I was responding to another post and noticed that I, along with many others, tend to like to bash other nurses. Why is that?
I have worked in nursing for 27 years as a nurse and 2 more years as an aide and I have seen good nurses ran out of our profession because of no support from the other nurses they work with. Nasty rumors being spread about, back stabbing, etc.
Does this happen in other professions? Why is it that fireman/women, police men/women back each other up, their jobs are highly stressful and involve life and death but as nurses we try to eat our young/old/coworker?
When I worked in a unit where the nurses were unsupportive of each other I knew right then and there the nursing management was weak and ineffective. Effective managers don't put up with that kind of behavior because it only gets worse. It's good to have coworkers you like and who you can be friends with outside of the hospital, but that is certainly not a requirement.
our weekend are close friends.....we go out together, take mini-vacations together.......get drunk together. our entire weekend, nurses, aids, secretary..... maybe it's because we have the same work ethic and standards......:loveya:that's not seen in the younger generations. we're not eating our young but are tired of teaching what nursing schools should have.
I was responding to another post and noticed that I, along with many others, tend to like to bash other nurses. Why is that?
I have worked in nursing for 27 years as a nurse and 2 more years as an aide and I have seen good nurses ran out of our profession because of no support from the other nurses they work with. Nasty rumors being spread about, back stabbing, etc.
Does this happen in other professions? Why is it that fireman/women, police men/women back each other up, their jobs are highly stressful and involve life and death but as nurses we try to eat our young/old/coworker?
Maybe just me but what do you think?
I'd like to know why nursing doesn't stick together - back each other up like an exclusive club... a sorority... sisterhood - or brotherhood... too bad, really.
..this is actually one of my major concerns when I become a nurse. I am in my senior year and aside from preparing for to pass the NCLEX soon, I worry about how am I going to deal with nurses who eat their young and not supportive to new nurses. The best I could do is to hope that I'm not going to be discouraged and so threatened that I would turn my back and forget nursing. I wish that God will send me to place to work where nurses can still remember that they were onced inexperienced and be willing to support other nurses especially the new graduates.
But, of course- I also pray that I won't be a pain in their necks either.
don't worry about those nasty nurses - you'll stand out when you do your job - all you need is management to be there in a positive way, should you need them. You'll find the good nurses will find you, and you them, when you need them. I find it's better to be solitary at work and utilizing others that are also professional who have a good teamwork type of work ethic. I also do not have friendships outside of work - I keep all of that seperate from my personal life - it works better that way. Less drama, less gossip. The less they know about me, the better - and vice versa. I just want to know that you have my back in a code and could cover for my patients or help me.... you're either competent or you're not.
i do wish there was more camaraderie. my boyfriend is a firefighter, and i truly admire the brotherhood that he is apart of. imo it has a lot to do with nursing being a female dominated profession not to mention being overworked and possibly a bit cranky... but i think we all know this already. its just something that i have to get used to because i don't know that it will ever change. what i do know, is that once i become a nurse, i will do everything i can to have the backs of my peers and be a real team player.. and hope that i can receive the same in return. kindness goes a long way.
when i was in the military, the difference i noted was that males, overall, are a lot easier to work with - they are a lot less dramatic and can let stuff go and focus on the work.
i hate to say this, but the back biting is everywhere. i worked as a cna for several years and in a factory for another 7 years before becoming an rn and there was a lot of back biting in both work places.
yes, it is everywhere - no matter what field you're in - best to just avoid the nosie nellies.
personally, i just stay away from the trouble makers for the most part. my day is stressful enough without getting mixed up in the b.s. that goes on in my workplace. however, if someone is bashing someone else while i am around i will tell them to stop. i know that people at work will sometimes talk about me, but guess what for the most part i don't care. i just tell people to make it a really juicy story if they are going to gossip about me because my life is fairly boring. this will usually get a laugh and that makes my day better. sad to say so far no juicy stories about me have been reported back to me so far.
as to why people are this way, i decided a long time ago that there are a lot of miserable people in this world and they just do not know how to zip the lips. sometimes other people just need to speak up and remind those back biters of the golden rule.
i agree, misery loves company - don't be their friend!!!
our weekend are close friends.....we go out together, take mini-vacations together.......get drunk together. our entire weekend, nurses, aids, secretary..... maybe it's because we have the same work ethic and standards......:loveya:that's not seen in the younger generations. we're not eating our young but are tired of teaching what nursing schools should have.
i have had a few friends in the er - before i came to mass... when it was still a lot of fun - there was a great team, for awhile - work was truly invigorating and never boring (plus we laughed a lot).... you're lucky to have a group of friends where you all share and compliment each other. i hope you keep that for a long time, you're very lucky!!!
