The Downward Spiral: Incivility in Nursing

kat7464 · Apr 22, 2011

Good grief...way too long of a post...got bored and couldn't read all of it it. The problem? People, i.e., patients and everyone else most likely, have an attitude of entitlement. It's all about MY needs and nothing about anyone else. Very sad, but all too true. If, as human beings, we were more concerned about others than what we felt we deserved, we would all be happier. The bigger picture is not about ME...it's about serving and helping others for the greater good, even in my pain. This concept is totally lost on most ppl today.

elprup, BSN, RN · Apr 22, 2011

I found post interesting. Thanks op.

felineRN · Apr 22, 2011

Forgive me for this one...but seriously:

"The Downward Spiral: Nurse Researchers Fail at Being Taken Seriously Again by Researching Topics Such as Incivility."

eagle78 · Apr 22, 2011

I think her post was benefical. I mean it generated response, and the article as well as the responses may be helpful for someone who is not confident and/or able in handling bullies to see that they are not alone. Most of the posts are from people who know how to handle bullies. There are some out there who do not. It is good for some victim out there to see people who are on their side and are in a sense providing them with some feedback on how to handle situations where they are being bullied.

netglow, ASN, RN · Apr 22, 2011

Yes it is a good article, but it is not your property to make these decisions. You are not the author, or the publisher. Just trying to help you out since you don't seem to understand the legal aspects of using other people's works especially in entirety.

Willow Moonsidhe · Apr 22, 2011

I took both articles out as even though I quoted who wrote it and gave reference to the website which I seen done all the time on here. I do not want to offend anyone I was just trying to make people think for a change about what is important in life. Maybe if we all simply loved each other and really cared for each other this world would be a better place but everyone is too busy trying to point out any mistake someone makes even on here to give a ____. I had no intention in stealing anything it is articles anyone can read for free on the internet.

Blessings to you all may your paths start to show love and light instead of judgment of others.

~Willow

WIN007 · Apr 22, 2011

I think her post was benefical. I mean it generated response, and the article as well as the responses may be helpful for someone who is not confident and/or able in handling bullies to see that they are not alone. Most of the posts are from people who know how to handle bullies. There are some out there who do not. It is good for some victim out there to see people who are on their side and are in a sense providing them with some feedback on how to handle situations where they are being bullied.

Very respectfully, I'm sure you know what's worked best for you, but not necessarily everyone else in any environment. I'm not sure if you were referring to those of us who disagreed it's as simple as just standing up and fighting, but truly many many of us DO have experience with this stuff and have taken that suggested approach in vain.

A new nurse (either in experience or to the unit) is at an inherent disadvantage. You DON'T know the culture and you don't have relationships or real value to the unit (unless you're say experienced 10 years with PICU, et al). You DON'T know what you're contending with. As one person just noted she'd normally stand up for herself but she's on a unit now that blames the victim per se if she writes them up. She's lucky to know that upfront and not finding out the hard way.

I had a hellish experience in critical care when I started nursing as an SNE. I had the grades and the sharps to handle it but I desperately needed hands-on clinical skills. These were very good nurses clinically, but they were notorious bullies throughout the network and I was a brand new nurse due for my douse of particularly harsh hazing. I was not the first nor the last - this was I later found, wide-known practice among these people - and the Clinical Manager and Director (and probably the CNO) were well aware but were just too busy wringing their hands over the idea that they could uproot a couple of their valuable long-term ICU nurses if they put an end to it. Fat good 'standing up for ourselves' did any of us in that environment. I damned near left healthcare because of that experience for the love of Jesus!

My recommendation would be anything but what has been suggested in that environment (culture of bullying or bullyng done by the most senior and experienced staff members - A) optimally transfer the hell out of there and find another externship or job where you can learn something and gain some confidence, or B) lay low as low as possible while trying not to feed the energy creatures and simultenously actually learning something DESPITE, rather than BECAUSE of people with more experience and wisdom to offer you. (Gosh, if anyone doesn't see the lack of business sense there then I can only conclude they and I are on a diffferent planet breathing air of different atomic composition...) THEN run for your life to another unit upon graduating which is what I did.

BUT in retrospect I'm very very sorry I didn't pick option A as now understand there are some situations you just can't win and your best strategy is to bring the troops home and minimize your damages to your self-esteem and your stress and body. If management doesn't care and if what should be the most professional nursing unit didn't care the situation was in fact beyond anything *I* could solve on my SNE salary. I did not get anywhere near the value I should have gained from a student nurse externship in critical care which is by far the biggest travesty of all for everyone.

And that's all. I'm sorry if I beat this into the ground.

Chin up · Apr 23, 2011

Very respectfully, I'm sure you know what's worked best for you, but not necessarily everyone else in any environment. I'm not sure if you were referring to those of us who disagreed it's as simple as just standing up and fighting, but truly many many of us DO have experience with this stuff and have taken that suggested approach in vain.
A new nurse (either in experience or to the unit) is at an inherent disadvantage. You DON'T know the culture and you don't have relationships or real value to the unit (unless you're say experienced 10 years with PICU, et al). You DON'T know what you're contending with. As one person just noted she'd normally stand up for herself but she's on a unit now that blames the victim per se if she writes them up. She's lucky to know that upfront and not finding out the hard way.
I had a hellish experience in critical care when I started nursing as an SNE. I had the grades and the sharps to handle it but I desperately needed hands-on clinical skills. These were very good nurses clinically, but they were notorious bullies throughout the network and I was a brand new nurse due for my douse of particularly harsh hazing. I was not the first nor the last - this was I later found, wide-known practice among these people - and the Clinical Manager and Director (and probably the CNO) were well aware but were just too busy wringing their hands over the idea that they could uproot a couple of their valuable long-term ICU nurses if they put an end to it. Fat good 'standing up for ourselves' did any of us in that environment. I damned near left healthcare because of that experience for the love of Jesus!
My recommendation would be anything but what has been suggested in that environment (culture of bullying or bullyng done by the most senior and experienced staff members - A) optimally transfer the hell out of there and find another externship or job where you can learn something and gain some confidence, or B) lay low as low as possible while trying not to feed the energy creatures and simultenously actually learning something DESPITE, rather than BECAUSE of people with more experience and wisdom to offer you. (Gosh, if anyone doesn't see the lack of business sense there then I can only conclude they and I are on a diffferent planet breathing air of different atomic composition...) THEN run for your life to another unit upon graduating which is what I did.
BUT in retrospect I'm very very sorry I didn't pick option A as now understand there are some situations you just can't win and your best strategy is to bring the troops home and minimize your damages to your self-esteem and your stress and body. If management doesn't care and if what should be the most professional nursing unit didn't care the situation was in fact beyond anything *I* could solve on my SNE salary. I did not get anywhere near the value I should have gained from a student nurse externship in critical care which is by far the biggest travesty of all for everyone.
And that's all. I'm sorry if I beat this into the ground.

Excellent post!