LATERAL Violence. How Nurses treat Nurses!

NurseBanana · Dec 7, 2009

^^^ Good stuff lamaze teacher.
I acknowledge my role in the "game" as well. Yes, I've played victim, rescuer, and perpetrator at different times. I can make excuses and say well it's because they did this to me or whine that they started it but the fact is that I'm responsible for my responses to their behavior so I can't put the blame on them.
I'm doing both I'm opting out of this job not due to the lateral violence but because I've went from LPN to RN and I want a different experience. I still want to find another way of dealing with lateral violence because while my way has worked...it's exhausting. I think I stated this previously but I'll repeat myself...I've dealt with crazy co-workers before but I never experienced this level of lateral violence before I became a nurse. I also never experienced the nonchalant this is just how it is attitude and we are not going to help you response from management in any of my former jobs. Also, just because I'm leaving this job it doesn't mean that I won't have to deal with it at some point in the future. I never want to go through what I have been through again and I want to learn how to identify and nip it before it blooms.
Honestly, I'm nervous to work anywhere else because I've figured out most of the games that go on at my current job. I want to start a new job in another area but I worry about dealing with a new set of personalities.
Since I'm leaving my first reaction is screw them I'm outta of there but I'll do it for the one who has to come after me.

You could always become a manager, or higher up and make it your mission to actually do something about it. ;-)

SoundofMusic · Dec 7, 2009

I've worked in another profession before nursing, and as a woman, it's really, really hard to understand WHY some nurses, especially women, get away with being so horrible to each other in this profession. It's like they personally want to either keep you down, or worse, even destroy you. And if they just plain dont' like you personally? Well, watch out.

Our manager actually will discourage nurses from obtaining additional education. She will question anyone who wants to go back for their BSn or other degree! I mean -- is this really the year 2009? Did the women's movement somehow bypass the field of nursing in some way?

Why it all occurs -- why there isn't an actual CAMPAIGN at hospitals through nursing to eliminate it -- I have no idea. Screw "magnet" status -- how about getting rid of the bullies, the snipers, the underminers, the discouragers?? How about change the culture of nursing to actually be PRO-woman? Pro-professional! So many of these nurses just seem to need ideas and lessons on how to be basic professionals.

One thing at our unit is that it is managed by a lot of nurses without bachelors degrees. In fact, these folks seem to get in and get about 10 years experience under their belt, make their connections, and then they just rule the place. You can't get through, around, under, or past them in any way. I feel that if managers were required to have advanced degrees, it just might be a bit different -- maybe.

I personally do not plan to wait it out and find out. I plan to get my masters and go on. I just cannot as an educated woman, continue to work around such beasts. And someone who said MOST nurses are great is right. 90% of them are fine -- it's just the 10% of monsters that ruins it for me and for so many. And it's true that the monsters are just allowed to roam free. They are never reprimanded and they just continue on. You've just got to wonder why.

I've got one nurse who will not speak to me, won't even give me eye contact, harrasses me always when we have to pass off report -- and a secretary who acts like a 3 year old when she gets stressed out and throws fits. No one gets on these two -- their behavior is just "allowed" and the are coddled. Anytime I'm around them I have a horrid day. I also have a manager who has degraded me and patronized me over and over. But I get along with all the others, do fine, always get good reports -- I just have to put up with the "meanies" from time to time, and it's not fun. What can you do except to get the heck out of it eventually?

Reggie Aquilina · Dec 8, 2009

Hi

I think the issue of backstabbing and lateral violence is something that is endemic everywhere.

Personally I believe that we still harbor a scarcity mentality rather than an abundance mentality.

We may tend to believe that our territory is being invaded and that we have to protect our turf.

I find that quite a few people are defensive and this may be due to lack of leadership skills. I see this in my country where we still have a rather Directive style of leadership. People are not encouraged to take calculated risks to develop themselves and this kills any personal initiative.

If the people at ground level are not treated like mature adults they tend to ACT as if they are immature because of our tendency to react. As soundofmusic said Managers tend to look distrustfully at further development and this is a pity. I believe there is SO much potential within each of us that is not being utilised just because we are busily shooting at each other.

