Hope for bullying?

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I am an older nursing student and much of my class is between 19-24 years old. I know from my own kids (15 and 20) that they are MUCH more sensitive about recognizing and stopping bullying behavior because the schools have done a much better job educating kids about it. 

My question is this: do you as a nurse find that you have seen a change in the prevalence of bullying tolerance on your units due to the influx of younger nurses? I am really hoping that it crosses into nursing.

Specializes in Psych, Addictions, SOL (Student of Life).

I have seen more bullying from younger nurses than my age mates!

 

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OP, what answer are you looking for here???  Bullying is subjective.  I’ve seen a couple of instances of true bullying.  That’s it.  It’s not bullying to disagree with your opinion OR when a preceptor corrects your errors.  Yet that’s what I see that people determine is bullying these days.

I kind of feel like this is info needed for a paper???  Anyone else feel this??

Im an older nurse.  Older to life nurse having graduated nursing school at 40.  I’m a preceptor and nurse mentor.  What exactly are you looking for from this thread??

 

 

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As a nurse for fewer than 5 years, I try to pick up the bullying slack from the older nurses. ::sarcastic::

But seriously, I precept and I do not hate letting the newbies sweat a little and saying things like, "It's up to you," or "It depends on who the rounding doc is," because that is the reality they will deal with.

I also encourage them to make their own decisions. I know some preceptors are instructing step-by-step, but unless it is their first day or first few times doing something, they are only going to learn by doing. If I see they're drowning and I have time, I step in and offer help, even after orientation.

 

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On 8/28/2022 at 7:46 AM, HiddenAngels said:

That's coddling.  In this profession, it is imperative that a nurse speak up for themselves.  

I did not mean we should sit by and watch bullying. No way.  But in this profession, you HAVE to speak up for yourself.  

I think part of the problem is when a clique forms.  Cliques can ruin a unit, especially if management is aware and doesn't do anything about it because the nurses are competent.  This is where the whole "nurses eat their young" concept springs from. It becomes part of the culture as ICU nurses are harder to train. 

Bullying seems more common in my experience in the higher acuity floors where people tend to have higher egos.  What validated it for me was talking to other ICU nurses one other units.  Many left their units because of the bullying.  When a clique forms and management does nothing, it's sort of over. 

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Specializes in Med Surg, BSN.

I am over 50yo starting career in nursing. There is a young nurse who attempted to bully me. What shocked me more is that she bullied even a pregnant coworker. In my case I couldn't count on the management, because the bully is their favorite. I decided to lead by example the same way I "lead" the patients.

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Specializes in Cardiac, Neurology and PCU.

I experienced and belittling for an entire year from a Nurse who started a year before me. She wasn't a good strong Nurse but looked great on paper and managed to win the hearts of the Nurse Managers. We didn't even work the same shift. Her thing was belittling you in front of everyone trying to make you look small and incompetent. I turned the other cheek. Even tried kindness and said I am new to this floor and although I am not a new Nurse you just got to let me know what I forgot to do and I will be more than happy to make sure it's done. Learn something new everyday! She just soured her face rolled her eyes and looked at me like I had not worn deodorant or showered. Would be ending her shift walking down the hall looking at me and scowling with her friends like High School. Real piece of work. I just shook my head and ignored her. When it got out of hand is when the belittling and degrading would start in a pt's room during bedside reported. Totally embarrassing! Other Nurses would see this and do or say nothing! I went up the Chain of command like told to do. Told to make a log of every inappropriate thing. Managers all said bullying will not be tolerated here. So a year into the job guess what the bully with no managerial experience trumps over more qualified Nurse's that had been there for decades and becomes Nurse Manager. I was doomed! Tried to transfer to another department. They wouldn't let me stated to short staffed to let me go! So what did the bully do make my assignments every night so  difficult and unsafe I could not see the light of day. Set me up for failure! I had to quit or lose my license! Sorry so long it feels good to vent and get it off my chest. Part of healing and moving on!!

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Jenn W said:

Her thing was belittling you in front of everyone trying to make you look small and incompetent

I had one before. I asked if she wanted to help me or humiliate me. She didn't expect I'd say it.  

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Specializes in School Nursing.

I had a boss years ago that used to love to bully her managers. In fact it was actually verbal abuse. If she was in a bad mood, when she came in and you were the first person she saw, you got blasted. She would poke her finger in your chest, and had to be frequently reminded not to do that. She would call us names, stupid, retard, moron... and berate you until you cried. She sure loved to make people cry. I refused to cry in front of her, that only gave her more power over me. I refused to give into her for that. Because of that, I got more bullying, but it was the principal of the matter. She couldn't keep managers, I wonder why??? 

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Specializes in Cardiac, Neurology and PCU.

OMG! That is so horrible! I could not fathom treating people like that no matter who they are and it's so hard to ignore. My thing is why does this kinda thing go on for so long before something is actually done about it? It is so sad and uncalled for!

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Specializes in School Nursing.
Jenn W said:

OMG! That is so horrible! I could not fathom treating people like that no matter who they are and it's so hard to ignore. My thing is why does this kinda thing go on for so long before something is actually done about it? It is so sad and uncalled for!

This went on for 2 years, and it started to affect my health. My blood pressure was sky high my PCP wanted to put me in the hospital. I went to HR, and now I know why no-one went to them. Our HR rep went right to the boss and told her what we were saying about her, well, that meant another round of harassment even worse than before. After I left, she got what was coming to her and she was fired.

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