Nurses being victims of workplace bullys.

Nurses General Nursing

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  1. Why do Nurses let themselves be victims of bullys?

    • 7
      Because Nurses, in general, are co-dependent.
    • 11
      Nurses, in general, want to be liked by everyone.
    • 9
      Nurses are, in general, uncomfortable with conflict and anger
    • 10
      Because Nurses, in general, lack assertiveness skills.
    • 15
      Because Nurses, in general, don't want to "rock the boat."
    • 7
      Because Nurses, in general, still buy into the Florence Nightengale mentality.
    • 5
      Nurses, in general would rather deny problems, not confront them.
    • 15
      Because Nurses, in general, want everybody to "get along."
    • 3
      Because Nurses, in general, are women who let themselves be "door mats."
    • 4
      In general, Nurses have low self-esteem.

86 members have participated

I am increasingly amazed at how Nurses let themselves be victims of workplace bullys and let themselves be harassed and treated disrespectfully. I would like to find out the possible causes of this, so here is a poll...please participate. Ad other possible causes if you like. Please participate so we can begin to find sollutions to end this vicious cycle in our profession. Thanks.

I don't know if this really belongs in this thread or not.

The "bullying" situation got so bad here recently, that two RN's in one of the ICU's actually got into a physical fight. One RN pressed charges against the other, and now she's going to lose her license. Where was the Manager? She apparently chose to ignore the situation. This situation had been building up for EIGHT years. Were they ever scheduled opposite of each other? No. Did the manager ever speak to either of them? No. In short, absolutely nothing was done to prevent this all from happening, no one intervened.

I think it's quite pathetic, really.

Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

http://www.bullyonline.org

check it out.

Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

http://www.bullyonline.org

check it out.

Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
If u can't answer why bother to respond--hummmmmmmmmmmm

Maybe, because my opinion is as valuable as anyone else's here. And just because I am not bullied and dont' let myself be, does not mean I can't contribute some information or an opinion. Not to mention, the poll does not even address my situation. There ARE others like me, I can assure you. So, to capture all of us, the answers may be varied by some degree, which would make the poll perhaps a bit more reflective of ALL OF US.

That is why "I bothered to respond", ok?

Have a good day, everyone. Check out that site, it may help! You don't HAVE to put up with anyone bullying you. Believe me, MANY books are dedicated to this subject and there are advocates out there for workplace victims of bullying. If you are being bullied, you have the right to put a stop to it!

Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
If u can't answer why bother to respond--hummmmmmmmmmmm

Maybe, because my opinion is as valuable as anyone else's here. And just because I am not bullied and dont' let myself be, does not mean I can't contribute some information or an opinion. Not to mention, the poll does not even address my situation. There ARE others like me, I can assure you. So, to capture all of us, the answers may be varied by some degree, which would make the poll perhaps a bit more reflective of ALL OF US.

That is why "I bothered to respond", ok?

Have a good day, everyone. Check out that site, it may help! You don't HAVE to put up with anyone bullying you. Believe me, MANY books are dedicated to this subject and there are advocates out there for workplace victims of bullying. If you are being bullied, you have the right to put a stop to it!

Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
Deb answered because you asked a question about why nurses let themselves be bullied and since there was no option on your poll to say that some of us don't think "nurses" as a whole get bullied more than any other group, she answered why by relating how she won't allow herself to get bullied.

I'm with Deb here. I don't allow myself to be bullied. And I don't see nurses as a group getting bullied. It is individual people who for whatever reason allow themselves to be bullied. Individual people in all kinds of jobs.

So your poll is skewed.

Why does anyone let themselves be bullied?

steph

Oh thank you. I see someone else gets it, too. Not everyone is bullied. Not every allows it. those who are, can put a stop to it. IN this day and age, no one need put up with it. I still think the poll is skewed, sorry. I dont' mean to make trouble, but if you are going to poll people, it's helpful to be sure you address all of us, if you want true results!

I used to be. I was abused severely from a young age by my parents, and later, by kids at school and later still, my former husband. I was also pushed around by strong personalities when I was in the military. Yep, I know what being bullied is like. Maybe that is why I choose NOT to be now. Maybe I felt I wasted enough of my life being pushed around, abused and crapped on by others and feel I deserve better. I am never aggressive, but do assert myself when strong personalities around me try to push me around. It takes training and a real change of self to do this. I was handed NOTHING, but changed my outlook and the way I deal with others.

I wish others the same path to peace and wellbeing. I feel better these days, knowing I don't have to let anyone push me around at work or home. I lead a much more peaceful existance these days. The life I deserve and made for myself.

Ok off the soapbox now. :)

Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
Deb answered because you asked a question about why nurses let themselves be bullied and since there was no option on your poll to say that some of us don't think "nurses" as a whole get bullied more than any other group, she answered why by relating how she won't allow herself to get bullied.

I'm with Deb here. I don't allow myself to be bullied. And I don't see nurses as a group getting bullied. It is individual people who for whatever reason allow themselves to be bullied. Individual people in all kinds of jobs.

So your poll is skewed.

Why does anyone let themselves be bullied?

steph

Oh thank you. I see someone else gets it, too. Not everyone is bullied. Not every allows it. those who are, can put a stop to it. IN this day and age, no one need put up with it. I still think the poll is skewed, sorry. I dont' mean to make trouble, but if you are going to poll people, it's helpful to be sure you address all of us, if you want true results!

I used to be. I was abused severely from a young age by my parents, and later, by kids at school and later still, my former husband. I was also pushed around by strong personalities when I was in the military. Yep, I know what being bullied is like. Maybe that is why I choose NOT to be now. Maybe I felt I wasted enough of my life being pushed around, abused and crapped on by others and feel I deserve better. I am never aggressive, but do assert myself when strong personalities around me try to push me around. It takes training and a real change of self to do this. I was handed NOTHING, but changed my outlook and the way I deal with others.

I wish others the same path to peace and wellbeing. I feel better these days, knowing I don't have to let anyone push me around at work or home. I lead a much more peaceful existance these days. The life I deserve and made for myself.

Ok off the soapbox now. :)

sasskrn...didn't any of the non-managers step in??? this was going on for 8 years??? that is truly pathetic. I am sure staff and pt's wellbeing was compromised. Why didn't anyone do anything about this???

And Angie...I hope others read your words of wisdom. great stuff u write. Really.

sasskrn...didn't any of the non-managers step in??? this was going on for 8 years??? that is truly pathetic. I am sure staff and pt's wellbeing was compromised. Why didn't anyone do anything about this???

And Angie...I hope others read your words of wisdom. great stuff u write. Really.

Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

So are you going to only address those who are bullied then? how about the solutions? Do you have any special links or books to recommend? I have a few if anyone is interested....

Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

So are you going to only address those who are bullied then? how about the solutions? Do you have any special links or books to recommend? I have a few if anyone is interested....

sasskrn...didn't any of the non-managers step in??? this was going on for 8 years??? that is truly pathetic. I am sure staff and pt's wellbeing was compromised. Why didn't anyone do anything about this???

And Angie...I hope others read your words of wisdom. great stuff u write. Really.

Absolutely nothing was done. It is, of course, a tense situation that everyone is trying to keep under wraps. One of the nurses who has worked with these women since the beginning was telling me some of the details. The entire unit has been affected. After the actual physical confrontation took place, the manager took a vacation. The other staff are horrified at the lack of response from management. It's a medical/pediatric ICU. It's bad enough that adults have to witness that, but kids too? I'm sure it helps the public image of nursing.

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