My concern is that we just do not focus on the person, on developing nurses to be skilled as human beings and at becoming first and foremost experts in self-mastery.

How can you help others unless you are helped into becoming a proactive person?

I think we really need to work on these issues because at the end of the day it benefits all.

Nurses will feel happier at work if they connect with each others, Managers will have an easier life and patients will be nursed in a dynamic and caring environment.

Question is who will start the process of waking up nurses to this fact?

I believe it's up to all of us to act within our circle of influence and make an impact in the area we have control over. So one good thing to do is ask ourselves:

'What one small action can I take today which in a small (or big) way will impact on this situation?'

I am sure there is something each and everyone of us can do....

kristie0701 · Dec 8, 2009

hi!
i have had a very interesting experience with the aacn's "healthy work environments" initiative. it really does seem that one just had to "name it to claim it!"
i have posted an excerpt from the aacn's on-line and journal article on lateral violence - has anyone had any experience with these behaviors (below)?
how much of your practice is impacted by issues such as these!?
i know that, in retrospect, i have had a role or two that i am not proud of! however, i resolved that i would be a part of the solution - not a part of any problem. so, what do you recognize?
have you been a victim or a villain?
how do we stop this now?
please share your feeling, comments, observations or experiences.
thanks!!!
and
practice safe!
from the june 2007 edition of : critical care nurse
manifestations of lateral hostility
lateral hostility, bullying, horizontal violence, and the like may be conveyed in a nearly endless variety of forms that denigrate a nurse's professional dignity. some of those expressions identified in the literature include the following3,14,17:
* backstabbing, gossiping
* belittling gestures (deliberate rolling of eyes, folding arms, staring straight ahead or "through" when communication is attempted)
* constant criticism, scapegoating, fault-finding
* elitist attitudes regarding work area, education, experience
* humiliation
* ignoring, isolation, segregation, silent treatment
* inequitable assignments
* inflammatory angry outbursts, impatience
* insults, ridicule; patronizing, or condescending language or gestures
* intimidation, threats
* judging a person's work unjustly or in an offending manner
* making excessive demands
* sabotage, undermining
* unfair evaluations of work
* unwarranted criticism sarcasm
* withholding information or support
full text link at
http://ccn.aacnjournals.org/cgi/content/full/27/3/10?maxtoshow=&hits=10&hits=10&resultformat=&fulltext=lateral+violence&searchid=1&firstindex=0&sortspec=relevance&resourcetype=hwcit
thank you for any imput!

yes i have been a victim of

backstabbing, gossiping

judging a person's work unjustly or in an offending manner

sabotage, undermining

unfair evaluations of work

withholding information or support

which led to my license being revoked! in south carolina the nursing board is just itching for any excuse to revoke or suspend a license, whether their cause is legal or not, whether or not they have any proof or not either. all someone has to do is make a derogatory statement about a nurse to the board and viola your license is suspended or revoked. oh yeah, and you are not afforded a hearing nor any opportunity to defend yourself. they don't worry about following the laws of the state or federal government, nor do they worry about trampling over the us constitution. they are drunk with power and can't wait to weild their tarnished sword of authority, even if it means destroying someones life!

NurseBanana · Dec 8, 2009

Yes I have been a victim of
Backstabbing, gossiping
Judging a person's work unjustly or in an offending manner
Sabotage, undermining
Unfair evaluations of work
Withholding information or support
which led to my license being revoked! In South Carolina the nursing board is just itching for any excuse to revoke or suspend a license, whether their cause is legal or not, whether or not they have any proof or not either. All someone has to do is make a derogatory statement about a nurse to the board and viola your license is suspended or revoked. Oh yeah, and you are not afforded a hearing nor any opportunity to defend yourself. They don't worry about following the laws of the state or federal government, nor do they worry about trampling over the US Constitution. They are drunk with power and can't wait to weild their tarnished sword of authority, even if it means destroying someones life!

