Rethinking my career choice

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I work in LTC in a small town. Capacity at the facility is 132. We run three shifts, and no shift gets along with the others. I thought the 11-7 shift was working well together until this week. Most of the nurses are very friendly to each other while face-to-face, then things get nasty when one is off for a regular night. How can I stay focused and professional when so many try to undermine the work that each of the nurses do?

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Specializes in Psych, LTC, Acute Care.
I work in LTC in a small town. Capacity at the facility is 132. We run three shifts, and no shift gets along with the others. I thought the 11-7 shift was working well together until this week. Most of the nurses are very friendly to each other while face-to-face, then things get nasty when one is off for a regular night. How can I stay focused and professional when so many try to undermine the work that each of the nurses do?

This happens in my facility too. I'm the new kid on the block so a lot of the nurses tell me all the negative stuff about other nurses and who to watch out for etc, etc. I'm sure they talk about me too but I'm certainly not giving them anything to talk about unless its nursing related. Truth of the matter is, you have to judge each nurse individually for yourself based on their actions and attitudes. DO NOT feed into the negativity or suggest that you agree with them when they talk. Truth be told we all have flaws but stay out of the gossip loop. I'm doing a good job of that. Focus on the real job and that's taking care of your patients. Forget about all the rest.

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Specializes in Cardiac Telemetry, ED.

Just keep your nose clean and don't participate in the gossip.

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Specializes in Acute,Subacute,Long-term Care.

hello ,

you will find gossip in any profession that you are in. i do my best to ignore it and focus on why i'm there and that is to give the best care that i can to my patients and/or residents.

i believe that at some point all of us are guilty of gossiping, some just make a habit of it and don't seem to be happy unless they are. this i have never understood. i think its best if you have something to say about someone, then say it to them and not others. less feelings get hurt this way and definately less rumors get started.

good luck on the decision you make.

wanda :) :icon_hug: (sending a hug)

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
you will find gossip in any profession that you are in.
however, i have personally observed less gossiping and backstabbing in all of the male-dominated work settings that i've ever been employed. i never experienced passive aggression from coworkers when i worked at the factory for 3 years, surrounded by the guys and their testosterone.
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Specializes in Med-Surg.
However, I have personally observed less gossiping and backstabbing in all of the male-dominated work settings that I've ever been employed. I never experienced passive aggression from coworkers when I worked at the factory for 3 years, surrounded by the guys and their testosterone.

Other people have had difference experiences in male-dominated professions. When I worked in a large office building for an insurance company the men there might not have been as overt as the clerical staff in their gossip, but they did stomp all over each other climbing the ladder.

After all men coined the phrase "it's a dog eat dog world" talking about each other.

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