Nurse bullies

[l.a.m.b, ADN, RN]

Hi there,

I see many threads about nurses that treat cnas badly, but how about nurses that treat other nurses like crap? Talking down to certain nurses in front of an audience, giving the charge nurse a hard time when that nurse is in charge such as having complaints of the order of admissions, decisions that are made etc. when this was brought up to the manager she just laughed and said that we have to work it out. Doesn't this constitute harassment especially if those complaints are not even valid? Has anyone gone through something like this? Mind you that the nurses involved have more than 6 years of experience

[jadelpn, LPN, EMT-B]

The morale on the unit doesn't seem ideal.

And to laugh it up and say you have to work it out is not the most helpful thing in the world, for sure.

Whomever is charge nurse makes the plan. Whomever is charge nurse "defends" said plan, by declining to get into a "contest" regarding the decisions, the order a nurse gets admissions, and the like.

If this goes into unsafe territory, meaning that certain charge nurses choose to base assignments and admissions due to personal issue with other nurses, (ie: you will take the next 3 admissions, plus 8 patients kind of stuff) or you have a nurse who is having fits and unprofessional refusals (ie: I will take NO admissions, you can't make me!!) THEN is the time to do incident reports on all of these things every time based not on emotion, but on patient safety concerns.

There are some facilities where the charge nurse makes the assignment for the next shift coming on. If staffing is such that there's say 3 nurses on, one of which is charge, then there's only 2 of you to split assignment. In that instance, I have seen charge actively participate in the admission process as to make sure that a nurse can not get overwhelmed and make errors.

If someone is in charge, there is no reason they need to get into it as to why it is that they are doing what they are doing. Again, unless it is so over the top unreasonable that patient safety is at risk. And a charge who is confident in that position will not engage in foolishness.

[chadvena]

Bully happens everywhere, even in nurse situation. I also experienced it. In here, commonly happens from diploma degree nurses to bachelor degree nurses. I'm as bachelor degree nurse often accepted hurting words, like "How can't you do that easy thing? What is the use of your degree if you can't do that one? Didn't you learn it deeper in your class?"

Everytime I've been bullied like that I always wanted to say, "Oh, come on! You work for many years so you become expert on it! I just earned my degree like yesterday!"

But well, as "seniors always right" we seems don't have a power to complain. Keep smiling, keep giving your best!

[nursel56]

I previously believed the terms "bully" and "lateral violence" (nurse to nurse) were synonymous but according to the ANA, there is a difference.

Lateral Violence and Bullying in Nursing

American Nurses Association

Lateral violence refers to acts that occur between colleagues, where bullying is described as acts perpetrated by one in a higher level of authority and occur over time. The acts can be covert or overt acts of verbal or non-verbal aggression. Relational aggression is a type of bullying typified by psychological abuse.

[l.a.m.b, ADN, RN]

I just don't understand why a nurse would speak this way to a coworker they have to see and work with on a weekly basis. They would never speak this way to a patient, doctor, manager or administration. I don't care how miserable one is in their personal lives or how stressed out they are, there is never a reason to be so nasty

[Farawyn]

I just don't understand why a nurse would speak this way to a coworker they have to see and work with on a weekly basis. They would never speak this way to a patient, doctor, manager or administration. I don't care how miserable one is in their personal lives or how stressed out they are, there is never a reason to be so nasty

Tell them that. Tell them to take a walk. Tell them no one is interested.

Does no one stick up for themselves anymore? Geez.

And no, I'm not "blaming the victim". If there is a jerk at work and they are acting like that, tell them to stop.

[l.a.m.b, ADN, RN]

It's easy to say that, however when one is actually in that situation it is another matter. I was frozen because I really could not understand what was happening or why this person who is supposed to be an example was acting this way. It took a bit for me to react. I'm upset still because I'm just wondering if this is something that I need to expect from the workplace due to some peoples inability to handle stress

[Farawyn]

Every workplace has these folk. Not just nursing. Better to learn how to deal with it.

Most "bullies" are cowards.

[LDAthleteNurse, BSN, RN]

I'm never bullied because I never allow myself to be victimized. Of course people TRY me, but they only try me once because I don't play that crap. If you give people the power and authority to control your mood and emotions, of course they will do so. We live in a nation of pansies. The "Bully" word is thrown around way too often. Stand up for yourself, put your foot down, and don't bow down.

[Farawyn]

There are bullies. But there are also just workplace clashes.

The OP sounds like the latter, to me.

[Not_A_Hat_Person, RN]

Cue "Bullying doesn't exist! You're a too-sensitive special snowflake!" in 3....2....

[Not_A_Hat_Person, RN]

Tell them that. Tell them to take a walk. Tell them no one is interested.

Does no one stick up for themselves anymore? Geez.

And no, I'm not "blaming the victim". If there is a jerk at work and they are acting like that, tell them to stop.

And if they don't, or they escalate, or they run to their friend the DON or CEO?