Nurse Bullying

Nurses Professionalism

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Hey nursing family,

I am conducting a small study on how nurses and nursing students have experienced and dealt with nurse bullying. It's something I have unfortunately had to deal with in a clinical setting. I'd love to have a discussion about everyone else's experience.

I am also attaching a link to a survey about nurse bullying. I would appreciate it if you could fill it out.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdRWG9jOQlNQaUQyU18pGx09Hk0rAo1H-KRKt6707oOO4Wtqw/viewform?vc=0&c=0&w=1

Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.

What schools need is perhaps a class on workplace relationships that could include developing good workplace relationships and delivering negative feedback constructively as well as how to constructively RECEIVE negative feedback even if it isn't delivered constructively.

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Specializes in Psych, Corrections, Med-Surg, Ambulatory.

I thoroughly agree with the previous posters. We need to be entering the workplace with our focus on how we handle ourselves and how we treat others, how we respond to feedback, constructive and otherwise.

The videos were not examples of bullying. In the second video, the new grad announces to the patient that she doesn't know how to start an IV and then asks her coworkers to teach her how to start one. No wonder she got a less than supportive reaction. What she should have asked for was for someone to accompany her to mentor and troubleshoot. That would have demonstrated some initiative on her part.

I think a good focus for a capstone project would be to emphasize new grad behaviours that are likelier to garner assistance and support and what kinds of behaviours are concerning and off-putting to the seasoned staff.

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On the topic of Nurse Bullying,

It is a very real thing. If you find yourself in a bullying situation, You have two choices, staying in the position or seeking a more positive work environment. If you stay, I recommend you document carefully the bullying incidents and in writing by email report them as you need to up the chain of command and cc human resources into the loop. This will protect you. It is not uncommon for the Bully to play the victim and accuse their victim of being the bully. If you can find someone to back you up, ask them to. If the situation is causing you enough stress to intrude into your personal time and thoughts, consider looking for a more positive and supportive environment. Like all other occupations, some supervisors and job cultures are more positive and healthy than others. Seek a healthy environment and seek it early. Not all nursing environments are bullying. You will spend a lot of your life at work and as a nurse you are already giving a great deal of yourself to your patients and your work. Be your own best advocate and do it in a healthy environment so you can finish the race well.

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I would love to fill this out!! Lets say a nurse adn, been in the same organization for 30+ plus years was able to convince administration, hospital board, few doctors, and rumor mongering the staff that she felt bullied. Was able to get the board to fire away her manager, director of nursing, and risk management by tricking staff with letter wanting a certain doctor back who was on her team. Has now volunteered to be interim director and now being protected by the union. New administration of course, that are giving her a second chance.

I seriously, got bullied by an MD, and she doesn't want me to fill out an occurrence report but she will use the mds that helped her become this wonderful leader to bully that doctor. All bypassing, policy etc.... So if I complain in any way.... occurrence report, compliance line,... the new CEO, I am looked on as bully....

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I made a med error. Not only was I embarrassed because I caused a error-ed (med was prepared wrong and wasn't given), but the charge nurse made the error "announcement" while the nurse supervisor and the DON and two other nurses, were huddled around the station. Now I'm embarrassed AND i'm being being humiliated. What is it called when your charge nurse (whom you never got along with) goes to OTHER nurses in OTHER departments, to inform them of your dumb med error you made that day?

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Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.

It might be called educating others about easily made and preventable errors.

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18 hours ago, Estateboy said:

I made a med error. Not only was I embarrassed because I caused a error-ed (med was prepared wrong and wasn't given), but the charge nurse made the error "announcement" while the nurse supervisor and the DON and two other nurses, were huddled around the station. Now I'm embarrassed AND i'm being being humiliated. What is it called when your charge nurse (whom you never got along with) goes to OTHER nurses in OTHER departments, to inform them of your dumb med error you made that day?

I just don't get these reactions sometimes. For goodness' sake, if you've made a mistake that caused no harm to any patient whatsoever, take it in stride! Forget worrying about what the possible busybody says about it. Who cares, seriously. If this person is indeed acting with wrong intentions, the fastest way to stop that crap is to NOT.CARE. The fastest way to destroy yourself is to act as if this other person's actions have anything to do with you.

File your own occurrence report for a near miss as a professionally responsible activity that supports improvements in patient care, instead of giving some egomaniac or overly-concerned do-gooder the pleasure of the idea that they are "writing you up," for example. The more calm, cool, and professional you are with stuff like this, the less fodder you provide for busybodies. Truth.

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22 minutes ago, JKL33 said:

File your own occurrence report for a near miss as a professionally responsible activity that supports improvements in patient care, instead of giving some egomaniac or overly-concerned do-gooder the pleasure of the idea that they are "writing you up," for example.

Nothing better than the look on the "do-gooder's" face when you tell them you've robbed them of the pleasure of writing you up by doing it yourself. Sooooo worth it.?

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Specializes in Psych, Addictions, SOL (Student of Life).
On 3/17/2019 at 12:18 PM, Estateboy said:

I made a med error. Not only was I embarrassed because I caused a error-ed (med was prepared wrong and wasn't given), but the charge nurse made the error "announcement" while the nurse supervisor and the DON and two other nurses, were huddled around the station. Now I'm embarrassed AND i'm being being humiliated. What is it called when your charge nurse (whom you never got along with) goes to OTHER nurses in OTHER departments, to inform them of your dumb med error you made that day?

That's called gossip - not bullying

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Hello nurses! My daughter is an ED nurse, and has been for a few years now. I decided to go back and finish nursing school myself at 51! I just passed my HESI, and I am so looking forward to the whole nursing school comradery. I realize with every job I have had in my life, there are unhappy people that take things out on others and sometimes don't even realize it. I will do my job to the best of my ability and try to float above the BS! I am so excited to be a part of this community of angels on earth!

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