Hey guys,
Once again I am faced with the throes off a bad unit. Why, in this profession, is it SO hard to work with a group that is PROFESSIONAL.
I have returned to my old unit that I worked as a new grad and I have a totally different outlook than I did before. Two major differences: First, I used to work nights and now I rotate days AND nights, second, now I'm trained to labor and delivery whereas before I was special care nursery. It is DRAMA MAMA 24/7.
I have never in my life seen a group of women backstab and talk behind each other's backs as much as they do. Now, not everyone is like this of course, but a lot of the long-time core staff is. And I find it SO ANNOYING. They are constantly judging the new staff members and making comments about them behind their backs, so I know they most likely are doing it to me as well. I have yet to have anyone make a comment to my face but you know when you fit in and when you don't. I refuse to sit around and gossip about others with them and I truly believe that makes me a target. Because I legit don't participate or even encourage it whatsoever if it's brought up to me. CASE IN POINT: This is a negative/hostile work environment that is not very supportive.
Yes, the newbies take the brunt of it, but these women will not hesitate even slightly to crap-talk other senior staff members and then turn around and go to breakfast with that said person. It's just INSANE to me. Here lies the problem: I've seen all three of my managers up at the L&D desk talking with some of these women about other staff members. They ALLOW this behavior. I'd say 70% of their staff is new, and of that 70%, half of them are new grads at that. I've asked around if I were to bring up to management any of the instances which I've witnessed, what they'd do-- the response I got was that they would tell those women exactly what you said (and not in a constructive let's make this better way- a derogatory way).
I'm SO discouraged and want out ASAP but let me tell you about my track record. I've job hopped, partly because I ended up in a negative/hostile work environment and I feel I deserve better, partly because I moved back across the country for family reasons.
I worked at above unit for 1 year and 2 months(loved it then-different staff on nights), then NICU for 7 months (left because of hostile environment/1 hour commute), ER for 1 year (loved this job, super great teamwork and fun) now back at my first job (we moved back for family reasons).
I've been a nurse for just over 3 years now and I feel like I've jumped ship too many times but honestly, what is up with this seriously broken system? Why is this SO common? I hear about it from other nurses as well. I'd like to think I'm not being a big baby and that it's just ridiculous that this is even tolerated.
I want to transfer departments (specifically to ER with a shift or two prior to feel their unit out and make sure I don't once again end up in another situation like this) but I've only been back at this unit for 6 months, and I JUST got off L&D training last week. I told myself I'd stick it out for 6 more months and then transfer. If I were to transfer now, one, everyone would be pissed at me for labor training and leaving right away. Two, my manager may try to hold me in the department for months before transferring because we don't have a set policy in place for that and per our contract, they can hold us until a replacement is found. Which sounds like a delightful situation right?
BUT I don't know man, it seriously drags on my mental well-being outside of work and I DREAD going to work. I PRIDE myself on being an effective member of the team and I love going to work when everyone is positive and helpful. I can't stand this.
Advice please? Anyone else experience this crap more than once?
