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
i agree that nurses will target one of their own, for being different, for feeling threatened, for whatever darned reason it is.
bottom line is, there ISN'T any good reason to lower yourself to a highschool mentality.
i'm just not sure that behaving with class and maturity, can be taught.
whether one is flexible and tolerant, or petty and backstabbing, they are both mindsets that took yrs to develop.
i think it would be most helpful for the facility to have a zero tolerance policy re gossip and other backbiting behaviors...
that it would be a reportable offense to talk badly to or about another colleague.
if there wasn't such a nsg shortage, it would make sense to be a heck of a lot more selective in who they hire.
graduating with a 4.0 means squat, if you have the character of a 15 yr old thug.
leslie
Thanks leslie for your input.
As for me when I've had the "attempted attack" I usually keep my cool
and then go home and wonder why?
I love to help my-coworkers, I am proficient in how and what I do , I treat others with respect. I love to teach. I am approachable.
I also think to myself if I'm peeved at seeing someone else's behaviour as intolerant two things.
1. I f I have to do my job with great customer service, I expect the same of them. I had to realize over time that people see things differently and I am not always right, it just comes down to how the reaction is toward the differences. Accepting the difference I believe is key. 2. Wisdom and maturity and experience in nursing all play into how we do our thing correctly at work and should also include dealing with folks on a daily basis. I personally cherish my oath I made.
I feel like I have confidence and have also been hassled mostly by higher -ups. My work ethic and the desire to learn keep me up to date in many areas. If others feel that as a threat, it's there problem. I'm glad to hear that others use the solution of listening, as I feel that is important to communication. I also expect to have the chance to speak to the issue for feedback and problem-solving. My point is that there are some folks who will just keep coming at you. Yes, it's ridiculous and the only time I take it seriously is when they mess with my employment status.
When I interview, I look at nurse, employee interaction all the time and sometimes that's a clue if I really want to be there.
Sorry this is so long, I''m just the kind of person who likes to hear concrete opinions and answers to help me understand.
Specializes in home & public health, med-surg, hospice.
i'm just not sure that behaving with class and maturity, can be taught.
whether one is flexible and tolerant, or petty and backstabbing, they are both mindsets that took yrs to develop.
leslie
Yeah, but they've said "caring" couldn't be taught either and yet it is & with positive results!
I mean one of the most fundamental principles we are taught in dealing with patients is to regard them with respect even if we have differing values.
Why do we not believe that our fellow colleagues are deservent (sp??) of the same consideration? Is it because we seem them as an extension of ourselves? Is it because with a predominately female workforce, we believe we should sacrifice our own feelings and thus the feelings of our peers?
ETA: NREMT-P/RN, like you, I also believe some of this is just a reflection of the culture in which we live as well. Sad.
From Leslie, Tom and Tweety - all have very good points in that --- *if you don't allow it, it won't happen or can't effect you* --- well, to some extent I believe that caveat is very valid. But, to another extreme - I do think that the "bullying" can be very destructive regardless of the "victim's" position.
I agree. Bullying can happen to any one of us at any time.
My concern is with those who post they experience it multiple times. I think there are skills to be had that might help prevent oneself from becoming a frequent target.
Specializes in Med/surg,Tele,PACU,ER,ICU,LTAC,HH,Neuro.
I agree with learning part Tweedy. Being single with nobody who lives with me for so many years can blind you to some of your secret faults.
Communication skills are a growing art. I beleive the sniping of nurse cannablism is a practiced skill in the fine art of self-defense (like KUNG FU). Some of us little lambs are just prey to the Hannable Cannable.
I have actually looking on the internet for suck classes during my obsession (not yet addiction) to allnurses.com. Lame results so far.
I agree. Bullying can happen to any one of us at any time.
My concern is with those who post they experience it multiple times. I think there are skills to be had that might help prevent oneself from becoming a frequent target.
There are. As a traveler, there are many facilities that will eat travelers alive because of the petty pay issues - staff sees us as getting paid "more" and dump on the traveler or as doing things "differently".
As a traveler, you learn ways of coping with the issue, so that people lay off or to prevent people from behaving that way towards you.
I agree. Bullying can happen to any one of us at any time.
My concern is with those who post they experience it multiple times. I think there are skills to be had that might help prevent oneself from becoming a frequent target.
I have a question, if you don't give them the power and then they can't come after you, how do you react if someone attempts to "come "after you? What is your solution,aside from "not enabling"?
I agree. Bullying can happen to any one of us at any time.
My concern is with those who post they experience it multiple times. I think there are skills to be had that might help prevent oneself from becoming a frequent target.
It is a real issue today in nursing profession with the new SHARE GOVERNANCE (please read the web site and it controversies,Who is the boss?in place and magnet hospitals.
