Is it like this everywhere???

RoaminHankRN · Apr 25, 2002

Susanmary,

Macs rule!

micro, RN · Apr 25, 2002

originally posted by cen35
it is not like that everywhere.
i have worked doing a lot of different things................
there have also been times when there is always someone complaining, and whining about somebody or something else.
the problem is that it only takes one or two people to stir the pot. it takes a whole group of adults who like helping and working with each other, to make something work well!
so figure if your job (whatever it may be), has 10 people on it, it takes 10 good people to make it work well. it only takes 1 bad apple to make things miserable. so no matter where you go, or what you do the odds are in favor of some turmoil being caused by somebody.
just my 2 cents
me :)

just humbling my sentiments and think cen35 stated it very eloquently.........(thanks for letting me paraphrase above, cen)

so it makes you wonder.....is it just the human condition.......

mattsmom81.....boy you said it also.....it is in all circles....

roamin hank.........yep, i got a place or too that i could post this thought process.........but they wouldn't read it.....

course, i know i am perfect(yeah, like think not micro):chair:

bungies · May 2, 2002

yep, Australia too, though the ward I'm on doesn't seem to have the problem in a big way.

I think it's because the unit manager notices and addresses these problems - she also gives all of her nurses the benefit of the doubt, rather than attacking them. This attitude passes down to everyone, even the lowliest Grad (read 'me').

People still b*tch and moan, but somehow it doesn't get out of control like it has in other places I've worked.

janmae1950 · May 4, 2002

I'm a nurse's aid at a long-term care facility and it's like that here also!

I've only been working for 4 months now. The aids that have been there longer are so critical of the newer ones. I used to come home close to tears.

I don't want to fall into that gossip rut; I try real hard not to talk about anybody else. Partly because what goes around comes around; partly to listen and absorb and get a feel for the "lay of the land".

I guess each shift has a clique who have decreed that they are the final word on how everyone else works. So and so's too slow. So and so doesn't help enough. So and so screws up too much. So and so doesn't kiss my a$$.

Before getting into the health industry, I worked in offices. I've seen the very same backbiting and gossiping increase significantly especially in the last 10 years. It's all over. We live in a very insecure and somewhat mean culture these days.

deespoohbear · May 4, 2002

I think this is probably universal any kind of work setting. I work for a small hospital and we have a lot of the same stuff going on. The night shift is the worse (I work days). The night shift is suppose to be self scheduling as a trial run. They would like to get our whole unit to self schedule, but night shift is not doing such a hot job. When it is "Jane's" turn to be #3 or #4 to schedule, she will put in requests for like 8 or 9 days off for that pay period. Really ticks the other girls off. So now, I think nights can only request so many days off in a schedule, except for vacation time. But days is starting to have their problems too. A couple of years ago some of the nurses started complaining that they wanted to do 12 hour shifts (we were just 8 hours) so they could have more time off. So, those of us that wanted 12 hour shifts only work every third weekend. I am working 12 hrs shifts (and loving it!!) and every third weekend. Now, everyone has jumped ship on the twelve hour shifts during the week. They want to do 8 hour shifts during the week and 12's on the weekend. That way they can remain on every third weekend. I will be the only full time 12 hour shift person left if everyone goes to eights. Not that I care much, but it sure leaves a lot of holes in the schedule for 3p-7p. :( I already told my boss that I am not picking up any extra hours. I put in my hours and that is plenty. It will be interesting to see what becomes of all of this. Anymore I go to work, do my job, and come home. I figure what goes around, comes around.

Carly · May 6, 2002

YEP, I hear it a lot especially because I am Agency, the continued comments such as, "Oh you can handle it, thats why you are getting the BIG BUCKS, right?", or, "OO,OH, Big Money walking in!",or, "How much is it that you make now?" I do allow all of this to roll off of me, because I do believe a PLEASANT workplace benefits A-L-L, although I would love to just lay it on them once--nevermind I won't even say it here. HEY JUST TRYING TO MAKE A DECENT LIVING AND HELP OUT IS ALL, GIVE US A BREAK!!

fedupnurse · May 6, 2002

I work in a unionized teaching facility. I have definetly noticed the backstabbing and gossiping has grown worse over the past year or so. Administration and management pit nurse against nurse and it works. We feed right into it. It wasn't like this 5 years ago in my unit. There were many experienced nurses who were friends in and out of the hospital. Now it is so cliquey. There are times I dread going to work when I know I will be working with certain people. It is sad.

JillR · May 7, 2002

I have worked as a Waitress, Bartender, Cook, Laundry, housekeeping and even worked in a gas station once and this backbiting stuff is just universal, it is not only females either, men can be just as bad as women. Doctors are not above it, have had docs come to me to talk about others. The one response I give is I ask if they have discussed this with the other person. The response I get is usually no, and I inform them that I would rather not talk about someone who is not there to defend themselves. I will let people vent, but don't like getting caught up in the gossip.

nightmoves · May 9, 2002

When I was first promoted to a head nurse position I inherited one of the worst units in the hospital in terms of backbiting, gossiping, and generalized complaining. Four months into this job I went to my old head nurse and literally cried in her office. She told me what she had done a few years before I had started under her: She had called a staff meeting and told the staff that, based on the employee code of conduct, this behavior would not be tolerated as it did not promote communication or collaboration. She made it extremely clear that this was now a performance issue. They didn't believe her at first, so on everyone's quarterly evaluation she gave them all a rating of "Effective, but needs substantial improvement." That shocked them out of this garbage, and for awhile they all hated her, but sooner rather than later started to function as a team.

I went back to my unit and did much the same thing. Within six months the three B's--*****ing, backbiting, and blaming--dropped to a tolerable minimum (You will always have at least one unpleasant person on a unit or shift.) I have had occasion to do the same thing as a supervisor with some of the "Queens." You know the type: They are clinically competent but smitten with an exaggerated assessment of their abilities. I once threw one such critical care nurse out of a code when she was making smug, disparaging remarks about the med-surg nurses (I can push epinephrine when I have to, so the patient didn't suffer any ill effects of her absence.)

It is my personal feeling that when a unit has degenerated to the point where people are dreading to come to work on a continual basis, the manager is not managing. Part of the role is to resolve conflict.

OBNURSEHEATHER · May 9, 2002

Originally posted by nightmoves
It is my personal feeling that when a unit has degenerated to the point where people are dreading to come to work on a continual basis, the manager is not managing.

Wow nightmoves, you've summed it all up in one eloquent sentence.

Heather

MQ Edna · May 9, 2002

I adore my manager, I feel she has always been supportive of me and she is a warm, caring person.

I don't know. BUT I still love my job and things seem to be getting better, on the surface, at least.

Thank you all so much for the great feedback, it has made me feel not so alone.

Laura

LilgirlRN, ADN, RN · May 9, 2002

I go to work to work, I do my job and I do it well. I don't have time to listen to gossip or to spread it. I am always the last to know anything and I like it that way. I stay out of private arguments but will staunchly defend my coworkers against outside "enemies" aka other units. While I am not a stick in the mud, there is a time and a place for everything, being a nurse is about taking the best care you can of someone's child (that's what we all are). Do what you are supposed to do at work, work and you can't get into trouble. :)