My question is: Why are nurses so mean to each other?

morte, LPN, LVN · Jun 10, 2008

wow, morte.
i feel somewhat vindicated.
it's interesting to read this is a societal and historic phenomenon.
me thinks i'll have to go and buy this book.
leslie

lol. always happy to be of service.....everyone on this thread could buy the book and in two weeks we could come back and have a "book club" discussion.........

allnurses Guide · Jun 10, 2008

That book looks interesting . . but I am a cautious person who doesn't like to stereotype or generalize.

So,all "nurses" or all "women" being mean is just as sad and untrue as all "men" being oppressive women-hating rapers.

steph

leslie :-D · Jun 10, 2008

That book looks interesting . . but I am a cautious person who doesn't like to stereotype or generalize.
So,all "nurses" or all "women" being mean is just as sad and untrue as all "men" being oppressive women-hating rapers.
steph

no one said "all".

generally speaking...

just like, "generally speaking", men are known to assert themselves and cut through the chase (and NOT oppressive women-hating rapers....who the heck ever stereotyped that?)

"generally speaking", teenagers are rebellious and defy authority.

"generally speaking", dogs make ideal companions.

generalities give an overview of any given situation.

of course there are exceptions.

but again, this is "generally speaking".

leslie

eldragon · Jun 10, 2008

Hello everyone!
I am not here to complain; however, I would like to vent just a little. I was recently let go from a job because my boss believed someone who was not an RN take a comment totally out of text and she believed them instead of me. I am surviving - however, my point is this: why do nurses have to sabatauge other nurses and make their lives miserable? I do have to say the meanest people I have ever met are in the field of nursing and it makes me wonder what good I actually do in this field. I have yet to find my nitch and have been an RN for 5 years now. Please write and tell me I am not the only nurse in the world who feels that she cannot trust anyone and that other nurses are so mean and nasty it makes what I do not seem worth it. Thanks for listening!

After reading some of your recent posts, I can easily see how well you offend those of us you have described as being at the bottom of the food chain, and "not an RN," and seriously doubt that your comments made at work were not out of context.

It seems pretty clear to me that you have issues.

LadyJRN1 · Jun 10, 2008

After reading some of your recent posts, I can easily see how well you offend those of us you have described as being at the bottom of the food chain, and "not an RN," and seriously doubt that your comments made at work were not out of context.
It seems pretty clear to me that you have issues.

I may have issues, but I am still accepted in society more as an RN than an LPN. RN's will always be held to a higher standard. This apparently upsets you.

allnurses Guide · Jun 10, 2008

no one said "all".
generally speaking...
just like, "generally speaking", men are known to assert themselves and cut through the chase (and NOT oppressive women-hating rapers....who the heck ever stereotyped that?)
"generally speaking", teenagers are rebellious and defy authority.
"generally speaking", dogs make ideal companions.
generalities give an overview of any given situation.
of course there are exceptions.
but again, this is "generally speaking".
leslie

Not speaking of allnurses posters . . . . I've read some ultra left wing feminists who speak of ALL sex in marriage as rape, etc. Some who think all men are simply beasts.

I don't mean to start anything - I do want to read the book - I'm just not a big believer in phrases like "Nurses eat their young", "Why are nurses so mean to each other", etc. And in reading some excerpts from the book, I did see a tendency to believe that most women behave this way. There were some comments about mothers sabatoging their own daughters . . which I've never seen and believe is rare.

So, just want to be cautious about generalizing. That's all. Better to be cautious and kind, imo.

steph

Tweety, BSN, RN · Jun 10, 2008

Generally speaking man's inhumanity to man can't compare in viciousness to women's inhumanity to women.

In my opinion.

LadyJRN1 · Jun 10, 2008

Generally speaking man's inhumanity to man can't compare in viciousness to women's inhumanity to women.
In my opinion.

Praise God! Someone actually who understands how awful women can be!

allnurses Guide · Jun 10, 2008

Generally speaking man's inhumanity to man can't compare in viciousness to women's inhumanity to women.
In my opinion.

That was on the page of text that I read . . . .the feminist friend of the author's . . ."I think you should be writing about how men oppress women, not about how what oppressed people do in order to survive" . . .

Tweety - your post puts to bed the thought that if women were in charge of the world, we would have no wars. :D:D

steph

leslie :-D · Jun 10, 2008

ladyjrn...i just read all 35 (?) of your posts after someone mentioned your demeanor in other threads...

and all i can say is, :omy::omy::omy::omy::omy:

i'm sorry darlin', but i'm beginning to think you indeed, are the problem.

it 'seems' you have issues w/all sorts of nurses/people.

go to your public profile and click on "read all posts by ladyjrn".

you should notice a theme.

truly, best of everything to you.

leslie

tatarn2b2007 · Jun 10, 2008

In my opinion, SOME, not all women are just flat out mean to other women. It doesn't matter what profession it is. I was in the least stressful office job in the world prior to becoming a nurse and women were so mean to each other, so it certainly wasn't stess related meanness. It was women related meanness. I even had a "friend" who went to my graduation celebration weekend stab me in the back for no reason in a meeting. It just doesn't matter what setting it is in, women will be mean to other women for many reasons. I had a preceptor who absolutely ate me alive because I was better than her at the computer...seriously!! I find I am better friends with guys and can relate to them more and they are not catty and rude. I love where I work now, but even there I see some of the cattiness. It is a women thing. My advice is to go and do your job and don't get caught up in the gossip. Maybe try agency nursing or travel nursing since you would be changing places constantly and not getting involved in the pettiness. Personally, I can't wait to travel for that reason and many others. Good luck!

jaxnRN · Jun 10, 2008

i feel your pain. remember that there are some nurses that are considered to be "territorial". some may be threatened by you. i really think that all institutes should have a customer service class that addresses all issues. the issues being communication, problem solving and being friendly and open to everyone that walks in the door.

maybe you could talk directly to the next person who seems to be "mean". it can't hurt. maybe that person got am impression from you that you didn't intend to send.

but when it comes down to it, all you can control is you. "no one can make you feel inferior without your consent." ~eleanor roosevelt

make your day happy. you might find that you influence other people who feel the same way that you do. remember the younger nurses coming into the field. get to them before they get a bad impression of nurses. be open.

and like many have said here, women will be women. bad stereotype but it's something that will never change...unless we are all aware of it and make things better one minute at at time.