I recently started as a new grad in the ED, and as I've already expected and heard prior to going into that hospital-- there will be some nurse bullying and sure enough, there is.
I've been there for about a month now and I'm still precepting. So far I haven't had too many issues with the RN staff. I know there's a lot of cattyness and complaints about new grads but I've just ignored them. Aside from the RN staff, I feel like I'm getting most of the attitude from the ED techs. On several occasions, I felt like I was being pushed around because I'm so new.
I have always made an effort to be nice and say hello to anyone I'm around but I've been consistently ignored and treated as if I'm not there. On several occasions when I was watching a trauma come in, the techs would tell me to get this and that for them in a dismissive tone and not talk to me after that. I really don't mind getting equipment and helping out, but I felt like they were treating me as if I was beneath them. In that situation, I didn't feel like I had the choice to refuse or stand up for myself because I was just standing there observing.
On another occasion when I was giving an IV medication, the MD corrected me about something, and out of the corner of my eye, I saw the ED techs shaking their heads at each other and rolling their eyes. I could go on about other micro-aggressions, but most of it is going out of their way to ignore me and excluding me (ie, updating my preceptor on my patient's status even though I was assuming most of the care and I was right there, and still refusing to talk to me).
I feel like the obvious answer to this situation is to talk it out with them, but I feel like snapping back is also something I need to do for myself. I don't want to use the "I'm the RN and you're the tech and you need to respect me" argument because I feel like they should treat me with respect regardless of the position I'm in.
It's hard enough learning as a new grad in the ED. It's even harder when people around you are beating you down.
*Sigh* Has anyone had experience with this? How did you deal with it?
Don't let it bother you, OP. Some people genuinely froth on the power imbalance/ego self-stroking. If you show that it bothers you - you'll keep reinforcing their childish, challenging behaviour. Those kind of personality traits are in abundance in the crit care areas. Just keep learning and advancing your skills and make every effort not to turn into that kind of nurse.
Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
I don't have a problem with getting supplies. I have a problem with tone. There is a difference between "Could you get the supplies?" VS "Get me the supplies!".
As I've said repeatedly, I am not the whiny new grad seeking validity and admiration. I'm asking for the BASIC respect you'd give to a stranger-- which is NOT to be RUDE. Is that hard?
Excellent advice for someone who is actually playing that card. I don't know how it came off to you that I am actually using any sort of power play.
I'm under the impression you think it is permissible to be treated dismissively because you were treated the same way. I truly hope you are not an offender yourself, and if so, do everyone a favor and retire immediately.
What a nasty post! I'm beginning to understand the problem. People don't respect you because you have a nasty attitude toward people with whom you disagree.
What a nasty post! I'm beginning to understand the problem. People don't respect you because you have a nasty attitude toward people with whom you disagree.
I'm not sure what about it was nasty. Perhaps me venting my frustration with someone who completely misinterpreted my post came off as nasty to you.
Everyone should be treated with respect. You shouldn't have to prove yourself to receive simple human decency. While becoming respected as a nurse should be earned, being with simple human respect should be given.
Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
I'm not sure what about it was nasty. Perhaps me venting my frustration with someone who completely misinterpreted my post came off as nasty to you.
Your assumption that someone who disagrees with you must be "an offender yourself" and if so, do everyone a favor and retire immediately. Nasty, ageist and snarky. I've seen other of your posts where you get snarky with someone with whom you disagree. Do that once or twice at work, especially as a new hire and even more especially as a new grad, and people will conclude that you aren't worth their time.
I've seen other of your posts where you get snarky with someone with whom you disagree.
Which other posts? I'm going through them and am seriously trying to understand what you're talking about. I have made all of 18 posts since joining AllNurses and none of them pertain to snark/disagreement.
I am generally pleasant. One snippy post does not make me a "nasty" person. Just like how one accusatory post from you does not make you a libeller. A little dramatic, no?
Which other posts? I'm going through them and am seriously trying to understand what you're talking about. I have made all of 18 posts since joining AllNurses and none of them pertain to snark/disagreement.
I am generally pleasant. One snippy post does not make me a "nasty" person. Just like how one accusatory post from you does not make you a libeller. A little dramatic, no?
I agree, you haven't had such history here, most on this thread. You have brought up a perfectly valid subject worth exploring.
Ruby, you are off base here. I checked out this poster's history, it's unremarkable.
I had four jobs in nursing. Three of them were at skilled/rehab/SNF facilities. I left each of them because of the way i was treated. I finally got a job at our main local hospital. i thought it was a dream come true. unfortunately, it was more of the same crap. i was treated like dirt by everyone. it made me mad that the techs treated me that way as well as I was the same as you -- friendly, smiling, trying to make friends. I was okay with some nurses, but I didnt work with them all the time and when I had to work with the ones I didnt like, it made for a bad situation. I left that job, so I feel the very same way you do. I now regret it, but I guess the only advice I could give you is to try to stick it out. Youre in the ED. That is amazing! Try to learn all you can and prove yourself. Dont let them envious techs make you feel any less of yourself. As someone already said -- they are jealous of our license and all the hard work we have accomplished. It's like this EVERYWHERE, so leaving your job and going to another hospital or other department will be more of the same. Stay there, prove yourself and show them techs who's boss.
it is terrible how people treat others. it is a wonder how these people get jobs to "care for others" when they cannot be humanely respectful to anyone but people in their "click" SMH...
Honestly nurses all have such a tough gig. We are overworked and over-stressed. But does that give you the right to treat people like crap? No. The behavior I've seen in nursing has been appalling, but hey, maybe it would be like that wherever you go..I can't remember, lol
Yeah, not a big fan of the "retire immediately" remark. That was mean.
You seem smart, OP. You also seem like you tend to question what doesn't line up neatly with your worldview. There's nothing inherently wrong with that.
It's important that you don't come across as superior and condescending. I don't know you well enough to know if you do that, but keep an eye out for it and nip it in the bud if you do.
It's also important to realize that you are an outsider and it's up to you to conform if you want in. You can bemoan what is until the cows come home, but it won't get you anywhere. You can only change a culture from within, and you can't do that until you're part of it.
You're going through the typical new grad culture shock. It happens to every single one of you. It is the same transition that many new grads experience in other industries once they enter the workforce.
Instead of holding on to past experiences and expecting your new career to match up, go in with an open mind. Use the nursing process to figure out how to move on. Assess the situation, analyze the problems and their causes, make a plan to get around them or negate them, implement, and evaluate.
Once you look at the situation objectively, it will be easier for you to acclimate to the new culture that you've been thrown into.
AussieRN36
10 Posts
Don't let it bother you, OP. Some people genuinely froth on the power imbalance/ego self-stroking. If you show that it bothers you - you'll keep reinforcing their childish, challenging behaviour. Those kind of personality traits are in abundance in the crit care areas. Just keep learning and advancing your skills and make every effort not to turn into that kind of nurse.