Negativity Bias (This is Long)

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

I had posted something very similar to another thread, but feel this is a topic that may deserve a thread of its own because it hits home personally. There's a phenomenon in our society known as negativity bias. Let me explain further...

A nurse can accomplish thousands of good deeds during a decades-long career, but the one or two major mistakes that may have led to patient demise will be remembered the most. Therefore, a nurse could have helped save the lives of thousands of other patients, but the lone failure to rescue is what stands out to people.

I've also seen an uptick in threads with inquiries about appealing a dismissal from school for failing a couple of courses, or appealing after bombing a final exam, or even shouting a professor down because the test was 'bad.' The excuses made for the poor performance vary: "I worked a demanding job while going to school," "My relative died," or "The professor cannot teach well."

The cold reality is that we are expected to perform without excuses. Society is an inefficient bureaucracy, and no one cares much about our personal lives or what we are feeling. When it is time to perform services in our society, no one truly cares that the surgeon's mother died six weeks ago if the heart transplant is needed now. No one really cares that the CNA is homeless and temporarily living in a motel with her four children if three very sick patients need to be toileted and fed now.

In society, a person's value is partially determined by his/her utility to others, and those who have been deemed 'burdensome' (read: not stepping up to the place to be useful) are cast aside and disposed of like a piece of garbage. If you fail to perform, negativity bias will plague you, and people will move onto whomever can fulfill their needs.

We are all very much replaceable in bureaucracies such as schools and businesses. A student whose performance is subpar can and will be replaced. A healthcare professional whose performance is not up to snuff can be replaced. The administrative staff at schools generally do not care about the student's 1,000+ good grades on previous assignments and tests, only that they failed a course or two. The board of medicine does not care about the surgeon's 1,000+ successful surgeries if one patient died due to a medical mistake.

We're all very much replaceable and disposable in bureaucracies. It is called negativity bias. Think long and hard about it before carrying on about a sad event in your life because society will move on without you if you do not perform. I know I may sound heartless, but I'm being realistic.

[Libby1987]

I haven't worked in an *unforgiving* environment. My couple of low spots didn't cause me to be dismissed, my otherwise good track record of performance and work ethic must have held my credibility so I've been fortunate to not have been a victim of negativity bias. And I have yet to see a one time isolated personal issue result in my employer dumping an individual.

I have worked with people who seem to carry their personal burdens to work on a regular basis and as frustrating as it is I try to keep the perspective of "but for the grace of.."

I think we live in a society where too many people think it's acceptable to flip out over an imperfect latte, my employer however has been much more humane over much bigger mistakes.

[Horseshoe, BSN, RN]

I had posted something very similar to another thread, but feel this is a topic that may deserve a thread of its own because it hits home personally. There's a phenomenon in our society known as negativity bias. Let me explain further...

A nurse can accomplish thousands of good deeds during a decades-long career, but the one or two major mistakes that may have led to patient demise will be remembered the most. Therefore, a nurse could have helped save the lives of thousands of other patients, but the lone failure to rescue is what stands out to people.

I see a pretty big distinction between "failure to rescue" and making a mistake which causes a patient to die. Some people cannot be "rescued" no matter what interventions are taken. That's completely different from giving a patient a lethal drug dose or failing to give a particular treatment which is ordered that would enable a patient to survive a given condition.

If my child died because a nurse give the wrong dose of a drug, you're exactly right that I wouldn't give a flip that the nurse had saved many people prior to that day, nor would I care that the nurse had lost a family member the week prior or that she was homeless. Why would that make me feel better about the loss of my beloved child which was caused by professional negligence? Past good actions wouldn't mitigate my own loss or excuse negligence.

[Jules A, MSN]

Yeah, maybe it is because I haven't had one of those blessed lives and have cared for those with truly horrific backgrounds but I find this to be realistic. It has also served to make my threshold for whining fairly low.

This is how our society operates and while I have always been able to function at an above average level as I'm now getting older, slower and likely eventually infirm its going to have to be something I accept. No one has seemed to owe me anything so far so I don't expect that to change. It is what it is.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

Some people cannot be "rescued" no matter what interventions are taken.

I am fully cognizant of this salient point. We will all meet our demise eventually, sooner or later. After all, death is the only termination to the circle of life.

The 98-year-old patient who lingers on a vent because the family 'wants everything done' cannot be rescued in all likelihood. The only variance is the fact that technology and unrealistic family members are preventing nature from taking its course in closing the 98-year-old's circle of life.

[jadelpn, LPN, EMT-B]

Facilities, and schools have become labels. Brands. Marketing schemes.

Playing into patient's need for instant gratification. Playing into student's need for high end, brand name education.

And it all feeds into each other.

How many times have we heard the "I graduated top of my class at oh-so-very-expensive brand name college, and can't find a job, but those people from community college get equal consideration." Equally, the "I have the time, I want you to be delighted with your care!!" almost improbable expectations from facilities?

It is all about instant gratification. And the culture that feed on money/reputation equals status. And status is what makes people feel good about who they are.

There was a time that people were esteemed due to their "pull up your bootstraps" reputation. That they worked hard, made their own way, and that was just such an honorable thing. That facilities looked at that as a good thing. That schools knew people had to work to make college a reality.

