Nurse Mobbing/bullying

Nurses Relations

Published

:balloons: I am new to the forum and would like to get feedback from others who have experienced mobbing/bullying/harassment in the healthcare field. Please share so others might learn more about this issue that needs further exploration.

Hi Jessie: I am sorry if you took my comment about not understanding your train of thought as an insult. I did not mean it to be an insult, but was just trying to get clear about what the post was so that i could reply with something helpful.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

:o I have spent the last 19 years working in librarianship. I have been "mobbed" and/or "bullied" unmercifully by approximately 98% of the individuals (mostly female) I have worked with and for. I will be taking a "Refresher" course later this year with the hope of going back into nursing. I have heard (and read) all sorts of "horror stories" about the "horizontal violence" in the nursing profession.

Could the fact that both professions are predominately female have anything to do with the "mobbing" and/or "bullying" and/or "horizontal violence?"

Just a thought...

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Dear Librarian: I think your question is a good one and one to really think about. Since your a librarian, perhaps you could do some research for us. I know from many posts that men do not, in general, be door-mats. When men have responded to the bully/victim relationship, they have said that when they feel someone is trying to bully them, they mince no words and tell the person, straight out and right away to back off.

When men have responded to a "victim", they are often quite amazed that anyone would put up with a bully. They also are very straight forward in how they have delt with it. Pretty much by pushing back and setting limits and not putting up with it for a minute.

Does the difference between men and women have to do with some innate characteristic? Does it have to do with testosterone? Does it have to do with sports and competitiveness like football?

I'd love to hear what some of the men have to say about this question.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I was mobbed and bullied by a psychological services director for over 2 1/2 years. I ended up with a diagnosis of reactive depression as a result of this supervisors behavior. After filing numerous complaints and grievances I was finally offered a demotion just to get away from this very evil person. This was female to male bullying. My best advice is to read up on the violence in the workplace policy and file complaints with your HR manager.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I think that this needs to be a Sticky!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
:o it all comes down to self-esteem, integrity and respect. Rude, snooty nurses have none of these.

Very well put! It also applies to psychologists.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
That is so.

Usually nurses volunteering to represent their colleagues do a great job.

Sometimes not.

I would hope the union employee labor representative would educate her.

In CNA our nurse representatives are elected. They can be unelected too.

At steward training it was drummed into our heads to NEVER CONTACT A MANAGER ON BEHALF OF A MEMBER UNLESS THAT MEMBER ASKS YOU TO MAKE A CONTACT.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Guess my union steward did not take a class. :angryfire

Up Vote Up Vote ×

The one nurse that has been the rudest to me is a member of my mother's church. When I am scheduled to work with her, I do my work, and do my best not to have to work with her. Sad testimony of her faith.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Oh my goodness! This thread was just what I needed today after working all night being "bullied and mobbed". Here is what happened to me this week. We've been hiring lots of new nurses and as usual we got a new one about a month ago that started on my shift for orienting. So, I showed her where things were and she took a cart. I took the halls with the most residents and only gave her 12 res. to pass meds and do tx's for. Well... I was trying to show her around and also make calls to the Doc.. etc while also doing my med pass in between. Well, after an hour or two into our shift she asks me if our DON is still on the site, I told her that I thought she was. The next thing I know the DON is down on my floor and in my face about why my med pass isn't done. This had never ever happened before. (I'm new to LTC and still trying to get the hang of it all.) I figured out that Miss Nurse newbie had called the DON and said something to her about my med pass. Why on earth she would do this, I have no idea. Well, since that day she has not let up on me. She is now the DON's golden girl and has been filling her ears with lies about my work. For instance, she came on shift late the other night to relieve me. She arrived an hour early and sat and talked with the other nurse that is her buddy. She never asked for me to give her report or to count off the narcs, she just went along talking and leaving for smoke breaks with her buddy. About an 1.5 hrs later, I was looking for them again and they weren't on the floor so I decided to go take a break since I had been there for 14 hours and hadn't had a lunch and only one other break. When I did, she called the DON at home at 4 am!! to tell her that I had left the building and didn't give her report or count off the narcs. When I came back up she acted like nothing had happened but her buddy read me the riot act for not giving her report immediately. (This was not a normal shift change time, by the way, where report is being given by all) I said to them, why didn't you ask me? I wouldn't have had a problem with giving the cart over to you when you got in. They didn't want that, they wanted to cause trouble. They also told the DON that I hadn't done a very critical dsg change, that I did do. A total lie!! I've also had some issues with the computer charting that I was never oriented on myself. I've emailed and called the DON to let her know I need help with it, but when I went to talk to her about all these issues, she just looked at me with disgust and said that I should just do it. She also wanted me to do an admission on two new residents and I have NO CLUE how to do it. I told her this, and she said it was unacceptable and that she couldn't make me a good nurse, either I was one or I wasn't, and obviously I wasn't. That TORE MY HEART OUT. I cried for most of the night. I have wanted to be a nurse since I was 3 years old, my parents died when I was little and they both knew I wanted to be a nurse. I finally accomplished my goal after leaving a domestically violent relationship and moving to another state with my 4 kids. Now being daily harrassed by these evil persons disturbs me to my core. I just do not understand why anyone would do this to another human being. I really don't know how to handle it. I love my job there, but this is just unbearable. I come home crying every time I work.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

i don't know if the form means anything or any more but i see alot favortism here. and you tell me that its not in your work place.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I feel for you especially since I have been there. I know from experience,once you have been deemed unliked by one nurse they will grow to all nurses then all aids. Your supervisor no matter what the truth is will deem you as the problem and you will be the one fired. My suggestion get out now before you are fired you do not need a reference from any job you are currently working at when applying to a new job

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment