Where are the professionals?

Nurses General Nursing

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I thought when I became a nurse that I would be working with a group of adults that were professional. I am younger than most of my coworkers. I am amazed. We had nurse that had a disagreement with another nurse. Spent all of shift report making nasty comments about that other nurse, as well as others on the floor. She then did not speak to any of us for the rest of the shift. Then today 2 nurses stayed over to for our shift from doing a 12 hour shift, and then proceeded in front of me to make negative comments about how my shift is Lazy, and whiny. After I reminded them that I was still standing "there". There reply was "we know". This is only the stuff I have to write in the past 3 days. Why can't we all be professionals? Why can't we stop picking on each other, and start making constructive comments and talking to each other with respect? Our jobs our stressful enough, I have no tolerance for this behavior that makes things worse. Another interesting thing I have noticed is that it is not the new nurses, it is mostly nurses that have been there for a long time. I left high school a long time ago, I don't really relish the idea of going back. Why are we our own worst enemies? The staff cutting, the calling off, the demanding patient's at time these are things we cannot do anything about. Our behavior is something we control.

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Don't trip over this. You will see this type of nonsense in all work settings. RN are humans, not saints.

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Specializes in ED, ICU, MS/MT, PCU, CM, House Sup, Frontline mgr.

no, i disagree 50caliber... you do not see this type of behavior in all work settings. i have never worked in other industries where i have heard people (within ear shot) gossiping about me. i have never worked with people prior to nursing who confront me in front of customers (patients in our case). i have never seen the bold display of disrespect or insults toward co-workers within the work place when i worked in two other industries. the kind of behaviors written about on this forum is described as horizontal workplace harassment and abuse and in other industries and is not tolerated. i have known people to be fired for less then what i have seen nurses get away with day in and day out. yes, every work setting gossips and has clicks etc, but the blatant harassment by nurses toward other nurses is outrageous!!

op: i do not know the answer to your question. personally i am hoping that when i join the military again i will be surrounded by professionals in nursing. at least that is what the recruiting advertisements say!!! gl!

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Specializes in ED, CTSurg, IVTeam, Oncology.

In my institution, it is considered to be an act of harassment if one professional speaks in a manner that belittles or denigrates a coworker or subordinate. These individuals are then subject to progressive discipline; up to and including termination. While idle gossip pervades just about every employment arena, anyone who discovers another verbally spreading rumors or insults about them, or specifically, questions about their abilities as a professional, may have grounds to sue both the institution AND the individual for slander.

Consult your attorney.

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Specializes in Medsurg/ICU, Mental Health, Home Health.
no, i disagree 50caliber... you do not see this type of behavior in all work settings. i have never worked in other industries where i have heard people (within ear shot) gossiping about me. i have never worked with people prior to nursing who confront me in front of customers (patients in our case). i have never seen the bold display of disrespect or insults toward co-workers within the work place when i worked in two other industries. the kind of behaviors written about on this forum is described as horizontal workplace harassment and abuse and in other industries and is not tolerated. i have known people to be fired for less then what i have seen nurses get away with day in and day out. yes, every work setting gossips and has clicks etc, but the blatant harassment by nurses toward other nurses is outrageous!!

weird, i've seen in it nearly every job i've had outside of nursing. in fact, as a former waitress, i'd say it's much worse in the restaurant industry.

my mom works for a large, internationally known financial institution. her stories, my goodness...i ask her if she works with adults or if she's in middle school.

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I am so glad you posted this. When I was a CNA, working in ICU, ER. There was nurses working together working with eachother. In Med Surge, they were a little more selfish, but still working together. OMG, in nursing homes, there are times I don't want to go to work, not because of the patients, they are what makes my job special. It is some of the other nurses that worry me. Just waiting for a mistake, or putting you in a bad position just to report you.

Don't get me wrong, there are some that also want to be team players, but it just seems like you need to be more concerned with crossing your t's and dotting your I's than continuity of care. Good luck.

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Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.

I've only had two jobs that I would describe that way. One was a nursing job and one was selling in a trendy clothing shop. In both cases all the discord and difficulty could be traced to who was the manager of the group. They set the tone, and a poor one who buddies up with some subordinates and not others really pours on the poison.

I think it's a mistake to assume that one age group or the other is at fault.

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Specializes in Health Information Management.

I agree with CamaroNurse and 50caliber. The same problem existed in my previous, non-health-related profession, and during the time that I waitressed and worked at a bank in college - wow, it was awful! The problem exists in every industry as far as it's allowed to exist (and if people think it doesn't happen in male-dominated industries too, I'll just say that a lot of what would be termed "gossip" were it being discussed by females circulates through the old-boy network). If the leadership makes it clear such behavior won't be tolerated and backs up the words with action, people behave professionally. If not, a lot of workplaces in all different sorts of industries end up turning into hotbeds of gossip, cliques, and other unprofessional behavior adults associate with high school or even middle school.

If it's really driving you crazy or it's totally out of control to the point of endangering your career, your patients, or your license, look for another job. However, you should be aware that you'll probably find some level of this in just about every workplace (though hopefully not the "silent treatment" bull).

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Specializes in Telemetry.

i happen to be one of the youngest nurses at my work place too and i see a lot of gossiping, whining, bad mouthing, ms know it all nurses, ********, insulting, mocking every single day. this kind of behavior is not healthy and very unprofessional. for someone like me who has not been in this profession for so long, what they are showing is not a good example. welcome to the real world, i guess

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no, i disagree 50caliber... you do not see this type of behavior in all work settings. i have never worked in other industries where i have heard people (within ear shot) gossiping about me. i have never worked with people prior to nursing who confront me in front of customers (patients in our case). i have never seen the bold display of disrespect or insults toward co-workers within the work place when i worked in two other industries. the kind of behaviors written about on this forum is described as horizontal workplace harassment and abuse and in other industries and is not tolerated. i have known people to be fired for less then what i have seen nurses get away with day in and day out. yes, every work setting gossips and has clicks etc, but the blatant harassment by nurses toward other nurses is outrageous!!

op: i do not know the answer to your question. personally i am hoping that when i join the military again i will be surrounded by professionals in nursing. at least that is what the recruiting advertisements say!!! gl!

i use to work in pharmaceuticals where all my coworkers were college educated "bachelors/masters". education does not equate to professionalism or manners. trust me, this is the real world. you guys need to get this concept out of your head that nursing is a holy calling and everybody is out there to help the sick and bla bla. its cut throat. people are out there for themselves only. you have to look out for yourself and do your best. i prefer to be friendly and get along with everyone which makes the night go by easier. you can do your part and conduct yourself like a professional and hopefully people will treat you like one.

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Specializes in Global Health Informatics, MNCH.

I agree with nursel56. I've had a lot of jobs in different industries. Toxic environments, be it in retail, IT, nursing, etc. has always been the fault of poor management/leadership. If it happens more in nursing I think it's because a lot of places don't train nurses to be managers. Good nursing skills does not equal good management skills. The place where I work per diem has gone through 5 managers in 2 years, the last one barely lasted a month.

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Specializes in PICU, NICU, L&D, Public Health, Hospice.

I am in agreement with the post blaming management. The tone and work ethic of a unit or department is set by management. If management allows unacceptable and outrageous behavior it will continue and flourish...if they don't, it will go away.

Those managers with unprofessional behavior on the unit will come to a point where they are overwhelmed by the poor morale and lack of team work of their staff and they will begin to blame the staff for their bad attitudes....but it always STARTS with management and ENDS with management.

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