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?
