Nurse Bullying

[Slhengy]

5 thoughts and statistics on nurse bullying

Written by Kelly Gooch | February 24, 2016

Sixty percent of new nurses quit their first job within the first six months due to the behavior of their co-workers, and nearly 50 percent of nurses believe that they will experience bullying at some time in their careers, according to research presented in a new e-book from Aurora, Colo.-based American Sentinel University.

The new e-book, "Dr. Renee Thompson's Series on Nurse Bullying," examines the roots of bullying and conflict resolution as Renee Thompson, DNP, RN, a nursing professional development/anti-bullying thought leader, shares her professional insight on how to best address and eliminate workplace bullying.

Here are five other thoughts and statistics from the e-book.

1. Nearly half — 48 percent — of new graduating nurses are afraid of becoming the target of workplace bullying.

2. In Dr. Thompson's research and observations, she identified two primary reasons why bullying is prevalent in nursing:

• Nursing is a female dominated profession. "Theories suggest that age-old female 'competition' has shifted from competing over a man to competing over status, respect and position in the nursing environment. The same behaviors once witnessed between two women fighting over a man are the ones witnessed today in the behavior of bullies," Dr. Thompson wrote.
  
• Nurses are an oppressed profession. Dr. Thompson noted that nurses are seen as a silent majority, which can bring about frustration. "Feelings of frustration, coupled with an increasingly complex and stressful job, can create environments where nurses 'take it out' on each other. Since nurses can't 'take it out' on administrators or physicians, the theory is that they take it out on the already oppressed, subservient group," she wrote.
  

3. Dr. Thompson identified the following as common overt bullying weapons:

• Verbal criticism or name-calling
  
• Intimidation
  
• Blaming
  
• Ethnic jokes or slurs
  
• Finding fault
  
• Threatening
  
• Physical violence
  

4. Dr. Thompson identified the following as common covert bullying weapons:

• Sabotage
  
• Withholding information
  
• Excluding others
  
• Unfair assignments
  
• Undermining
  
• Downplaying accomplishments
  

5. Dr. Thompson's recommended action steps to address bullying are:

• Name the behavior. "Bullies who feel a sense of power during their tirades gain momentum as they scream, yell or spread rumors and sabotage their co-workers. Naming the behavior as it occurs can stop things immediately and prevent an escalation of that behavior," Dr. Thompson wrote.
  
• Document, document and document. "If you are being bullied, start a documentation trail. Keep a small notebook with you and write down dates, times, witnesses, verbatim comments, and any behaviors you believe undermine a culture of safety and a professional work environment," Dr. Thompson wrote. "Keep growing this documentation trail until you are at the point where you can file a formal complaint."
  

(STAFF NOTE: This was copied from Beckers Hospital Review. Full article can be found: 5 thoughts and statistics on nurse bullying)

[Altra, BSN, RN]

I have experienced nurse bullying on numerous occasions. The ones that I remember are: 1. An old nurse educator when I was in nursing school. 2. Old nurse at an assisted living facility. 3. Old nurse in a clinic setting. And probably more that I cannot recall at the moment. All three are old nurses who liked to "eat their young" as you may already know that term. I think to myself how immature they are compared to me (even though they are 30+ years older than I am). Bottom line.... the reason they are like that is because of pure jealously. Old nurses do not like when a younger nurse comes in the workplace for numerous reasons. Many of them def need to retire. Just my two cents :)

What is the common denominator in these 3 cases? Is it logical to consider the common denominator as a possible contributing factor?

[Altra, BSN, RN]

Ideally, were would respect one another and help each other out. Unfortunately, the world isn't so ideal and many people have to live with fact that they might be targeted and isolated. It's not something I like to see either. I'm just a student but I've seen my classmate cry on her first day just because her nurse outright ignored her, wouldn't even look at her from the very moment clinicals begin. It's so sad really... I mean they teach us all about empathy, compassion, and understanding towards our patients yet somehow when it comes to coworkers, we can't/won't do the same??

Lack of eye contact produced tears?

Your classmate cannot control the behavior of others, but she can certainly control her own.

[meanmaryjean, DNP, RN]

One nice thing about being an old nurse is that I no longer feel the need to pussyfoot around the deadwood. I've heard all the whining and worn-out excuses for poor performance/work ethics for years. Don't see any point in wasting my time indulging them. I'm not paid to be your mother, your teacher or your therapist.

THIS ^^^^^^^^^ a thousand times!

[sammiesmom]

I have experienced nurse bullying on numerous occasions. The ones that I remember are: 1. An old nurse educator when I was in nursing school. 2. Old nurse at an assisted living facility. 3. Old nurse in a clinic setting. And probably more that I cannot recall at the moment. All three are old nurses who liked to "eat their young" as you may already know that term. I think to myself how immature they are compared to me (even though they are 30+ years older than I am). Bottom line.... the reason they are like that is because of pure jealously. Old nurses do not like when a younger nurse comes in the workplace for numerous reasons. Many of them def need to retire. Just my two cents :)

You might want to examine your post. You have mentioned OLD several times and I think you are forming bad stereotypes with OLDER nurses. You cannot generalize everyone. This attitude actually perpetuates bad behavior in any profession. You have to always look inside you and try to find ways to correct your own behavior. Be objective about your achievement and get all judgemental thoughts out of the way. You cannot go at work and think that everyone you work with are dysfunctional or think that older nurses are just bullies. It is not fair.

