As a second career nurse, I have over 20 years of work experience and have been rudely slapped in the face this past month at my new RN job by just how horrible nursing culture is. What is up with this? I had some inkling of what was to come in nursing school, but I'm still shocked. As a feminist it saddens me that I can't help thinking this has to do with the fact that the overwhelming majority of nurses are women. My complaints so far:
1. Paranoia
2. Coworkers writing each other up or chewing each other out
3. Gossiping about others' mistakes or lack of skills/experience
4. Unfriendliness to new nurses that borders on rudeness
5. Looking down on CNAs, reinforcing a hierarchy that that nurses themselves hate when they deal with doctors
[Just last week a nurse manager at a staff-wide meeting told the CNAs that there were plenty of people lining up for their job. I was shocked!]
But maybe this kind of brutality happens at other "blue collar" jobs, too, and I've just been oblivious because I've always worked at pink collar or white collar jobs.
Why is this happening? What's the dynamic here? Is this workplace hostility coming down from management?
Every time I say something or make a suggestion, something I would do at any other job, I'm looked at like I'm from outer space or like I'm some kind of idiot. For instance, I'm on orientation and I asked if I could take one day and rotate through other parts of our hospital so that I could get a handle on the institution as a whole and I was shut down and given an eye roll by my manager.
In regard to the OP trying to negotiate some extra orientation, I wouldn't be too hard on her. If you come from a nursing background, you know that this is uncommon. On the other hand, you know that it's common to have to watch safety videos and to attend a general hospital orientation - which is done on paid time. And there ARE companies out there that are willing to pay to enhance their employees' personal growth and development. It can be practical if it enhances the employee's satisfaction and increases their likelihood of staying over the long haul. While many companies wouldn't be willing to pay for that extra orientation, I think most would be polite about it, simply saying 'sorry, no' and not huff and roll their eyes and deem the applicant some kind of self-appointed princess to even request it.
I agree. The request should have been politely considered or turned down in a professional manner.
To the OP - you have some valid points,and may be on a particularly toxic unit, but you may also want to look at how some of your actions may have contributed to the situation.
I find that no matter what the job, it is seldom a good idea for the "new guy" to come in and let people know how they see things being done wrong and how they would do things so much better. Can't you just hear the echoes of "and who does she think she is.."? Even if you are relating it to years of experience in a different field, you are not the expert on this environment - YET. Take the time to sit back quitetly and observe, take it all in , try their methods and then when you have been integrated into the group start gently suggesting changes. I'm a travel nurse, so I'm the new one every 13 weeks and never tell the new place "This is how you should do it" unless pt. care is seriously compromised.
As one who considers myself very much a feminist, I'm disappointed that you and others are directly relating all the negative behaviour to being female. I find this stereotyping and counterproductive. It can also be self fulfilling as we often get what we expect from people.
As for the idea of rotating through the hospital, it sounds like a good idea - after you are well oriented in your primary area. You may get further by presenting it in a positive light - to become familiar with various units so that I could be useful to the hospital by floating when needed.
I guess I've been spoiled, but most of the other places I've worked at (not as a nurse) people have gone out of the way to say hello or make the "new guy" feel welcome, not ostracize them!
I would say that my actions have not contributed to the environment or to my reception at all. I've only been there 6 weeks. I'm maintained a very low profile and have only made the gentlest efforts to interact with my coworkers when they seem open to it. I'm neither pushy nor standoffish.
In terms of making waves, that's absolutely not the case. The opposite is true. Twice I've seen something being done really wrong when my preceptor was panicking, actions that would seriously endanger patient health, and I just stood by and winced and held my tongue instead of jumping in with some gentle suggstions and help. Why? Because I'm intimidated by the environment!
Would I consider reporting these incidents (no). Would I have wanted someone to step in with suggestions and help if the tables were turned? (yes). Did I feel comfortable doing that in this kind of environment? (no)
While I'm not experienced, judging from cinicals, the evnironment here is better than some worse than others. I have heard that the culture over at the county hospital is very protective. The nurses run the show since the doctors are all inexperienced. Maybe i'll sit it out here for a while and then transfer.
I think the problem with nursing is that nurses have responsibility but not much authority. It probably has more to do with that than with it being dominated by women. Education is dominated by women and I don't think teachers behave like this...
I am also already exploring options for getting out of beside nursing since I'm already an old broad, but in all honesty, I'd like to stay at the bedside for as long as I can. This is why I got into nursing. In fact, sometimes I'm envious of the CNAs because they get more patient contact and provide more service.
I was thinking today about high stress jobs that are traditionally male, such as fireman, police, soldier. The work cultures are very protective and fraternal. Why aren't nurses that way? Maybe because those other jobs are dangerous? I don't know.
It's not the military or police or fire, but in my many years of EMS I've seen a similar phenomenon, on the part of both males and females. For example "I'm not going to fill the fuel tank on the ambulance because the tank is always low when I come on shift". Part of the problem I've noticed is a lack of management presence. When the managers are in their office all the time then don't really know what's going on. But when the kids are acting up some grown-up has to step in and restore order. It's even better if the kids restore order themselves, but that doesn't happen often.
That was my first job and I graduated last year....The CNAs informed me that the nurses would point out your mistakes to the DON to make a new person quit or get fired..
I sincerely want to apologize to the FirstYearStudent as I was confused when I made my prior post...please accept my apology and to the rest of the posters, sorry for the confusion.
wow, sorry! I'll try to read through the posts more before I get all "chip on my shoulderish"
Tweety, BSN, RN
36,347 Posts
I agree. The request should have been politely considered or turned down in a professional manner.