Ever breathe a sigh of relief when a bullying coworker is finally gone?

[TazziRN, RN]

The first time it happened to me was two years ago when I returned after maternity leave. I was dreading going back because my partner was a bullying know-it-all who had committed several EMTALA violations. The straw finally broke the camel's back and she was terminated the day before I went back, and it was like a weight was lifted off my shoulders.

Last fall we acquired another bully. He was counselled formally several times and was finally on his last chance...another incident and that would be it. I found out today that he was finally terminated. The mood around the department was lighter than it had been, and people were finally realizing how bad an atmosphere he had created.

Do bullies ever learn that they need to change if they want to succeed?

[gr8rnpjt, RN]

You are lucky that your facility takes this issue seriously. There are places where bullying is encouraged and sometimes initiated by people in management. There is always a feeling of "lighter air" when the bully is finally gone.

[TazziRN, RN]

You are lucky that your facility takes this issue seriously. There are places where bullying is encouraged and sometimes initiated by people in management. There is always a feeling of "lighter air" when the bully is finally gone.

It wasn't always this way. The first one I mentioned was there 3-4 years before it finally happened, and only because the violation she committed that time was a huge one that involved another entity. This last one was taken seriously....different management.

[gonzo1, ASN, RN]

We had a really viscious bully nurse in our ER when I started, bullied the patients, rad techs, lab techs, the cops, the paramedics and I was her favorite target. She got away with it for so long she kept escalating to the point where she blew so bad it could no longer be ignored and got fired. Just heard she got fired from her next job too. The place completely changed after she was gone. And we are using a lot less Geodon on our psyche patients. They just don't seem to need it as much anymore. Everyone commented on how different things are now. I learned a lot from working with her. I let her pick on me because I was a new nurse and afraid to say anything, thought maybe it was just me. Then after she was gone and people were talking about it I realized she was scaring everyone. Next time I will be very aggresive about putting an end to this treatment. It should never be tolerated. One last thought, she was a young nurse only out of school about 4 years.

[TazziRN, RN]

One last thought, she was a young nurse only out of school about 4 years.

That's a scary thought. Both of the ones I had to deal with have as much experience as I do. They were both "been there-done that-know all" nurses.

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

Good question. Most of the time bullies are of the mentality that they do nothing wrong, that the rest of us are to blame.

Fortunately, I've never been bullied as a nurse, and really can't remember ever working with one who bullied others. I know I'm lucky that way. I guess God is making up for a childhood and adolescent plagued by bullies.

[PANurseRN1]

One last thought, she was a young nurse only out of school about 4 years.

Which just goes to show you that not all bullies are older nurses.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

The two ADONs (assistant directors of nursing) at my facility are big-time bullies, but they tend to leave me alone. They don't necessarily like me, but I hold my own and try to stand up to them when they engage in bullying behaviors. I refuse to buckle around them or, even worse, start crying.

These ADONs have caused other nurses to cry and have pumped fear in other staff members. I would much rather walk away from this job completely than cry over these managers. People need to learn to tactfully stand up for themselves. Once we defend ourselves, the bullies will leave us alone.