Hospital Politcs

roser13, ASN, RN · Oct 12, 2010

Why do you ask? Do you have a specific situation that you're dealing with?

ttpurtee · Oct 12, 2010

No, I am not even a nurse, but I am considering going into Nursing. I am a high school math teacher right now. The politics are pretty bad esp. for math teachers. Because the school is judged on the math scores. If the principal does not like you then you are screwed, he will make your evaluation bad and you will be fired. Period.

It is just if the principal like you or not. I was wondering if it is like that in nursing? If so how do you handle that?

roser13, ASN, RN · Oct 12, 2010

I guess I was asking why you were asking because it's such a broad question and a little difficult to address in general.

Of course, there are politics in nursing, as in all jobs. And as you might imagine, in some facilities or even with some managers, politics are more intrusive into your daily routine. There always seem to be a few "favored" nurses who get away with bad bad behavior for no known reason. That's hard to deal with sometimes. Although, I will say that along the way to my nursing career, I spent some time in academia-land and I don't think that any profession holds a candle to academia with regard to political escapades.

Ask any 5 nurses and you will likely get 5 different responses to the question of how politics does or does not intrude on their daily working life. Sorry to be so unhelpful!

himilayaneyes · Oct 12, 2010

There are politics in every profession including nursing. Some nurses go on break for an hour while you only get your 30 minutes. Some consistently take or give report late and leave late...but still have jobs, etc. If you're looking to get into nursing to escape politics...then don't do it. I hope you have other reasons for wanting to be a nurse. Hospitals will be scored on HCAHPs scores HCAHPS - Hospital Survey

the same way you're judged on math scores...we get annual evals as well. I have a cousin that's a teacher and she thought about becoming a nurse to escape the drama of being an elementary teacher until both my sister and I told her the truth...you have annoying parents in school...we have annoying patients/family members/doctors, etc. If you really want to be a nurse, don't let the politics scare you b/c at the end of the day...we're there to take care of our patients.

canesdukegirl, BSN, RN · Oct 12, 2010

Yes there are politics...if there are people, there are politics. I am much too dumb to play politics. I just ask for what I need, consider someone else's request and try to accommodate them if I can, give a straight and honest opinion when asked, and do my job well. Some people like me, some do not. I don't care. I am at work to do a job, and I give 100% when I am there. My focus is on the patients and the surgery, not the ego stroking that seems to be requisite to "get ahead" in the politicking. That's it. I choose not to enmesh myself in the politics because I don't get the whole "playing games" thing. Never did.

I am glad that you are considering nursing. The market is kinda tight right now. I don't know how it would be when you graduate, but ask some of your friends who are nurses or know nurses and that should give you a better perspective.

ttpurtee · Oct 12, 2010

I do have other reasons for wanting to become a nurse. I didn't go into teaching for the politics. I want to help people, learn and I think I would enjoy helping them with their health.

I was a nursing major in college, but then I thought how much I like math in school so I decided to become a math teacher. During my last year of college I worked at a Nursing home, but I was only a housekeeper, but I really enjoyed working at the nursing home. I enjoyed interacting with the residents and I actually wanted to help take care of them, but that was not my job. I realized how much I liked it and I wanted to keep working with Nursing Home residents, but I was two weeks away from graduating with my mathematics education degree.

I thought I am not changing now. I always wanted to get my CNA, but I had two children and was never able to do it.

However, I still think that I would like nursing. I wanted to get my CNA and work as a CNA for a while to see if I like it. If I do, then I would get my RN.

Just a thought. However, politics can kill a career and all enjoyment that comes in a profession. I just wanted to know how mucht that happens in nursing and how to avoid that.

Politics can kill your passion.

ttpurtee · Oct 12, 2010

How would friends who are nurses give me a better perspective? Do you mean on the job market when I would graduate?

canesdukegirl, BSN, RN · Oct 12, 2010

How would friends who are nurses give me a better perspective? Do you mean on the job market when I would graduate?

If you have friends who are nurses, they can tell you first hand what kind of politics there are, what sort of issues they run into and deal with, therefore giving you a better perspective of the way things are in hospitals.

diane227, LPN, RN · Oct 12, 2010

You have politics everywhere and it much of it depends on your manager and the tone set for the unit. If you have a strong manager willing to take on problems and back you up, then you can avoid some of it. If you have a passive manager or one that never sees a problem, then it won't be so good. And remember in nursing you will be dealing at all times with personalities that you will not have any control over. You can't send them to the counselor or the principal of the school. You will have to deal with them directly. And I strongly suggest that you do deal with them directly and don't go to the manager with a personality conflict until you have tried to resolve it first. Managers have too much to deal with. The only time you should go directly to your manager is if you are being harassed in the workplace in regard to your gender, color or sexual orientation.