurse leaves, it is like the nurses regress to teenagers and begin bashing her. I feel like this is extremely unprofessional, and am rather worried about how patient care is affected by this. Has anyone else experienced this?

[ERNurse752, RN]

Yep, have experienced it. It got so bad in my last job (and management was part of the problem,) that I left.

It sucks, but it exists in all environments even outside of healthcare. Some places are good at nipping it in the bud, other places it spreads like wildfire and drags down morale.

[Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN]

It is extremely unprofessional, but luckily not all places are like this.

The best thing to do is to take a mental note, and swear that you've seen what it can do, and that you won't do it yourself.

Or even better, go up to a nurse that you've seen gossiping and ask THEM how the gossip problem is in nursing?

(Taking bets on seeing how long it is before someone blames an all-female environment for the gossip problem)

[tiffanycmt]

In my opinion whenever you get females together there is going to be gossip it's kind of in our nature. I have to say im guilty of it myself.

[kea6783]

Gossiping and COMPLAINING!

[Bipley]

Gossiping and COMPLAINING!

Gossiping and WHINING! "Why do *I* have to do that??" "Why doesn't SHE have to do that?" "Woe is meeeeeeeee" ..... gahhhh

[LeahJet, ASN, RN]

In my opinion whenever you get females together there is going to be gossip it's kind of in our nature. I have to say im guilty of it myself.

hhmmm....well, i'll admit that there may be more females involved in gossiping... i think it's safe to say that many males participate also. it's an inaccurate assumption that "getting a bunch of females together" automatically results in back biting and catty behavior. the guys get caught up in it too. just the other day, a guy cornered me and started going off about another nurse. i just gave him some noncommital "mmhmm's" and "maybe she didn't mean it that way", suggested that he talk to HER about it, and excused myself.

but more than the female vs. male thing, we need to understand that even being passive is condoning this behavior. when we give an obligatory smile or smirk to just fit in or keep the peace....it sends out a message of negative re-enforcement. if you don't feel comfortable speaking out against the gossip then simply walk away from it.

[nialloh, RN]

(Taking bets on seeing how long it is before someone blames an all-female environment for the gossip problem)

Oh boy Marie,can you call it.:rotfl: 23 minutes:chuckle

[Cute_CNA, CNA]

Definitely. People don't seem to know when to keep their mouth shut, or even consider that some things people don't want repeated (good things or bad). They don't seem to know how to keep secrets (that don't harm the patients or other staff), unless you specifically say to.

People are stupid. :chuckle

Edit: I tend to listen, but not repeat what I hear others say unless I know that they already know about it.

Besides, I've heard the following, "Believe 1/2 of what you see, and none of what you hear." I think that's correct at least sometimes. Stuff is none of peoples' business. Some folks have nothing better to do, apparently.

[bluestar]

There's gossip everywhere, but you can chose not to participate in it.

[Nurse-o-holic]

As long as there are stories to tell, people will sqeeze the juice out of 'em:uhoh3:

[bethin]

I have had several other jobs other than my current. I worked in a restaurant during HS and don't recall much gossip. Also, when I worked in LTC I don't remember too much gossip. But boy, working in a hospital is gossip central. It's not just gossiping, but backstabbing. I have reached the point now when someone is gossiping or talking behind another's back that I get up and walk out of the room. I admit that I still gossip, but I try not to get too caught up in it. Recently, a coworker was pregnant, but I didn't know this. When I said, "Lisa, have you lost weight?" the room got very quiet and then everyone started laughing. She says "no, I'm four months pregnant." Geez, my face turned beet red.