LPN LTC - evil nurses

ButterflyBuns said:

 I've noticed that nursing attracts  women who are extremely catty and hate to be in peace. 

I would never belittle your experience and that sounds dreadful.   But I've been in the profession for 30 years working the hospital setting and haven't found this to be true at all.  Now, we all are human beings and not "angels of mercy" but I wouldn't degrade the profession like that either.  

Good luck.  I imagine if your Agency then you have a choice whether or not to be there, or is it like that everywhere you work?  

Are you in a large metro area or just LTC. If so I can see how you developed that attitude. Large urban areas seem more aloof to patient care. Not all areas are like that. Burnout is not a good thing. 

I work in the VA hospital system in a upper middle class suburban area and they are more drama filled and catty here than it was at rikers island in NYC.  I  was surprised at the level of gossip and back stabbing and racism that goes on. It's so astonishing 

delrionurse said:

Are you in a large metro area or just LTC. If so I can see how you developed that attitude. Large urban areas seem more aloof to patient care. Not all areas are like that. Burnout is not a good thing. 

I have found that all areas of nursing in LTC operate this way. As an agency nurse I'm typically in the suburbs and travel to urban areas also. I've noticed in the suburbs the nurses have been the worse. Fake nice and overall toxic energy/workplace. I am looking forward to getting out of this field soon.

Joye Zelaya said:

I work in the VA hospital system in a upper middle class suburban area and they are more drama filled and catty here than it was at rikers island in NYC.  I  was surprised at the level of gossip and back stabbing and racism that goes on. It's so astonishing 

Yes, from my experiences the suburban LTC facilities are filled with the worse nurses I've had the displeasure to come across

One thing jumped out from your post.

You said you work agency. 

You are seen as an outsider.

Yes. Standard issue. Nursing seems to be like this. 

I find there allot of jealousy as well. If a family or patient goes out of their way to thank you, this causes animosity.  And do not ever tell anyone because then you'll be castigated as a bragging.  . 

Davey Do said:

Being a person of integrity is the best way to deal with naysaying hatchet men. Put principles before personalities, be competent and focused. 

"My happiness does not depend on what others do or say, or what happens around me. My happiness is a result of being at peace with myself."

Davey Do,

You always seem to be able to put things in perspective, and provide wise advice!

I've noticed the same exact thing , one even put her hands around my neck and squeezed and told me how much she hated me for my race ....there's some crazy people in our profession 

oldie said:

I've noticed the same exact thing , one even put her hands around my neck and squeezed and told me how much she hated me for my race ....there's some crazy people in our profession 

Holy WHAT?!

Unfortunately, this was my experience as well in LTC/SNF. Since leaving LTC, and having time to process, I believe that this work environment destroyed my confidence and passion to try other aspects of nursing. I'm terrified of bedside nursing as a result- I've seen unimaginable neglect and staff fighting.

If you may humor me for a moment, these environments are toxic from the top to the bottom and therefore toxicity festers on the floors. Many of my coworkers, CNAs, LPNs, RNs, were dedicated, humorous and hard working. I was one of them. They would take me under their wing and teach me everything I needed. Please don't degrade our fellow nurses or women just because of a harsh and toxic environment. 

Before I went into nursing, I had a job at an LTC facility. We had an older NA (no certification required back then) who seemed to really dislike her patients in the extreme, I always wondered WHY she had this job since she resented her patients so much, and for such small reasons. 

For example, if she was assigned the patient, a very cute little old lady, who ALWAYS called for a bedpan at exactly 8 PM....this aide would reset the woman's clock to "prove" that she didn't actually have to pee at 8 PM. Why? It was just part of that lady's prep for going to bed/sleep. Seemed to me that if she knew that woman's "need" for a bedpan at 8 PM, she could just be there at 8 PM and put the bedpan under her. But, no, that aid was kind of vindictive in a lot of little ways. I tried to ignore her complaints and just go about my shift, keeping out of anything she was squawking about,