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

I have experienced nurse bullying and managers need to screen and train their preceptors and pay them extra and make them accountable for what the nurse student is learning. Make sure they are following the competency forms and during preceptorship training, make them aware of any stereotypes, negative beliefs and prepare them to teach with the goal of forming a nurse into an excellent caregiver. I have experienced bullying and sadly, it is very stressful and unfair. My preceptor was so bad that I had anger issues with her for a long time because she was there to judge not teach. I have forgiven this nurse and moved on to a better place with less judgmental nurses. Thank you Lord.

Managers have all they can do to find someone with experience to pair with a new nurse. They do their best, but not everyone excels at teaching and not everyone wants to teach. They have to teach anyway. Yet the newbies continue to complain about the preceptors they're paired with: the preceptor isn't chatty, the preceptor won't let them do anything, the preceptor makes them do things they aren't comfortable with, the preceptor is "mean". I have difficulty understanding how every issue a new nurse has seems to be the fault of the bad preceptor and judge mental colleagues rather than the new nurse's own learning deficits.

The real problem isn't the preceptors; it's the newbies who have never been taught to work with someone they don't like, who doesn't like them or who doesn't give them a trophy just for showing up. Your parents should have raised you to deal with a little adversity. They didn't, and it's not my job as a preceptor to do so. It's my job to facilitate your learning how to become a nurse without killing my patient. It's not my job to teach you -- it's your job to learn. My job is to protect the patients from you while you're doing so.

The best preceptors teach, are good at it and love to do so. It may not be your fortune to get one of those. You then have to learn from the preceptor you get. Take responsibility for yourself, your learning experience and the job you do. You're going to have to learn how to take responsibility some time. Might as well start early.

And you are also going to have to learn to get along with others -- even others you consider inferior, who don't like you, who you don't like, who don't make it easy.

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

I have experienced nurse bullying on numerous occasions. The ones that I remember are: 1. An old nurse educator when I was in nursing school. 2. Old nurse at an assisted living facility. 3. Old nurse in a clinic setting. And probably more that I cannot recall at the moment. All three are old nurses who liked to "eat their young" as you may already know that term. I think to myself how immature they are compared to me (even though they are 30+ years older than I am). Bottom line.... the reason they are like that is because of pure jealously. Old nurses do not like when a younger nurse comes in the workplace for numerous reasons. Many of them def need to retire. Just my two cents :)

I am terribly sorry for your inability to get along with old people. That's going to hinder your development as a nurse and as a person. It's also going to be hugely troublesome when you yourself become old.

I'm 60; I guess I qualify as old. I wouldn't go back and be 20 again for anything! I'm happy with my life, my job, my marriage, my home -- I'm happy. I'm not jealous of you because you're young, because of your imagined pulchritude or for any other reason. I have no problem with younger nurses. I DO have a problem with ageism and with nurses who will not accept responsibility or accountability for their own failings but instead choose to blame it on someone else.

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

Nurses who "eat their young" is another form of bullying. Verbal bullying, and it should not be tolerated. I see phrase "eat their young" SO much on this forum. It is a HUGE issue in the nursing profession.

I am not sure I understand you. You believe nurses eating their young is a problem? Or you believe the problem is that younger nurses accuse older nurses of young eating when that is not the case, and that the NETY accusation is bullying in and of itself?

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

Ideally, were would respect one another and help each other out. Unfortunately, the world isn't so ideal and many people have to live with fact that they might be targeted and isolated. It's not something I like to see either. I'm just a student but I've seen my classmate cry on her first day just because her nurse outright ignored her, wouldn't even look at her from the very moment clinicals begin. It's so sad really... I mean they teach us all about empathy, compassion, and understanding towards our patients yet somehow when it comes to coworkers, we can't/won't do the same??

If you go into nursing looking for bullying, you will find it. If you go into nursing looking for helpful colleagues who respect each other and work as a team, that is what you will find. I think a whole generation of nurses has been done an enormous disservice by teaching them to look for bullying.

That said, I'm sure your clinical classmate was assigned to a patient, not to a nurse. So "her" nurse didn't ignore her. She didn't have one. And if lack of eye contact is enough to make this student cry, that is the truly sad thing.

Nurses are human, we are not some endless font of compassion and empathy. When we run dry, our patients get what we have and our colleagues know that. If nursing school is teaching you that your colleagues, managers and preceptors are going to be an endless source of empathy, compassion and understanding toward YOU, they are doing you a tremendous disservice. Grow up. Learn self care and self management. Perhaps if new nurses went into the workplace knowing how to function as adults and expecting to do so, we wouldn't have so many of these sad (but entertaining) threads on bullying.

