Lateral Violence

[rnang123]

Ran across a statistic that 60% of new grads quit their first job because of some form of intimidation. Why in NURSING? I mean, I can see why, but still. I wish they would emphasize this in school (I dealt with this as a new grad--and it was horrible). Just wanted your thoughts.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

Compared to other educated professions, nursing is one of the more oppressed groups of healthcare workers.

I have mentioned multiple times that the nursing profession has attracted a handful of people with self-esteem problems. Nurses with low self-esteems, especially females, feel marginalized. Oppressed groups of people generally lash out on each other because, for some reason, they feel empowered while tearing down one of 'their own' members.

Think about the conditions of many bedside nurses. They deal with monkey crap from patients, families, doctors, coworkers, and other entities. There's usually no personal office or cubicle to go hide from the madness. You must carve out time for meal periods and restroom breaks. We deal with life and death routinely.

Other professionals do not have these dismal working conditions. It is enough to crush the soul of the most reasonable person. Some people deal can with their stress in an adaptive manner. Others take it out on their coworkers (read: lateral violence).

[RNHURT]

its also because nursing unions have members who bow down to management under some pressures. its basic right of every human being to have breaks for meals and sanity but nowadays most of the nurses are struggling with these issues in many hospitals. I don't know how hungry nurses are well equipped to handle daily patient care tasks. While there are cubicles or offices for managers who are busy attending meetings as to how to make more rules and policies, poor nurses are busy thinking how to find time to eat because 4 out of her 5 pts use commode and CNA is already loaded with 16 pts.

its sad but nurses are oppressed class.

[canned_bread]

What advice can you guys give to a new grad who may experience this?

I feel sorry for new grads. Exhaustion, fear, lack of confidence... it's all multiplied at the start.

[RNHURT]

hi canned_bread

What advice we can give ? if a new nurse is spotted with new ideas to decrease the load she is the first one to face lateral violence and management's manipulation. There are some good managers who are good team leaders but even they are forced to rethink over their concern for the staff under new commercial money making hospital business.

They can do their job with caution,care and documentation, documentation, documentation and be careful of unsafe environment for patients and peers. There should be organizations, genuine ones to help new grads, not preceptors who already have opinion about everything.