Gossiping Nurses

[Beau Wolf]

I'm a new grad that just got hired to med/Surg floor and I'm worried my co-workers are gonna talk *** about me. It makes me uncomfortable that they are always gossiping about somebody.

I just want to do a good job and focus on my patients but I'm constantly thinking about all the bad stuff they are probably saying about me. I have had quite a few screw ups that make me question constantly if I'm a good nurse or even doing a good job.

I had a pt with a Foley that I was repositioning Q2hrs when near the end of my shift (5am) I noticed that the Foley was leaking onto the gown. So I assessed his member closer only to find the lower part is deformedand look like its splitting. I should have caught that beginning of shift but I didn't. And I feel really stupid. I called the doctor immediately and took pictures but i should have seen it before hand.

OR when I was given a medical Run, only later find out I got a tele pt when the Charge nurse chart checked. I was so busy that I hadn't yet gotten the chance to do so yet.

Or when I held pain medication like norco from a pt, cuz pts BPs were in the 90s. Next morning day shift nurse reprimands me saying u can give norco with 90ish BPs.

I'm constantly feeling like I'm not doing a good job and I'm making mistakes like this. I feel like I'm giving ppl loaded ammunition to gossip about how bad I am.

[ArmyRntoMD, BSN, RN]

Eh what does telling the other nurse do? They’re not caring for your patients. Even if you gossip about their poor performance they’re still going to have patients. Other than reporting them to higher for dangerous tendencies what point does it serve?

[Cowboyardee]

1 minute ago, ArmyRntoMD said:

Eh what does telling the other nurse do? They’re not caring for your patients. Even if you gossip about their poor performance they’re still going to have patients. Other than reporting them to higher for dangerous tendencies what point does it serve?

I keep an eye out, catch mistakes, offer help, and coach struggling nurses through difficult situations rather than ignoring them to their own devices and letting them and their patients suffer.

[ArmyRntoMD, BSN, RN]

Right. I confront nurses to their faces, but so many of the young ladies I worked with just LOVE to gossip. It’s a challenge working with a bunch of young women. Especially when they all get “synched” up...

[JadedCPN, BSN, RN]

7 minutes ago, ArmyRntoMD said:

Right. I confront nurses to their faces, but so many of the young ladies I worked with just LOVE to gossip. It’s a challenge working with a bunch of young women. Especially when they all get “synched” up...

Are you SERIOUS?! I don’t even have the words right now.

[Cowboyardee]

24 minutes ago, ArmyRntoMD said:

Right. I confront nurses to their faces, but so many of the young ladies I worked with just LOVE to gossip. It’s a challenge working with a bunch of young women. Especially when they all get “synched” up...

I'll attempt to rephrase: your coworkers will at some point discuss your job performance, good or bad, amongst themselves. This is neither avoidable or necessarily a bad thing, as it's human nature and serves an important function in helping the nurses in your unit situate themselves, know the lay of the land, understand how to make assignments or which patients to watch out for, etc.

On the other hand, it is very reasonable to be concerned that this kind of talk can turn malicious, and to want to avoid that. How to avoid that depends on the situation. Sometimes the best way is to be assertive and stand up for yourself. Other times, the best way might be to drop the large and obvious chip you might or might not have on your shoulder. My advice to the OP is not to take every single whisper as an act of war and to actively seek out help and advice rather than to hope against hope that no one will ever notice or speak of his/her mistakes.

[mandykal, ADN, RN]

My rule is that when I hear a fellow nurse gossip about others I caution and distant my interaction because that individual has the potential to gossip about you. In due time, you’re going to start feeling that gossip is the least of your priorities. Don’t give up too early and self doubt yourself. NOBODY starts out professional. That is going to come with experiences and time. Set your rules of standards as a new nurse. If you don’t know ask. If you’re not too sure educate yourself. Nursing School taught you basic tools to seek and find. My golden rule for a new nurse is don’t pick up bad habits too early or at all for that matter. And when you practice to provide the highest quality of services trust me there isn’t anything for anyone to gossip.

[Verygreennurse]

I gossip. But its usually about what doctor is sleeping with what nurse. Or nonsensical stuff because I have no life and live at the hospital.Its usually over coffee in our "consulation" room.

Advice. Stick behind your decisions. If you dont want to give norco because of a low blood pressure. Own it. You missed something during an assessment. Own it. Take the proper steps to fix whatever feel your error is. Lastly, focus on your patient and you. Dont worry about what everyone is talking about unless its something you can learn from!

And you just might have to grown thick skin. I jest constantly. I love to laugh and franky some of the funniest moments are peoples mistakes. I joke around about when i was calling rapid responses and doctors bedside on a patient with an o2 of 78%. Yeahhhh the o2 was plug into the wrong tree! Or when i refused to restrain the 92 year old that was hitting her neighbor with the hard end of the scd's. Learn to laugh at things.

I always triple check o2 ad i can tie the fastest slip knot in the east now!

Always keep your patient first and your safety a close second. Everything else is hubbub.

[ihavealltheice]

I work with a lot of people on who are on edge all day long. As a result, people aren't gossipy, but simply unsupportive and rude to your face. I figure I'm stuck where I'm at for the next 6 months at least, so I had to come up with some coping mechanisms to get me through so I can be emotionally stronger for myself, my family, and my students.

Something that has helped me recently is telling myself and BELIEVING that I will not let the actions of other people control my emotions. I will no longer get sad, mad, frustrated, etc over something that someone else has said or done. I hold the power over MY emotions and I refuse to give that power to other people. It truly is empowering when you wholeheartedly believe this.

Stay away from the rude gossipy people as much as you can (I know you can't all of the time) and try to surround yourself with the more genuine people who will help. Don't dismiss anyone that you interact with from other nurses to the secretaries, aides, PT, clin specs, case managers, anyone. All of them have a different point of view and can help you learn things that make you stronger.

[canoehead, BSN, RN]

You are going to make mistakes, you're human. Consult with your charge nurse if you need to make a judgement call, and you can be secure that nothing was missed. Let them talk...but make a point of speaking positively about at least one coworker per shift, so you are an example of a positive attitude. Say something nice about someone in the clique, and they may be smothering you with nice to see if they can get you to say nice things about them. But CYA, in the charting.

If someone reviewed my charts, I bet they could find errors daily. If you look hard enough, you'll find them. The mistakes you posted seem pretty minor, or just judgement calls. Let them talk, and build positive relationships with coworkers that are open to that.