Anyone Else Experience Mobbing?

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Hi~

I have been at my new job for over a year now and have become the victim of mobbing by my peers in the ICU where I work.

I have tried every approach with this but nothing has helped my situation. I am going to have to leave this job for it to end.

It has caused me to become depressed, anxious at times, and I have gained weight.

I have also seen mobbing occur at other units where I have worked. I am wondering how prevalent this is now among nurses.

Specializes in ICU,PCU,ER, TELE,SNIFF, STEP DOWN PCT.
I don't think it happens to men.

You are VERY wrong or so very sheltered in your facility. I have seen it happen to men

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU,PCU,ER, TELE,SNIFF, STEP DOWN PCT.
As a student I got a lot of that selective hearing from nurses who were supposed to be teaching me during my externship. It was very discouraging.

I am sorry to hear that, that was mean and not nice at all.

I wonder if at times RNs do this out of fear as said before. Fear in someone younger, smarter or even better no matter the age is going to come in and others realize the Mobber does not know as much as they say they do.

We had one that put everyone down to make themself look good, cause they were sub par at best. Travelers, students, techs and anyone who this RN felt was a threat to exposing them to others.

Convincing their friends to do the same to protect this RN and finally management seen through them all.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in med/surg;ortho/HD/OB;NICU/Hospice/ER.
Hi~

I have been at my new job for over a year now and have become the victim of mobbing by my peers in the ICU where I work.

I have tried every approach with this but nothing has helped my situation. I am going to have to leave this job for it to end.

It has caused me to become depressed, anxious at times, and I have gained weight.

I have also seen mobbing occur at other units where I have worked. I am wondering how prevalent this is now among nurses.

Unfortunately mobbing can be done by one person or a group. Many times it is one person that has the stronger personality on the unit take a dislike to you and wham!! All are involve that follow their lead. They take one thing they do not like about you and blow it up, make a mountain out of a mole hill, twist the truth etc. Slam you at every chance. Poor things, it is usually the ones that are soooo unhappy with their personal lives they come to work just lying in wait for someone to pounce on. I have experienced it in my greater than 20 yrs experience as a nurse more than once! I have seen it happen to others. Infact when if I have ever changed jobs that is my biggest fear is working with that type of bully. Hospitals have HR policies that are to protect you from bullies. Guess what? They find a way to get around that. They undermine your credibility as a nurse although you have functioned perfectly well in previous settings. They go for the knees. They try to undermine your confidence and make you feel like a bit of dirt on the floor. Sad but true!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med-Surg, Trauma, Ortho, Neuro, Cardiac.
What goes around does come around... the one that gave me crap actually apologized... once she found out I'm not taking her bull. We worked together 2 days last week, and it was actually tolerable. She even laughed when I told her her turn to ride my butt wasn't until Easter. *Happy Dance*

The key to your statement is "once she found out I'm not taking her bull". We have to constructively get people to understand this and usually it stops. Since you got an apology, I it sounds like you handled the situation. More than likely you're no longer a mobbing/bullying candidate.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med Surg, Hospice.
The key to your statement is "once she found out I'm not taking her bull". We have to constructively get people to understand this and usually it stops. Since you got an apology, I it sounds like you handled the situation. More than likely you're no longer a mobbing/bullying candidate.

I hope I'm not a candidate anymore. I'm totally different at work than I am out of work. Out of work I'm known as "The (you know what), but at work, I don't use this persona because the patients deserve a NA who is Mary Sunshine and there to help them. I'm also not a morning person and I hate daylight, but have to work it 3 days a week because of night classes. I can't take my frustrations out on the patients. It isn't fair to them.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
No I dont believe in mobbing

Yes I have developed selective hearing, comes from raising 7 kids. They mention money or a car , I never hear a word. There are some nurses I never hear. They always want your help, but they never offer to help either. Thus selective hearing.

Ah, now Tom - that's gotta be a 'guy' thing! My husband has developed selective hearing too - when he wants to!!:lol2:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU,PCU,ER, TELE,SNIFF, STEP DOWN PCT.
Ah, now Tom - that's gotta be a 'guy' thing! My husband has developed selective hearing too - when he wants to!!:lol2:

HAHA specially with chores around the house and the tV remote.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
You are VERY wrong or so very sheltered in your facility. I have seen it happen to men

I have worked in many facilities in many states.

We are all entitled to our opinion.

Most MEN wouldn't take it.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU,PCU,ER, TELE,SNIFF, STEP DOWN PCT.
I have worked in many facilities in many states.

We are all entitled to our opinion.

Most MEN wouldn't take it.

Granted MOST Men wont take it. Nor does it mean men who do "take it' like it, or put up with it. Sometimes they are just outnumbered by those who mob/bully . I have seen it happen to men, but management turned a Blind eye.

Yes we are entitled to our own opinion, just sometimes facts outweigh opinion.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med-Surg, Trauma, Ortho, Neuro, Cardiac.
Granted MOST Men wont take it. Nor does it mean men who do "take it' like it, or put up with it. Sometimes they are just outnumbered by those who mob/bully . I have seen it happen to men, but management turned a Blind eye.

Yes we are entitled to our own opinion, just sometimes facts outweigh opinion.

I think that we can agree that most of the one's being bullied are female, and most men probably wouldn't take it, or when a victum they can fight it off more agressively.

But we can also agree on the fact that bullying/mobbing of men does occur.

I'm agreeing with both of you.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU,PCU,ER, TELE,SNIFF, STEP DOWN PCT.

:up: kool

I think that we can agree that most of the one's being bullied are female, and most men probably wouldn't take it, or when a victum they can fight it off more agressively.

But we can also agree on the fact that bullying/mobbing of men does occur.

I'm agreeing with both of you.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I have seen it and experienced it and it is not pretty.I assume you have gone through the usual channels of documenting and discussing with management.What is helpful to me at present is knowing that I will be out of this job in 7 months and that for now, I am not the current target. My supervisor was supportive, but had to investigate the accusation. It helped to write out my rebuttal to being written up and to consult with a legal nurse consultant. I also have a recommendation- consult with a life coach. I have one who has written about and works with people who have experienced mobbing. you can find her at www.susandunn.cc. There is lots to be learned from the experience and from watching it. One of the best lessons I ever learned was watching it occur- if you can study it carefully who is doing it and why you think this is, and who is being mobbed and why you think this is the target. Hard lessons when it is happening to you but believe me it won't happen to me again. I hope this helps and I hope that you find a job with people who are kind and appreciate you.

Hi~

I have been at my new job for over a year now and have become the victim of mobbing by my peers in the ICU where I work.

I have tried every approach with this but nothing has helped my situation. I am going to have to leave this job for it to end.

It has caused me to become depressed, anxious at times, and I have gained weight.

I have also seen mobbing occur at other units where I have worked. I am wondering how prevalent this is now among nurses.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment