Nurses Eat Their Young

psu_213, BSN, RN · Oct 21, 2018

What a minute...now you've confused me. Did I use literally wrong?

No, you were right. Sorry, it was saracam. No matter how hungry a human is they will never be hungry enough that they can literally eat an entire horse. When one says "literally," it basically means that is was actual of true; however, it is often used as hyperbole.

Correct: After a bad day at work, when you got home 60 minutes later than usual: "I was literally an hour late.

Hyperbole: You see a really bad movie: "that movie literally made me puke" (unless, of course, you actually did throw up, in which case it would be correct if the movie was the actual cause of the emesis).

MEINstudent · Oct 21, 2018

Bullying encompasses a lot of things. I would be curious to know how many people have heard (or done themselves) a nurse trash-talking a fellow nurse to their peers? That is bullying.

I have been a nurse for 6 years, and never thought I would be the subject of bullying or lateral violence, which is a bit difference. But recently have encountered both. I started to read up on it, and recognized that there is so much lateral violence in my workplace, and some bullying. I too, in complaining about a coworker to a friend, have engaged in lateral violence.

I agree about people taking constructive criticism as bullying, but I also think bullying and lateral violence are excused away.

TheDudeWithTheBigDog, ADN, RN · Oct 22, 2018

Bullying encompasses a lot of things. I would be curious to know how many people have heard (or done themselves) a nurse trash-talking a fellow nurse to their peers? That is bullying.
I have been a nurse for 6 years, and never thought I would be the subject of bullying or lateral violence, which is a bit difference. But recently have encountered both. I started to read up on it, and recognized that there is so much lateral violence in my workplace, and some bullying. I too, in complaining about a coworker to a friend, have engaged in lateral violence.
I agree about people taking constructive criticism as bullying, but I also think bullying and lateral violence are excused away.

Way more common is the nurse going after the aide. You'll see that all the time, especially if it's somewhere that a CNA isn't required. These people are easily expendable, they're the ones targeted most of the time by nurses.

Leader25, ASN, BSN, RN · Oct 22, 2018

I feel like some older nurses might have never been taught the social skills/conflict resolution that we as new nurses are now taught. I've worked with many nurses who recognize that their fellow older nurses are bullies. Just because younger generations have been taught that everyone deserves respect when spoken to does not constitute being called a snowflake. Respect is earned, not blindly given because you were here first. There are constructive ways to say things and there are rude ways to say things. Just because it's advice doesn't mean it's automatically kindly said.

"older","social skills","fellow older nurses are bullies""Respect is earned not blindly given"---

Ahem ,....based on your preconceived notions of fellow nurses I am thinking "not feeling" that you need to earn everyone's respect before it is "blindly" given to thou.

Leader25, ASN, BSN, RN · Oct 22, 2018

Not everywhere.

Trauma Columnist · Oct 22, 2018

Moved to Nursing Student Assistance

llg, PhD, RN · Oct 22, 2018

In 10 years of nursing, I saw and experienced peer to peer bullying several times, particularly when I worked in Assisted Living and in Nursing Home Hell.
Yes, really. It happened. Call me a snowflake all you want.

That brings up a good point. Perhaps the work setting has something to do with it. I have spent most of my career in NICU and Staff Education. Maybe that is why I have seen less bullying. Maybe it is more common in some specialties than others.

Guest219794 · Oct 22, 2018

Maybe they're oblivious to it? I don't know them personally, and can't judge. But I never would have believed that some of my co-workers could behave in the way that they do if I didn't start charging. I was in an evidence based practice class and heard one of the former students during a panel describe the reaction to her EBP project on lateral violence. She said the ones that gave the most pushback and that denied that there was a problem were usually the biggest bullies. In fact, one of the instigators went on to apply for a masters and did a paper on lateral violence, and consulted the EBP fellow. After doing some research herself, and reading, she was surprised that she did a lot of the things that were classified as bullying. So, basically; to those that deny that lateral violence happens... your actions may be considered as bullying by others. Chances are, you probably don't care about the others anyways though.

