Gunners in Nursing

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Share your experiences re: non-supportive, or even, God-forbid, cut-throat (in your face or behind the scenes) nurses that function with the ole gunner MO.

Now I will NOT deny that I've worked with a good amount of supportive, caring, unified nurses--BUT I have also worked with a fair number of the opposites--especially the gunner types; although I am sure a fair number of them will deny to themselves that they are gunners or think and act like gunners.

I think we need to bring this into the light of day and be open about it. I mean not a @#$%^& fest; but relating an all too often destructive reality within nursing.

Any thoughts?

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I rather liked "creatures" as somebody here coined them. I picture the type of nurse that fits this bill as a sort of sociopathic mess. Energy vampires. They often have this look, like they are either going to burst into tears or try to kill you in the parking lot, LOL.

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

I have no idea what you are talking about

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Specializes in Med/surg. ED. Palliative. Geront.

Not heard this term before.

I know of some nurses that are possibly the least empathetic people I have ever had the misfortune to meet. Cant imagine them giving a damn about anyone or anything - Gawd only knows what the patients think when they enter the room...

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

gunners??? are you talking about nurses that eat-their-young???? i have never heard the term gunner in reference to a nurse. i have only heard the term in reference to military personal. in the case of the military it is not used as a derogatory term.

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Specializes in ICU, Telemetry.

Yeah, I'm confused, too. In my world, the gunner was the guy or gal who was hanging out of the door of a Huey getting shot at while providing cover for my dad to get in the chopper...not a bad thing!

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Specializes in PACU.

Space shuttle door gunner? I.e. the dude who can--and has--done anything even though he looks seems more fit to distribute beef jerky? Do you mean the people who say things like "I could drop an NG tube from low Earth orbit without spilling the beer in my left hand, but you can't even . . ."

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Specializes in Spinal Cord injuries, Emergency+EMS.

or they are 'gunner' do this and 'gunner' do that ... but never do

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Go over to the pre-medical forums to get a good pictures of "gunners".

Gunners are the hypercompetivive sorts who want to succeed. Well, not really, they want everyone to know ultra competitive and alpha male they are and be intimidated/impressed.

I have not found this in nursing. Nursing has less of a macho culture.

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i took it to mean they were "gunning for" anyone who got in their way.....

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Specializes in Cardio-Pulmonary; Med-Surg; Private Duty.

Or is this like a "gunny sgt" in basic training who's always calling you names and yelling in your face to be better/faster/smarter/stronger?

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I associate the term gunner more with medical students than nurses. Gunner will go out of their way to find stuff that you missed and point it out. Try to take the best cases, etc.. I tend to find nurses to be borderline sociopaths as a past poster pointed out. Ready to cut your throat for not giving a good report. Next thing you see them about to burst into tears. Yikes! I keep these people at arms length away at all times. It seems to me that i see more of these types in day shift than night shift. just my observation.

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