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

What is the common denominator in these 3 cases? Is it logical to consider the common denominator as a possible contributing factor?

I'm afraid your expectations are too high. The poster sees the common denominator as being that all three nurses are old and jealous of her youth and beauty. She has not yet grasped the idea that the common denominator is herself.

[TriciaJ, RN]

Lack of eye contact produced tears?

Your classmate cannot control the behavior of others, but she can certainly control her own.

Or needs to learn how to control her own behaviour if she's ever going to function as a nurse. Time to dump the unearned soccer trophies and grow up.

[Jensmom7, BSN, RN]

The older I get, the more I'm convinced that the best thing I ever did for my sanity was get out of bedside nursing. Mind you, I got out after 25 years of being "just" a bedside nurse, so I definitely paid my dues.

I don't feel the need to be anyone's mother, bestie or hand holder.

When I precepted new nurses, my primary goal was to keep them from killing the patients on my watch. The best orientees understood that they didn't know what they didn't know, were open to direction and positive criticism, and didn't expect to be treated like royalty because of their shiny new nursing license.

I don't really run into students or orientees on a regular basis, but most of the ones I've seen seem to be hardworking, eager to learn and enthusiastic. Good for them.

I think what we see in AN is a very strident, very self involved, very entitled minority group of nurses and not-nurses-yet. The ones who were never taught how to work and play with others, simply because their helicopter parents drilled their superiority and uniqueness into their little skulls from day one. The ones who expect a trophy and nonstop accolades just for gracing our presence by showing up.

The ones who constantly whine and moan about actually having to touch sick people and can't wait to move on to bigger and better things. All the while looking down on nurses who have been at the bedside for over 20 years, because being "just" a bedside nurse means you have no ambition, must be too stupid to advance, and definitely are not worthy of being listened to by the bestest and most prettiest nurses to ever color coordinate their shoes, scrubs and stethoscopes.

Is it any wonder that seasoned nurses can be less than enthusiastic about working with the wonderfulness that is you? Years and decades of working with patients have honed our intuition and observation skills to a fine science. We know what you really think of us, and it isn't pretty.

You can't expect to be a part of the group the minute you start a job. You have to work your way into it. You have to earn the respect of those who were there before you. It isn't your birthright. If it doesn't come as fast as you think it should, it isn't bullying (rapidly becoming the most overworked word in the English language), it's your coworkers taking their time and forming an opinion of you.

Sometimes, it's you who have to look in the mirror, take honest stock of yourself and determine if what you're showing to the world is helping or hindering you.

You are the one who may have to change. It's called growing up, being an adult and taking responsibility. As opposed to blaming others for your failure or dissatisfaction, stomping your foot and screaming "NETY! You are just a bunch of bullies!"

[TriciaJ, RN]

The older I get, the more I'm convinced that the best thing I ever did for my sanity was get out of bedside nursing. Mind you, I got out after 25 years of being "just" a bedside nurse, so I definitely paid my dues.

I don't feel the need to be anyone's mother, bestie or hand holder.

When I precepted new nurses, my primary goal was to keep them from killing the patients on my watch. The best orientees understood that they didn't know what they didn't know, were open to direction and positive criticism, and didn't expect to be treated like royalty because of their shiny new nursing license.

I don't really run into students or orientees on a regular basis, but most of the ones I've seen seem to be hardworking, eager to learn and enthusiastic. Good for them.

I think what we see in AN is a very strident, very self involved, very entitled minority group of nurses and not-nurses-yet. The ones who were never taught how to work and play with others, simply because their helicopter parents drilled their superiority and uniqueness into their little skulls from day one. The ones who expect a trophy and nonstop accolades just for gracing our presence by showing up.

The ones who constantly whine and moan about actually having to touch sick people and can't wait to move on to bigger and better things. All the while looking down on nurses who have been at the bedside for over 20 years, because being "just" a bedside nurse means you have no ambition, must be too stupid to advance, and definitely are not worthy of being listened to by the bestest and most prettiest nurses to ever color coordinate their shoes, scrubs and stethoscopes.

Is it any wonder that seasoned nurses can be less than enthusiastic about working with the wonderfulness that is you? Years and decades of working with patients have honed our intuition and observation skills to a fine science. We know what you really think of us, and it isn't pretty.

You can't expect to be a part of the group the minute you start a job. You have to work your way into it. You have to earn the respect of those who were there before you. It isn't your birthright. If it doesn't come as fast as you think it should, it isn't bullying (rapidly becoming the most overworked word in the English language), it's your coworkers taking their time and forming an opinion of you.

Sometimes, it's you who have to look in the mirror, take honest stock of yourself and determine if what you're showing to the world is helping or hindering you.

You are the one who may have to change. It's called growing up, being an adult and taking responsibility. As opposed to blaming others for your failure or dissatisfaction, stomping your foot and screaming "NETY! You are just a bunch of bullies!"

Can't "like" this one enough. I should have popped some corn after all.