sounds like you need a lawyer. Did you ever get one or talk to one? that all seems really illegal to me...

tyvin, BSN, RN · Oct 12, 2010

If a nurse accepts employment at one of the teaching hospitals the must in fact teach when warranted.

lamazeteacher · Oct 12, 2010

Yes I have been a victim of
Backstabbing, gossiping
Judging a person’s work unjustly or in an offending manner
Sabotage, undermining
Unfair evaluations of work
Withholding information or support
which led to my license being revoked! In South Carolina the nursing board is just itching for any excuse to revoke or suspend a license, whether their cause is legal or not, whether or not they have any proof or not either. All someone has to do is make a derogatory statement about a nurse to the board and voila your license is suspended or revoked. Oh yeah, and you are not afforded a hearing nor any opportunity to defend yourself. They don't worry about following the laws of the state or federal government, nor do they worry about trampling over the US Constitution. They are drunk with power and can't wait to wield their tarnished sword of authority, even if it means destroying someones life!

What is the reason, do you think for your state's nursing board to want to diminish the number of working, experienced nurses? I read that you think the actions they've taken are due abuse of the American constitution and power hunger, and I don't know how an "off with their heads" approach achieves that (it really disserves them).

They would be wiser to problem solve, suspend obviously inappropriate nurses and rehabilitate worksites so that they are more fair and positive. Now that's POWER! :rolleyes:

DonnieSS · Feb 5, 2011

It is February 4, 2011. Do you know of any RN student who has experienced "Lateral Violance" or have known of any student dismissed while having two weeks remaining until completion of the RN Program? And, what if anything did you/they do about it?

Thank you.

bree* · Feb 5, 2011

The original post described nursing school! :)

bree* · Feb 5, 2011

I just noticed this thread has around 31,000 views! Amazing. All the threads on unemployment and harassment seem to have a HIGH amount of views..hmm..tells ya somethin' huh?

DonnieSS · Feb 5, 2011

Looking for suggestions on how to deal with this. I want to complete the RN Program that dismissed from me in the last two weeks. This situation began, believe it or not, when I ruffled the feathers of the Director of Nursing when I challenged out of a class through Excelsior College, which LPN's are allowed to do. Of which I am. The Director of Nursing was furious and when I notified her she asked me why I didn't ask her for permission to challange the exam and my life in RN Program took a down hill decline as a result.The Student Policy Book did not say that I had to ask for permission. She asked me "if I felt competent"? I currently have a 3.11 GPA and a class grade of 82 when they dismissed me. Why would they wait until two weeks until the program completion to find me unsafe and inconsistent? Would you think that they would have found me unsafe earlier in the program? I just do not know where to go from here. I took the Appeal as far as I could at the College. I was counting on working after graduation and helping my family financially. I am 67 years old. Maybe that has something to do with their decision! The college academia stick together and back each other up. They have all of these so called Services in place to help students and then when a student needs unbiased assistance I was "alone"!! And,their lives go on unnaffected. The RN classes are non-transferrable and have cost me mentally, physically, spiritually, psychology and monetarily. Very unjust!!! Any ideas??

BabyLady, BSN, RN · Feb 6, 2011

Yes I have been a victim of
Backstabbing, gossiping
Judging a person's work unjustly or in an offending manner
Sabotage, undermining
Unfair evaluations of work
Withholding information or support
which led to my license being revoked! In South Carolina the nursing board is just itching for any excuse to revoke or suspend a license, whether their cause is legal or not, whether or not they have any proof or not either. All someone has to do is make a derogatory statement about a nurse to the board and viola your license is suspended or revoked. Oh yeah, and you are not afforded a hearing nor any opportunity to defend yourself. They don't worry about following the laws of the state or federal government, nor do they worry about trampling over the US Constitution. They are drunk with power and can't wait to weild their tarnished sword of authority, even if it means destroying someones life!

BON's work the same as any court of law.

You need evidence...much more than a mere accusation, in order to get your license revoked.

You should also never try to defend your license without an attorney...which is another reason people should carry malpractice insurance.