Specializes in Critical Care, ED, End of Life, Pain.
Why in the world would you "LIKE" to bash fellow nurses? What does that say about your work ethic? I'm sorry if this offends you but I have never in my 33 years of nursing understood people like you. I'm a critical care nurse / ED nurse - both areas known for aggressive-style nurses. Was I very assertive in the care of my patients? YES! Was I mean to my co-workers? NO! Why would I be - We had to depend on each other when the sh-- hit the fan - on a regular basis. New, young nurses? I could wait to teach them and watch them grow! Nurses that want to bash other nurses have no place in nursing "the caring profession".
Specializes in psych, long term care, developmental dis.
I got lost, who said they liked bashing other nurses? I don't as I was noticing that I had done that and wanted to know, why as a profession, we are not supportive to each other. It's I'm better then you mentalitly instead of we each have different gifts to share.
"Bashing" is central to our profession. When you think about it it begins in Nursing School where every intervention is scrutinized and picked apart with an eye for perfection. The whole culture of health care is based on absolutes with hospitals having one "zero tollerance" policy after another for med errors, IV site changes, pressure ulcers. Then we get Uncle Sam and the regulatory agencys with "we aren't paying for hospital aquired infections, fall injuries, hospital aquired UTIs... ". Add Joint Commision with thier standards of perfection and brownie points for how close we come to thier standard of perfect care(but can never quite attain). Next come all the miriad of "hospital ranking" entities- US News, Solucient, and so on- always deciding who is good, better, best (or worst). Ask the docs how forgiving the health care system is next time they pay thier malpractice premium. Patients expect nothing less that godlike skill or else! Our whole world is focused on blame placing and one-upmanship as normal proceedure. It's no wonder nurses are critical of one another- that is the system we were trained by and work in every day.
Specializes in psych, long term care, developmental dis.
Sorry, I reread my initial post and I did say I like to bash other nurses. And I really did not mean I like to bash other nurses. It is just that I caught myself "bashing" and thought how frequently I see this in the healthcare setting.
It has made me think about: Do I bash at work, Do I bash more then I think I do? Have I been receptive to new nurses. Have I been part of the communication problem between the shifts? Have I allow new nurses time to learn ?
I don't think so. However I have really had to stop and think about what I DO/DON'T DO. More of a self examination with input from other nurses.
For those of you who have responded Thank You again, as I am examining my own behavior to see if I CAN improve and be more supportive to other nurses
Okay, I've read this thread, and now the other side of the coin...I am currently taking a CNA course with my eye on moving up in the "nursing world". I figure at my age it is something I could do and still be employable, not to mention I am a very caring and compassionate woman. I am already getting "seperated" from the pack, just in class. The teacher basically ignores me..I am catching on that nurses eat nurses. I am determined to pass this class...Although without getting help in learning to take blood pressure, I am hoping I can figure it out in clinicals...Any advice on how to overcome this? I was horrified when I read these boards...this is the same reason I got out of retail..it was awful. I was an excellent worker and the customers loved me but the other employees were intent in driving me out. What is one supposed to do? My teacher has already let me know, without saying a word, that she doesn't like me. Have I just thrown a lot of money down the drain?
I went internal agency so I would not have to be part of unit politics. People are generally glad to see me(some abuse me but--next time they need help I won't be there, I have been at the same facility 5 years). I am an LVN and I have helped many RN's learn the ropes. I love being a nurse and find it sad when we "eat" each other, but I have seen it.
Nursing is hard--We see people at their worst, I want them to see us at our best. So if you can reach out a helping hand to your fellow caregivers when they need it,DO IT. A little goes a long way and you can make someone's day.
So if you can reach out a helping hand to your fellow caregivers when they need it,DO IT. A little goes a long way and you can make someone's day.
:saint:
nurseshepherd
108 Posts
When I worked in a unit where the nurses were unsupportive of each other I knew right then and there the nursing management was weak and ineffective. Effective managers don't put up with that kind of behavior because it only gets worse. It's good to have coworkers you like and who you can be friends with outside of the hospital, but that is certainly not a requirement.