How do you deal with a toxic workplace?

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Specializes in Geriatrics.

I'm a relatively new nurse (about a year in). Fresh out of school I applied and got offered a job at a facility that we had done clinicals at. It is excellent money but it's taking a toll on my mental (and physical) health. I find myself getting absolutely sick the second I think about work. I recently got moved to another unit within the facility and the staff there are just absolutely mean and backstabbing. Department of health is in at almost a weekly basis for family complaints, staff reports, ect. We recently got a new DON in who plays favorites and is always scapegoating other employees. It's just all getting to be too much. this past week, department of health was in on a legitimate family complaint and my DON and risk manager called in all of the employees and instructed us on what to say. Thankfully the guy never spoke with me but that was the last straw. I'm currently seeking employment elsewhere and have a few interviews lined up. But in the meantime, how do I even begin to deal with this kind of place? I'm so beyond stressed out.

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

How did I deal? I left. ONE person cannot change a toxic workplace.

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Specializes in CMSRN, hospice.

Get out of there and let it sink. Glad you are looking ahead to new opportunities. In the meantime, do your job and stay away from the drama. It's a shame that your first place of work has been such a negative experience. No single unit or hospital is perfect, but it certainly can and does get better.

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Specializes in Med Surg.

Slip out the back, Jack. Make a new plan, Stan. Don't need to be coy, Roy.

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Leave :D

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Specializes in Palliative, Onc, Med-Surg, Home Hospice.

Get a new job NOW! No paycheck is worth the toll a toxic environment can (and will) take on you. You can't change others, you can only change yourself and no way can you change yourself enough to survive in an environment like that. Besides, if the state is in their so often, the facility will get an IJ and heads will roll. (I've seen this first hand).

Find a new job. There are some good LTC facilities (if you want to stay in LTC), and there are other jobs that might be stressful but shouldn't make you physically ill. Don't let this sour you to the profession either. My first job was in a LTC facility that did get an IJ, heads did roll and it got so bad, 5 of us quit the same week. Best thing I ever did!

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Specializes in Mental Health, Gerontology, Palliative.

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I stayed in a work place like that for over 14 months and it just about landed me in hospital. I had this mad belief that I could bring about change and make things better for my patients and work mates and all that it did was landed me with a massive target on my back and my manager made my life hell

My fellow minions were awesome but the management team were insane.

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I recently left a place like that. It was so toxic, I didn't even wait to have another job to jump to before I left. Yep. That bad. I just trusted that my resume and experience would get me a job (thankfully we have a very healthy market for nurses where I live) and put in my notice. I couldn't deal. I was so happy on my last day there, couldn't get out fast enough. BYE, FELICIA.

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Specializes in Geriatrics.

I'm definitely in the process of leaving. I've lined up multiple interviews but I obviously can't leave my current work place until I've found another job. I try to just keep to myself and do my job but sometimes I feel like that leaves a target on my back with the "mean girls." And as far as state goes, my first month here I wasn't sure if I would have a job the following month because we were on a provisional license due to other issues within the facility that they couldn't correct. I stayed because I didn't want to just up and leave a job after just a few months or just give up on the place. But it's gotten to the point that I literally have no other choice.

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Specializes in Allergy/ENT, Occ Health, LTC/Skilled.

I had to leave a job I loved because of this. My co workers for the most part were great, but the management team became toxic after my boss left. There was nothing to be done, 75% of the staff left within 6 months. They are hurting now because that job was in occ health, due to the differing charting, rules, and certified skills needed they just couldn't pull someone off the street. Hopefully this will allow for some self reflection on their and create a better environment for current employees.

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1- Change the well established culture.

2- Develop an immunity to Toxins.

3- Quit.

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Find new job, then quit. The sooner the better because if you wait too long, you'll be apt to take anything just to get out of there, which, of course, is likely to result in a job in yet another toxic environment.

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