Nursing Drama..why?

[Nenee]

Hello all,

I am fairly new to this site. I am getting ready to graduate from a vocational nursing program in two weeks (Thank God!). Anyhow, I know the subject of nursing drama has came and gone in the forums. I have observed so much of it during my clinical rotations even between my classmates and working as a CNA. Today, I asked one of the nurses I was shadowing why she thought there was so much drama..and she simply said "I Don't know, all I know is that it seems you always have to prove yourself, watch your back, and when you make a mistake, be the first to admit it." "I'm not here to make friends,I'm here to just do my job", but she mentioned that even with that attitude, she got wrapped in the middle of some issue between the nurses. My question to you all is the same that I asked her, why do you think there is so much drama in Nursing??? Please, I would love your opinions, as they may help me once I start working.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

Here's my blunt two cents.

The field of nursing has tended to attract a percentage of workers (primarily females) with self esteem issues. Persons who suffer from low self esteem need excessive validation and lots of ego-boosting in order to feel somewhat better about themselves. Thus, the drama boils to the surface in the classroom, the workplace, and everywhere in between.

Some nurses who have self esteem problems temporarily feel better when there's constant drama surrounding them. You should always remember that a person does not feel the need to be catty or dramatic toward another individual unless his/her own self esteem is lacking in confidence.

[sweetsounds]

I think there is a lot of drama at many workplaces, not just in healthcare. The post about self esteem issues makes sense too. Obviously nursing is stressful. Expectations are often ridiculously high, that means those of the patients/families,employer,regulating bodies,our peers, and our own. When you want so badly to do everything "right" it sets you up for frustration. Because of the pressure some of us let off steam in ways that are inconsiderate to other people. Some of us also take things way too much to heart. Lots of us need to remember that we're all in the same boat.

[lpnflorida]

The dramas queens/kings I have seen not only show this in the work place, but if you listen to them the drama is also in their personal lives. I chalk it up to poor interpersonal skills and poor coping mechanisms.

I usually try to avoid their drama, I will listen to them if we are on break together. On the floor I keep on working and avoid the fricas.

[mavlvn]

I have to answer this one. I have been a LVN in Ca for over 30 years, my choice. I have worked in every department except LD. I choose now towards the end of my career to work in SNF. My choice, it seems to me that every where there is DRAMA. Every day you get up you show up for your shift and there is a call off then tonques start, no one has nothing nice to say. Or a another nurse having a hard time at home and she brings her/his baggage. Think about it we are emotionally, spiritually and physically depleted. So It seems some people cannot handle it all. In these times as LVN's and RN's we are in demand and will always have JOB. We are very lucky. Thats what gets me thru the day and I hope I made a difference.

[wejuststandhere]

Only workplace I know so far, that's has little to no drama at all is the Military IMO.

Where there is emotion, there is drama.. it's human nature...

TV couldn't have pulled off Grey's Anatomy, ER, or HouseMD if there wasn't any drama in healthcare....lol...would be unrealistic for them then if that was the case..