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 Case Management, Home Health, UM.

It happened to me years ago, when I was working as an LPN at a small community hospital. I would come into work to find that my time card had been vandalized with profanity written on it, my nursing notes crossed out, and was even physically assaulted once by the ringleader of the group who was trying to get rid of me. It only stopped after the DON was asked to resign (she knew what was going on, yet did nothing to stop it), and I finally confronted the nurse who had assaulted me. That was over 30 years ago and if the same thing happened to me today, I wouldn't HESITATE to file a workplace harassment suit.

Specializes in CCU,SICU,CVICU,Burn Unit.

Yes, I too have experienced mobbing; even though I did not know the word existed. It was five years ago I needed a change from nights after 9 1/2 years I was exhausted. I would at a great hospital with my peeps. Anyway a brand new CVICU was opening in a smaller hospital close to my house. I took the position and was so happy. But then after my first year the nurse manager called me in and stated I was basically the most horrible nurse in the unit. The reason came from a nurse who made up a lie about me. I left, I fortunately moved, but the nurse manager sent me emails and funny jokes and a beautiful card saying she was sorry. We still write from time to time.

My advice move on, this is your only life, enjoy it. And if possible pray for the people you work with and forgive them.

nan1993

Specializes in ICU,PCU,ER, TELE,SNIFF, STEP DOWN PCT.
Yes, I too have experienced mobbing; even though I did not know the word existed. It was five years ago I needed a change from nights after 9 1/2 years I was exhausted. I would at a great hospital with my peeps. Anyway a brand new CVICU was opening in a smaller hospital close to my house. I took the position and was so happy. But then after my first year the nurse manager called me in and stated I was basically the most horrible nurse in the unit. The reason came from a nurse who made up a lie about me. I left, I fortunately moved, but the nurse manager sent me emails and funny jokes and a beautiful card saying she was sorry. We still write from time to time.

My advice move on, this is your only life, enjoy it. And if possible pray for the people you work with and forgive them.

nan1993

You know that is the sad thing, management KNOWS it goes on 9/10 times and does NOTHING! They know it is one person where I am at, continues to mob the new folks or even a few older ones and you watch and see it happen again and again and again. But management is"What do you want me to do?"

FIRE THAT PERSON! Do your JOB.:angryfire

Specializes in Telemetry, Med Surg, Pediatrics, ER.

Unfortunately, I experiened this, but I didn't know that there was a name for it at the time. No one understands what it does to a person mentally, physically, and emotionally until they experience it themselves. I wish I had made the decision to leave, but I kept thinking it would get better. It is embarrassing for me to have to admit to people that I was fired from my position because of this. I know that I did nothing wrong, but I feel there is a stigma with being fired. I have not worked since May, and I know that I have to go back. If I had known I would be faced with this type of situation I honestly don't think I ever would have chosen to become a nurse. If you have a chance to get out of this situation I beg you to do so. Don't wait until they take away your self esteem and motivation.

Specializes in ED, ICU, PSYCH, PP, CEN.

I have had this done to me 3 out of 7 nursing jobs. I have seen it done to many other nurses. Fortunately there are safe havens. I work in 2 of them now. Both ERs. Don't give up, just look for a different job or different unit.

When a new nurse comes to your unit be really nice to them. After a couple of years you will be surrounded by people who love you because you made them welcome and happy when they were new.

Yes- I experienced "mobbing" as a traveler in a very disfunctional unit. I later learned that the nurse there before me was physically assaulted by two techs (the nurse himself told me). He was brought over from India by the company. The day his two-year contract was up he left and never went back. He wanted to leave earlier, but would have had to pay $10,000. per signed contract with the company.

Also, I ran into the former social worker at another facility. She told me she was "mobbed" and that nothing was done about it. The unit manager even physically assaulted her on the unit, in front of pts and nothing was done. She moved out of the area.

I broke my contract and got the heck out of Dodge. When you are being mobbed, there's nothing you can do except leave.