Interesting that this was moved to a student assistance forum. Though it was started by a presumed student, all he did was light the match. Darian, who I still think was eaten, is batting .500 on stirring the pot- 2 OPs, this one on page 6, 0 participation from Darian.

And, I think that Clara is on to something. The debate about prevalence of bullying in the field of nursing all really hinges on the definition of bullying.

"Pain is what the patient says it is" is something accepted by many- that pain is completely subjective, and there are no objective criteria. It seems that many think of bullying in a similar manner. If a person feels bullied, they are bullied. If that is the working definition, I would say bullying is pretty prevalent, judging by how many people feel as though they are bullied. I recently saw a new nurse leave our unit. She got upset when she was held accountable for her actions. I never would have called that bullying, but I am guessing she would self identify as a victim.

I think that there are bullies in nursing, as in any field. But, I think that whether or not one feels bullied may have a lot to do with how they were raised, schooled, and their work experience. There are some that have always received praise regardless of their effort, and been shielded from criticism. If the only feedback a person has ever received has been framed in a positive light, it can be a harsh entrance to reality to find some work environments are not like that. In nursing not everybody gets a trophy.

As in any field, some nurses are jerks, or having a bad day and acting inappropriately. But ,unless they are in a position of power, and singling out an individual for perceived weakness, I would not call it bullying.

Where I work, I don't see bullying.

Trauma Columnist · Oct 23, 2018

Interesting that this was moved to a student assistance forum. Though it was started by a presumed student, all he did was light the match. Darian, who I still think was eaten, is batting .500 on stirring the pot- 2 OPs, this one on page 6, 0 participation from Darian.
And, I think that Clara is on to something. The debate about prevalence of bullying in the field of nursing all really hinges on the definition of bullying.
"Pain is what the patient says it is" is something accepted by many- that pain is completely subjective, and there are no objective criteria. It seems that many think of bullying in a similar manner. If a person feels bullied, they are bullied. If that is the working definition, I would say bullying is pretty prevalent, judging by how many people feel as though they are bullied. I recently saw a new nurse leave our unit. She got upset when she was held accountable for her actions. I never would have called that bullying, but I am guessing she would self identify as a victim.
I think that there are bullies in nursing, as in any field. But, I think that whether or not one feels bullied may have a lot to do with how they were raised, schooled, and their work experience. There are some that have always received praise regardless of their effort, and been shielded from criticism. If the only feedback a person has ever received has been framed in a positive light, it can be a harsh entrance to reality to find some work environments are not like that. In nursing not everybody gets a trophy.
As in any field, some nurses are jerks, or having a bad day and acting inappropriately. But ,unless they are in a position of power, and singling out an individual for perceived weakness, I would not call it bullying.
Where I work, I don't see bullying.

This - I think its perception of bullying that makes it bullying. Not saying it doesn't exist just that I have never experienced it. Going back to this quoted post: I was raised in a strict no-nonsense environment - if I got into trouble at school, it was going to be bad at home too. After school, I went into the USN and again, there was no coddling, you were expected to tow the line and if you didn't, there were consequences.

Not everything in life is easy. All of us have an occasional bad day, work with a disagreeable person, have a bad day in general.

Guest219794 · Oct 23, 2018

This - I think its perception of bullying that makes it bullying. Not saying it doesn't exist just that I have never experienced it. Going back to this quoted post: I was raised in a strict no-nonsense environment - if I got into trouble at school, it was going to be bad at home too. After school, I went into the USN and again, there was no coddling, you were expected to tow the line and if you didn't, there were consequences.
Not everything in life is easy. All of us have an occasional bad day, work with a disagreeable person, have a bad day in general.

My guess is that if you experienced some of what many consider bullying, you would not feel victimized. My guess is that you would recognize that some people are a**holes, and that you wouldn't concede the advantage to them.

Personally, I actually feel bully-proof. I really can't imagine feeling bullied. In one of my non-nursing roles, there is a bully. When he has tried his nonsense on me, I make it clear that I can't be bullied.