I am a witnessed of a Bully Administrator who already fired 7 nurses including clerks and 16 new nurses left, 1manager and 1 asst nurse manager ,she has the total control on her hands of the complete children's dept in 2 years. If you read the profile of a bully ,it is some time impossible to win ,you will leave before she/he will is not coorporate well handle.The bully is always protected by the administration and human resources does not know how to handle it (read national statistics in bullies in health care).The retention and strategies to keep nurses will no be completed if the legal bill already pending in 14 states will not pass .It is considered Ilegal harrasment at work place.
Sometimes people quit but never write the real reason "I was bullied by somebody at work."
The CEO ,I am sure does not know,it is not good cost effective economically , this is happening the bullies are the perfect to them ,they cover themselves very well in writting and the problems are the others ,the excuses are perfect match to hang you always. They will get you if you speak,sooner or later with psycological abuse looking over you. You will be a lagger to them.
That's my experience at work. All my dept is frustrated and the morale is low,but nobody talk due to poss firing and insurance lost.I tried ,now sheis bullying me but I cover myself with my profesionalism and excelent patient care I do not talk to anybody at work .In my research is called terrorism at work.
It is a real issue today in nursing profession with the new SHARE GOVERNANCE (please read the web site and it controversies,Who is the boss?in place and magnet hospitals.
I am a witnessed of a Bully Administrator who already fired 7 nurses including clerks and 16 new nurses left, 1manager and 1 asst nurse manager ,she has the total control on her hands of the complete children's dept in 2 years. If you read the profile of a bully ,it is some time impossible to win ,you will leave before she/he will is not coorporate well handle.The bully is always protected by the administration and human resources does not know how to handle it (read national statistics in bullies in health care).The retention and strategies to keep nurses will no be completed if the legal bill already pending in 14 states will not pass .It is considered Ilegal harrasment at work place.
Sometimes people quit but never write the real reason "I was bullied by somebody at work."
The CEO ,I am sure does not know,it is not good cost effective economically , this is happening the bullies are the perfect to them ,they cover themselves very well in writting and the problems are the others ,the excuses are perfect match to hang you always. They will get you if you speak,sooner or later with psycological abuse looking over you. You will be a lagger to them.
That's my experience at work. All my dept is frustrated and the morale is low,but nobody talk due to poss firing and insurance lost.I tried ,now sheis bullying me but I cover myself with my profesionalism and excelent patient care I do not talk to anybody at work .In my research is called terrorism at work.
Any comments will be appreciated.
Thanks for the links.
For those of you who think bullied people are enablers. You do have a point , but you should sit back and see your looking down at a victim and saying ..haha It is your problem. I don't have that problem.
I think your enabling bullies somewhat and nursing will always have a shortage and we will always have ADN programs while the rest of the world's nurses are BSNs. Nurses get paid well but not enough cause of this violence. I would prefer to stay in retail full time, than go back to what I have seen for the last ten years of my 22 yr career. I have however been encouraged to give it another shot, so I will give it my best shot.
I think your enabling bullies somewhat and nursing will always have a shortage and we will always have ADN programs while the rest of the world's nurses are BSNs. Nurses get paid well but not enough cause of this violence.
And what does that have to do with the price of tea in China???????
I think that you need to correlate things better....and stop blaming "ADNism" for things that it is not responsible for. Could we please stop dragging the dead horse "class war" into every blooming thread? Even when it makes no sense at all. I have yet to see any correlation in nursing degree and how well one treats ones coworkers.
(If "the rest of the world's nurses are BSNs and that makes such an improvement in nurses lives in those nations...why are they moving in great numbers , here to the land of Diplomas/ADNs/ASNs/BSNs...to improve their lot?)
sharona97, BSN, RN
1,300 Posts
Thanks leslie for your input.
As for me when I've had the "attempted attack" I usually keep my cool
and then go home and wonder why?
I love to help my-coworkers, I am proficient in how and what I do , I treat others with respect. I love to teach. I am approachable.
I also think to myself if I'm peeved at seeing someone else's behaviour as intolerant two things.
1. I f I have to do my job with great customer service, I expect the same of them. I had to realize over time that people see things differently and I am not always right, it just comes down to how the reaction is toward the differences. Accepting the difference I believe is key. 2. Wisdom and maturity and experience in nursing all play into how we do our thing correctly at work and should also include dealing with folks on a daily basis. I personally cherish my oath I made.
I feel like I have confidence and have also been hassled mostly by higher -ups. My work ethic and the desire to learn keep me up to date in many areas. If others feel that as a threat, it's there problem. I'm glad to hear that others use the solution of listening, as I feel that is important to communication. I also expect to have the chance to speak to the issue for feedback and problem-solving. My point is that there are some folks who will just keep coming at you. Yes, it's ridiculous and the only time I take it seriously is when they mess with my employment status.
When I interview, I look at nurse, employee interaction all the time and sometimes that's a clue if I really want to be there.
Sorry this is so long, I''m just the kind of person who likes to hear concrete opinions and answers to help me understand.
Thanks