And some of those same people then worked their butts off for their kids--to have them have something "better" than themselves. What it did do was make a society of people who want the labels. Who expect the very best in "high end" everything.

And what do these people like more than anything else? To gloat on the shortcomings of those not so "fortunate". It allows them to sleep better at night. Because behind all those labels-de-jour there is some sense of character that their parents inadvertently taught their now grown kids. As almost an afterthought. And it is a huge struggle with the sense of entitlement.

Superiority complex/entitlement/high end labels. And all feed off the perceived weakest link. It is a self-esteem nightmare. And a nightmare for those nurses who are in it for the sense of making a difference. Because the only difference you will make is if you produce.

Entitled people playing off of entitled people at the detriment to the humble.

[Hoosier_RN, MSN]

Facilities, and schools have become labels. Brands. Marketing schemes.

Playing into patient's need for instant gratification. Playing into student's need for high end, brand name education.

And it all feeds into each other.

How many times have we heard the "I graduated top of my class at oh-so-very-expensive brand name college, and can't find a job, but those people from community college get equal consideration." Equally, the "I have the time, I want you to be delighted with your care!!" almost improbable expectations from facilities?

It is all about instant gratification. And the culture that feed on money/reputation equals status. And status is what makes people feel good about who they are.

There was a time that people were esteemed due to their "pull up your bootstraps" reputation. That they worked hard, made their own way, and that was just such an honorable thing. That facilities looked at that as a good thing. That schools knew people had to work to make college a reality.

And some of those same people then worked their butts off for their kids--to have them have something "better" than themselves. What it did do was make a society of people who want the labels. Who expect the very best in "high end" everything.

And what do these people like more than anything else? To gloat on the shortcomings of those not so "fortunate". It allows them to sleep better at night. Because behind all those labels-de-jour there is some sense of character that their parents inadvertently taught their now grown kids. As almost an afterthought. And it is a huge struggle with the sense of entitlement.

Superiority complex/entitlement/high end labels. And all feed off the perceived weakest link. It is a self-esteem nightmare. And a nightmare for those nurses who are in it for the sense of making a difference. Because the only difference you will make is if you produce.

Entitled people playing off of entitled people at the detriment to the humble.

Could not have said it better!

[Horseshoe, BSN, RN]

I am fully cognizant of this salient point. We will all meet our demise eventually, sooner or later. After all, death is the only termination to the circle of life.

The 98-year-old patient who lingers on a vent because the family 'wants everything done' cannot be rescued in all likelihood. The only variance is the fact that technology and unrealistic family members are preventing nature from taking its course in closing the 98-year-old's circle of life.

You are right, and I've seen that all too many times. VERY frustrating. I've even seen it when it completely goes against the living will, because the docs won't challenge the family members.

[blondy2061h, MSN, RN]

I've noticed it goes for patients, too. Especially long stay patients. They can be pleasant 90% of their stay and snap in one moment, be it due to pain, fatigue, bad news, or genuinely subpar care. That's it. They're forever "the crazy one" or "depressed" or "anxious."

[Jules A, MSN]

There was a time that people were esteemed due to their "pull up your bootstraps" reputation. That they worked hard, made their own way, and that was just such an honorable thing.

This is totally the way I was raised and the philosophy I embrace however there are times when this lends me to feeling superior over others who just can't seem to keep up.I wish there was a happy medium between the old school "I'll add duct tape rather than buy new" and the new school "I'm entitled to live an affluent lifestyle even if I only make minimum wage" ways of approaching this lifetime.

[Libby1987]

This is totally the way I was raised and the philosophy I embrace however there are times when this lends me to feeling superior over others who just can't seem to keep up.I wish there was a happy medium between the old school "I'll add duct tape rather than buy new" and the new school "I'm entitled to live an affluent lifestyle even if I only make minimum wage" ways of approaching this lifetime.

It's been weird coming into middle age and seeing how I have a higher tolerance for work than nurses 20 yrs younger. I don't know if it's universal or specific to those drawn to nursing or maybe just those drawn to my field but with being older, not being able to sleep 10 hours like I used to, or even 8, I'd think the younger nurses would have more energy and work circles around me. And they talk (in my experience) about how and why they're so tired. As if I made it to 50 or even to work this morming without any challenges..

I'm sure I did the same when I was younger, it's just weird from this perspective.

[Jules A, MSN]

It's been weird coming into middle age and seeing how I have a higher tolerance for work than nurses 20 yrs younger. I don't know if it's universal or specific to those drawn to nursing or maybe just those drawn to my field but with being older, not being able to sleep 10 hours like I used to, or even 8, I'd think the younger nurses would have more energy and work circles around me. And they talk (in my experience) about how and why they're so tired. As if I made it to 50 or even to work this morming without any challenges..

I'm sure I did the same when I was younger, it's just weird from this perspective.

I think it is just different. It seems to me many of the younger people in general now have a lower discomfort threshold, they are not ashamed to admit they can't or won't do difficult things. They feel entitled to have a comfortable lifestyle right after they leave Mommy and Daddy's house and the truth is in a way I envy that.