Before I would have left, I would have made sure that I pressed criminal charges due to this physical assault. It is disgraceful that people act this way...these "mobbers" better not be thinking they are Christians as this is so anti-Christian.

For the OP, I'm sorry you are going through so much.

Kris

Unfortunately, I experiened this, but I didn't know that there was a name for it at the time. No one understands what it does to a person mentally, physically, and emotionally until they experience it themselves. I wish I had made the decision to leave, but I kept thinking it would get better. It is embarrassing for me to have to admit to people that I was fired from my position because of this. I know that I did nothing wrong, but I feel there is a stigma with being fired. I have not worked since May, and I know that I have to go back. If I had known I would be faced with this type of situation I honestly don't think I ever would have chosen to become a nurse. If you have a chance to get out of this situation I beg you to do so. Don't wait until they take away your self esteem and motivation.

I've had a very similar experience. If you want to talk, PM me.

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.

How long has this been going on? If for a whole year, please do yourself a favor and RUN out of there before they have totally destroyed your self-esteem or even caused you to get fired. Such monsters don't stop at anything.

If two make a mob (and I suppose, one is enough, AKA bully) then this is also going on at my hospital dialysis unit where two nurses are harrassing a third; I hate to see this happen, and unfortunately the boss (who is otherwise very nice) is buddy-buddy with the the two offenders and turns a blind eye.

If it weren't for the other nurses there - who haven't been able to stop it, they all hate the offenders' behavior but try to stay out of their way - (and if they did it to me), then I would leave, no doubt.

I guess it's another sad example of a profession that's too busy eating its young and harrassing its peers to ever get any respect (has anyone heard about mobbing among physicians)?

DeLana

Before I would have left, I would have made sure that I pressed criminal charges due to this physical assault. It is disgraceful that people act this way...these "mobbers" better not be thinking they are Christians as this is so anti-Christian.

For the OP, I'm sorry you are going through so much.

Kris

:yeahthat:

Think it over.

Never participate. Never just "go along".

Commit to stopping it when you see.

Call it what it is.

Help hold the offender ACCOUNTABLE.

I think this is the first step towards change with this.

However, I also think this is what started turning "the mob" against me to begin with.

I didn't join the mob at the beginning of my employment there while they were ganging up on someone else at the time. Gracious no, I even tried to point out their untruths against the poor soul. Call me naive, foolish, or idealistic. I just still can't stop trying to hang onto my integrity in these toxic swamps though. And yes, that person quit 6 months later anyhow.

I am in my 40's and have lots of ICU experience. I am simply put, a good and respected nurse by the Docs. Ironically, I think this also contributed against me here.

Anyhow, I am an "at will" employee. Also, I don't think the United States has any laws yet against mobbing, like they do in some European Countries. Are there really any legal avenues for me to pursue here?

"Quitting" seems like I'm empowering them to continue to do this to others. I really think we need to find solutions for this problem collectively.

I'm sure countless others have been on the receiving end of this particular form of workplace abuse. I wish them all a speedy recovery.

Again thanks to all who responded so far. I found myself shedding healing tears while reading some posts.

It's sad to think my only recourse is to run from it. But this sad truth has become self evident already.

if you find yourself in a non winnable situation do what is best for you

leave

if you fight against this type of situation you will gain a rep for being difficult to work with

most of the time the ptb are fully aware of the situation but they llack the brass stuff to interfere. 'let them work it out' this is the same way it is handled in the school yard..the bully is allowed to have his way

you should not hate the thought of going to work every day

go somewhere you will be appreciated

some people have a kick me sign on them..if this same thing occurs at a new job, stand up the at the first sign and nip it in the bud

This happened to me last week. For four years I have fought with management to provide quality care for patients and empower staff. :devil: Last week I was forced to resign by management because of ''a negative attitude.'' One of the last things I did was write my monitor tech a note praising her actions during a fatal rhythm. I was told I'm not a team player. They were right. I don't play games when patients' lives are on the line. When I do good. I never know how much good I do.

+ Add a Comment