First Couple Weeks

Speculating · Nov 20, 2003

Welcome to nursing

bellehill, RN · Nov 21, 2003

Start looking elsewhere, it isn't likely to change. Some floors are like that but not all. If you interview somewhere else at least you know what kind of interaction to look for, spend time on the floor before you choose. Good luck and be like a duck...let it roll off your back!

kevcam · Nov 21, 2003

Originally posted by Speculating
Welcome to nursing

saaaaad but truuuuue.......

Just keep your lip buttoned, don't give anyone any ammo to use against you and pretty soon you'll sift out a few co-workers who won't stab you in the back the first chance they get.

P.S.

My advice usually stinks worse than a colostomy on a muggy day.

twarlik · Nov 21, 2003

This is depressing to read, especially when the normal response to a post like this is "welcome to nursing." As a student, I find this very disheartening. I just pray that when I graduate I can find a more supportive environment to work in. Good luck with finding a new job.

sharann, BSN, RN · Nov 21, 2003

Don't think that every floor in every hosp is this way! I worked in 3 places and only found it to be true at one place. Certain units are what I call "sick" units. Sometimes you just have to find a comfortable place. Don't let negative people get to you. Just do your work and stick with the nicer folks!

smg · Nov 21, 2003

Thanks everyone for your responses. I am going to look more throughly into the next place that I interview at.

I have been there for about 3 weeks and there is not one person who is safe from the bad mouthing. Every person that I have met has had something said about them.

I am so frustrated. I can't believe that these are adults who care for others, and they can not be civil in the work environment.

It isn't difficult to keep your opinions to yourself when they have no relevance to the patients you are caring for.

How does anyone deal with this? I haven't heard back from any of the hospitals that I sent resumes to, so I have probably at least 3 more weeks here.

Trauma Columnist · Nov 21, 2003

Please don 't become disheartened. Not all places are like this - really and truly! The idea I was thinking about reading your post was that the nurse/patient ratios must be great to give them all that time to gossip!!! lol I work in an ER and love it. We have supportive staff, management and in the hospital itself. Please look around and if you change hospitals please let your present place know why. Don't feel you have to tolerate this nonsense.

For the poster who said, "welcome to nursing" - shame on you! If you too work somewhere like this - please change jobs. You shouldn't have to feel that you hate going to work everyday!

Good luck.

Ps - I'm certainly not a new nurse either with a Pollyanna attitude - I'm 45 years old, been around the block more than once and only want positive people working with me.

Katnip, RN · Nov 21, 2003

Just dont forget, during your exit interview to bring this up. Too many people try to sugar-coat their reasons for leaving. Not all units or hospitals have such a toxic environment, but there's always going to be politics and gossip, no matter what industry you're in.

Neon8 · Nov 21, 2003

"Just keep your lip buttoned, don't give anyone any ammo to use against you and pretty soon you'll sift out a few co-workers who won't stab you in the back the first chance they get."

This is excellent advice. Worked for me...I finally have freinds on a "sick unit". And another thing to consider is the age of the gossipers and back stabbers. Some of them just don't know any better, and plus they are very insecure. As to the olders ones, I would just stay away from them.

Speculating · Nov 21, 2003

Originally posted by traumaRUs
...For the poster who said, "welcome to nursing" - shame on you! If you too work somewhere like this - please change jobs. You shouldn't have to feel that you hate going to work everyday...Good luck.

I've been in nursing for 16 years and have worked in 6 different hospitals because of relocation. I'm not a newbie. I grew up a farm boy. In my teenage years I was welder did some manual labor. I also did the usual kid stuff working in fast food... In my mid twenties I worked in management. In my thirties because of a very special woman in my life who was an RN, I got into nursing. I worked fulltime and went to school fulltime until I received my degree. I've been around the block too Trauma please don't shake your finger at me. It's not nice. It's my opinion that nurses are among some of the biggest gossiper's and tattle tales I've ever been around. They will write people up for some of the stupidest things. I don't write people up I simply don't believe in it. All it does is cause tension. If I have a problem with someone I'll discuss it with them then move on. Example, I work in an ER Level II Trauma Center sometimes the floor for their own reasons won't take our admits as quickly as we need them too - managements cure write them up and then it begins to go back and fourth for the smallest infraction - not very productive. Many nurses fall into this failing to remember that we are all just an extension of the same place. Now you have an upset floor/nurse. Do you think things will move quicker now? You can bet your rear it doesn't and for some it begins to move like a snail. When I call the floor to give report and they reply I just got another admit can you give me some time? I usually say sure how much time do you need? If they reply 15 minutes done deal I give report and they move in 15 minutes rain or shine. Everyone is happy. Now when I say I can't hold them they never question me they just reply bring them up. You just have to treat people like people even if there not. Sooner than latter they will find it hard not to be nice too you as well. It may take some time and you may have to bite your tongue a lot, but 90% of the time it works. And, for that 10% every once in a while you can accidentally run that cart over their toes when there not looking . SMG you don't have to put up with the back stabbing, but unfortunately because of the amount of people employed at your facility there will be a decent number of those dirt bags around too. They are trying to setup their hierarchy. If I were you SMG, I would take a deep breath, slow down, and really think this through. You know what you have now. Your nursing skills will speak for themselves. Don't let them ass*&^%9 beat you. Remember no matter how long your walk through the next facility is you're not going to be able to tell the amount of back stabbing that is going on. You're a professional and that resume and job history is so important to snagging that sweet job you've always wanted take a very good care of it. It's yours for life. Of course you could always drop it off you resume next time around. It's not like its three years a three week period isn't something you would have to explain. As everyone has said so far mention it on the letter of resignation you may not get an exit interview. They don't always happen. I do suggest you not mention the gossiping back stabbing to your next employer when they ask why you left. Tell them you couldn't get the shift they promised you or something like that... Good luck to you SMG. Things will be good. I can tell you have a big heart. Now, just sharpen those nails and let them know the new girls in town. :cool:

P.S It's certainly not that way on every unit. Trauma, it tends to be a lot softer in the specialty units such as the ER since it's imparative that everyone is looking out for one another. Life is a lot more touch and go you can't afford co- workers not respect you. Because you never know when you going to need those extra hands if you've done them wrong they'll always be busy.