Nurses that Create a Hostile Work Environment

[wendmill]

I am considering a project which investigates/spotlights those behaviors of some Nurses, that create an antagonistic environment. I am hoping to hear what others have experienced and if/how it was resolved. Is anyone interested in sharing their history with me? I have found this to be the worst part of my (otherwise wonderful) 20 year nursing career. That being said, I feel compelled to write a dissertation, of sorts by gathering information, sharing experiences and hopefully discover an understanding or constructive means in which our fellow nurses can find resolution. Thank you.

[Butterfliesnroses]

As a nurses aide I feel that I experienced more bullying from nurses, than I do as a nurse from nurses. I don't exactly know why this is. Maybe it's because as a nurse in LTC I don't interact much with the other nurse or even with management. Whereas as a CNA I interacted closely with the nurse.

[wendmill]

Thank you so much for your reply...I have recieved multiple e-mails(personally) from CNAs about this. Please encourage your friends to e-mail their experiences. Prior to working in the ED, and when I first graduated from Nursing School(I am 57 byears old) I worked in an LTC. I actually lost my job going to bat for the NAs and workload/treatment they received. The DON eventually got fired and I was offered her position...which I declined. I have always had such a soft spot for NA's...although we never utilized your talents within the EDs I have worked in. You do such back breaking work. I hope you are appreciated now

[wendmill]

I agree, there is a difference between people who are ***** and irritable (although-that is a miserable experience, as well) and those that have a bulls-eye on your back. Both groups warrant attention. Professionalism/ respect for co-workers and a team-oriented approach to patients does not appear to be a priority for either group. Poor behavior in the work place should not be allowed to become a culture that is accepted.

[Multicollinearity, BSN, RN]

A positive, bully-free workplace culture is difficult to maintain, but we've managed to do it, mostly, where I work. It probably works because we have a small staff.

When I started at my place of employment I noticed that it was nothing like what I saw in hospitals. I have never seen bullying behavior where I work. The nurses do not say bad things about each other. Gossip is minimal and only comes from our CNAs and administrative staff. Nurses do not undermine each other.

Nurses don't talk behind each other's back, back-biting. No matter what kind of annoying nut-bag I might think my coworker is - I will not say anything to this effect, not even to a close friend at work. I noticed when I started that the nurses would not gossip or say negative things about each other. I maintained this. New nurses notice, and they maintain the culture, after testing the waters sometimes. I have had a new nurse say something negative about a coworker and then apologize when she realized we don't gossip and back-bite. It's an environment that prizes civility, so bullying would not take hold there.

Difficult? Yes. Worth it? Yes.

[fltnrse2, ASN, RN]

After 40 years I have come to experience a new behavioral intity. Never have I witnessed such rudeness and aggression. I have had objects thrown at me, Yelled at by a unit clerk for not helping her answer one of only two phone lines that come into the unit. The coup a preceptor who lied like a rug in my clinincal evaluation, she has a grand total of 2 years experience. With tv shows like "bad Girls" "Mean Girls" "Jersy Shore" etc. showing that to be ruff and rude is kool. FLTNRSE

[fltnrse2, ASN, RN]

Being really nice only gives a bully cart blanch to focus more on you because they think your an easy target.

[HolyPeas]

I think that women are mean to each other, bottem line, and I hate to say that but its true.

I also thing that ultimately this comes down on management to correct. This CANNOT be tolerated and bullying should be a fire-able offence, not this slap on the wrist BS.