negative/toxic work environment...is this normal for nursing??

ChristineN, BSN, RN · Aug 7, 2009

I work at a Magnet Hospital and it is only my second job as a nurse of 2 years. I thought standards of behavior would be different and I am getting very discouraged and disillusioned about the situation,
In short, many of my co-workers bad mouth others and certain individuals run back to the NM if they think someone looked at them the wrong way...I am not joking. The pettiness is beyond my comprehension. Unfortunately the NM (who has only been in the position for 2 years) will speak to the alleged offenders, doesn't reveal who made the allegations, and doesn't seem to want to hear another side of the story. She actually told a nurse that if she had to do her review that day, she wouldn't get a raise (mind you when she had her original review less than 6 mos ago, she got the highest raise that was allowed)...how unprofessional is that?
I have been told by others that nurses are "catty" ...I'm wondering, is this behavior more of the norm for this profession?

It's been the norms on the floors I've worked on unfortunately.... :banghead:

Sensoria17 · Aug 7, 2009

I think it may just have to do with working in a female-dominated setting. I've always worked in an office with strictly females and I've experienced the same attitude.

DoGoodThenGo · Aug 7, 2009

Sadly when you get a group of females together, be it a sorority, dorm, office or even a hospital floor/unit things can turn into elementary school, and all that entails.

Now you understand why so many "male nurses" head for the ED or anyplace else they can practice in peace! *LOL*

karenTRN · Aug 7, 2009

I have worked in 3 hospitals, various sizes, various parts of the country........sadly I too find it the norm. They are there to help IF ASKED....but only if asked.....I learned in nursing school that we eat are young........sadly we eat each other too.

I am 48 - and have been in mgmt in accounting prior to switching to nursing......while I agree that because it is female dominated, it is more catty --- it is primarily due to poor mgmt. Few mgrs are actually trained in mgmt.....just because you have a BSN or MSN, does not mean you are trained in mgmt. I have my MSN, and would not consider it training for mgmt.

I find it so unbearable sometimes too that it makes me question if I will remain in nursing at all.......

good face RN, BSN · Aug 7, 2009

i just recently graduated from nursing school and just passed my NCLEX, but i guess provide some input from my limited experience. I think that every unit/floor is different and it depends on the kinds of nurses you have on the floor. When I was doing my med surg rotations, i was surrounded by completey selfish grumpy nurses who did not want to help each other, hated each other, and bad mouthed each other all the time. When I was assigned to my preceptorship, I was on a floor where all the nurses got along and they were all friendly and helpful. I really think that it does not just apply to just a magnet hospital, but it applies everywhere-- the kinds of people and environment all depends on their chemistry and attitude towards nursing. i think everyone fighting just needs to take a step back and look at themselves and realize why they're there in the first place, then they can grow up and do their jobs properly.

SunnyAndrsn · Aug 7, 2009

Certain ppl are catty, but I hate it when generalizations are made that "all nurses are catty."

Could just be a bad group :-(

Marvie · Aug 7, 2009

Then perhaps you could explain to me how it is that where I work (a male dominated place) that the same thing goes on and even worse???

Sadly when you get a group of females together, be it a sorority, dorm, office or even a hospital floor/unit things can turn into elementary school, and all that entails.
Now you understand why so many "male nurses" head for the ED or anyplace else they can practice in peace! *LOL*

arelle68 · Aug 7, 2009

All of the nurses at my facility have been friendly, helpful, and sweet with the exception of the one that just got fired.

1967 · Aug 7, 2009

I totally agree with you. I got into Nursing because I loved taking care of people as an aide, and doing so well in school proved that. Now I am soo discouraged, and disappointed. Why do Nurses feel so threatened by new nurses, or nurses that have only been in the profession a year or two. I am soo sick of the verbal abuse.

eriksoln, BSN, RN · Aug 7, 2009

I wouldnt say it is the norm, but it is not uncommon either. I see it this way:

Ever see the movie "Remember The Titans"? There is a scene where the one kid is yelling at the other, and the one being yelled at responds "Attitude reflect leadership, SIR.".

The workplaces that turn toxic like this reflect the leadership's attitude. The NM humors people being petty, joins in on it, and the environment becomes toxic.

I dont respect places of this nature. When I was a travel nurse, I found myself working on units with this sort of culture. That was why they needed travel nurses to fill out the schedule, most other people had moved on to more supportive environments. What I find to be unacceptable about these types of units is not so much the excess stress it applies to me, but the loss of focus on pt. care they tend to display.

On units such as this, who said what about who and which nurse wrote up which nurse becomes such a distraction, pt. care becomes secondary. Hence, not only are units such as this toxic, but they are dangerous to your pt's and your license.

How did I deal with it? Well, at the time, I had an advantage in that I was only going to be around for 13 weeks. So, I was very direct with people, didnt join in on the catty back stabbing culture. I dealt with issues directly, I called people out so to speak. It became known that if someone was causing grief for me, I'd approach them. Most people who are drawn to/participate in this type of behavior are very passive and dread being approached. So, they were more careful about it.

buttercup99 · Aug 7, 2009

All of the nurses at my facility have been friendly, helpful, and sweet with the exception of the one that just got fired.

I just read that as "with the exception of the one that just got me fired." :chuckle:chuckle:chuckle