New breed of bullies!

Nurses Relations

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Hi everyone!

I am looking for advice on how to handle a few co-workers I have the unfortunate honor of dealing with frequently. In the ER I work in, there is a "click" that consists of some nurses that are actually quite intelligent and perform their nursing duties in a manner that would make any instructor beam with pride. The problem is that they enjoy keeping some type of chaos going on with other staff members. They criticize others, spread idle gossip and keep interpersonal relations in the department torn apart.

I have been in the department for over 2 years now. When I was the "new kid on the block", I was the target of their schemes and I considered transferring departments numerous times but because I enjoy ER nursing, I was determined not to let them make me leave. Eventually they became bored with me because I stayed to myself, did my work and wouldn't "fuel the fire" so to speak - so they moved on to others. I was labeled as "weird".

The next logical step ofcourse would be to approach management, but unfortunately this group is smart enough to change their attitudes in the presence of the powers that be. The nurse manager as well as the Docs think they walk on water.

Anyone have any suggestions on how to handle co-workers such as these? Has anyone had similar experiences or am I the only one stuck dealing with other nurses that maintain a junior high school mentality? :confused:

Originally posted by LPN2Be2004

Start sending anonymous (my hospital allows the anonymity) up the chain of command. If you're allowed to. It gets the problem addressed with out "someone" being labeled the tattletale.

I did this with a few co-workers, i was the "lone ranger" to complain about a little group that was causing trouble, giving the "newbies" a rough way to go. Caught the administrator's attention so much that it was the first thing addressed at the monthly staff meeting and the problem was resolvesWith the anonymous letter i was able to complain, but no one ever knew who did it, and i never caught any backlash for it

I like this idea!

Not only for bullies. We could notify the management with computer typed documentation about other departments, equipment & supply problems, and competency issues. Even staffing. Maybe sent by snail-mail from near the hospital.

Do you have co-workers who feel as you do? Could several of you address this with the manager? I like the approach of asking the manager how to deal with the problem without naming names. I wonder if the manager is aware, but as long as no one complains it must not be too bad. Either that, or the people who leave because of verbal abuse "were not cut out for ER". Interesting.

Fortunatly my hospital system has a 800 number you can call. It is totally annonymous and handled by a different comany. They are an independent company that process's the complaint and sends it straight to the president/CEO's office. If you decide to give your name to the 800 number company, then when the resoltion report that gets sent to them will also be given to you. The "high ups" never see your name.

While I worked in a level one trauma ER for over 3 years and expeienced my fair share of bullies. However, Most of my coworkers were very nice . There is a lot of burnout associated with a high volume ER, in addition the work can be brutal and not that rewarding at times. I personally have no desire to ever go back being ER RN, they are grossly underpaid for the work and knowledge that is required to do the job. I feel the hospitals take total advantage in paying them the same as they the floor nurses or clinic nurses. The doctors for the most part work very hard and easy to get along with, but they get almost all of the pie while the nurses are killing themselves trying to make 20.00 bucks a hour. The only way I would consider going back would be as a er doc, you may work your butt off but least you are makink 175k and up in compensation. Compared to the crumbs they want to give to the nurses. Most of my friends in the er, who were male nurses, had to work two jobs to provide for their family, what a joke.

Specializes in Emergency Room/corrections.

Ha! We must all work in the same ED. LOL we have our share of bullies too... those prima donna's who have been working in the ED since the invention of sliced bread (who are all on day shift might i add) and who think no one else has any sense or intelligence.

Balderdash!!! they are in their own little fishbowl and lets let them stay there, eventually they will drown. Do not ever let anyone convince you that you are "weird" or not a good RN, its the territoriality that goes with ER nursing that makes us what we are, there is room for everyone..

personally, I have as much clinical experience as these morons so they dont mess with me, but I see them hover over new RN's or new employees and it really irritates me. Our management is afraid to do anything so we are at the point of near mutiny in our dept... wish us luck.

Yikes! I've worked in a rural ER for a long time and have recently moved and will start Monday in a level 1 trauma center/ER. I havent experienced bullying in the past . You folks are scaring me. Oh well, I won't take any @#$%. I'll just tell them to ge over themselves.

I have worked er for about 6 years now and have never really experienced the things you all are talking about. Most of the people in my er are pretty easy to get along with. I can only remember one time when a nurse in our er tried to make me a target of some abuse. I am still there and she is gone. I am pretty easy to get along with, but don't mess with my carreer, it is too important to me.

Specializes in ED staff.

There are laws against harrassment in the workplace. If you do have an anonymous system, mention that in your letter. Perhaps that will get someone in management's attention.

I believe that individuals or groups who engage in covert intimidation in the workplace, create a virus which injures staff and destablises the organisation.

Bullying/harrisement in the workplace is now recognised as a major stress factor for reduced efficency, lost work-days & physical/ mental health problems. Sometimes it is due to a lack of training, for both staff and managers.

When this problem occured within our multi-disciplinary department, (Health, Legal, Social Services & voluntary agencies), affecting a number of individuals (2 left, 3 sick leave) & workload increased for the remaining staff) = increased stress/low moral.

Continued from Josie K. Finger slipped onto wrong tab.

With permission from management I used the opportunity to survey staff re- occupational stress. During the process, some of the factors which related to the 'effects of workplace intimidation' were highlighted, and afterwards the issue was openly debated. Viruses became inactive in the face of increased awareness of the issue, and our current situation.

Things did improve for a long time but the 'worm' is creeping in again, which just goes to show that this issue should be part of continuing, mandatory education - for all organisations.

As I said on another thread, coworkers can be one of your biggest stumbling blocks on any type of job. I never trust mine, especially in starting new jobs where you are vulnerable because you are on a 90 day probationary period.

I would continue to work as you have been and watch your back.

I know co workers like that. You have to be methodical take a journal with you. I know it seems tedious but it will be your best defense. When they start mess document what occured leaving out your emotions and thoughts. When you have enough of it send copies your manager's boss up to administration.

I worked with a manager who use to start mess and wouldn't do her work! I sent a letter to her boss and before I knew her mouth was shut and she was doing our appraisals. I find the pen is mightier than the sword.

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