The Golden Rule is best approach

[Emergent, RN]

I've seen several threads here about people feeling picked on by more experienced nurses (NETY I deciphered) I've read older, more experienced nurses, complaining about haughty new nurses. Or young nurses being cliquey with one another and excluding the 'crusty old bats' (COBs I've learned)

I've personally observed bad behavior by all types and generations. And I seen the good. I've been in helpful units, where the Golden Rule seems to reign. I been in nasty units with unhappy, unkind, unhelpful people.

What can we do to make nursing a healthier profession, without blaming one another? Let's face it, there is bullying in the world. Some folk here seem to want to deny it. On the other hand, there are people who want to cry "foul!" at every turn. They want to hide behind complaints of NETY because they can't take constructive criticism.

I'd like to see human beings improve. What can we do without starting a generational, finger pointing war? I'd like to see creative, healthy approaches by all institutions to nourish healthy working environments. Solutions that don't create a tattle tale culture, but protect the weaker members. By weak, I mean those who don't play the strength in numbers, clique game well.

I think a lot of us have seen that, I have. I've seen entrenched personalities in nursing who maintain their fiefdom through their will and ability to socially position themselves into job security. I've some terrible nursing care done by some of these bullies.

I've also seen some new nurses just moved along without a genuine, healthy orientation. Not everyone orients at the same pace. Some people who will end up solid nurses get off to slow starts.

Thoughts?

[SHGR, MSN, RN, CNS]

I've seen entrenched personalities in nursing who maintain their fiefdom through their will and ability to socially position themselves into job security. I've some terrible nursing care done by some of these bullies.

Sure, I've seen this. I've seen unit culture that was so toxic I still can't believe it was real. I have also seen wonderful nurses, the kind that even though they are in leadership roles they roll up their sleeves and truly help. I've seen amazing things like skillful de-escalations and problem solving.

To me, the thing that has always helped is watching both, knowing what I wanted to be, and moving toward the good and not the bad. My skin has gotten a lot thicker. I hope that I can be the role model for new nurses that others were for me.

[jadelpn, LPN, EMT-B]

It starts at the top. Management must get into the mindset that the culture on their unit will be of mutual respect, team oriented patient care, support for each other, and a no tolerance attitude for bad behavior.

The reason this kind of behavior continues is because it is allowed to.

[vianne]

Okay, you have to share, what's NETY ?

[Emergent, RN]

Okay, you have to share, what's NETY ?

Nurses Eating Their Y​oung

[amygarside]

It starts at the top. Management must get into the mindset that the culture on their unit will be of mutual respect, team oriented patient care, support for each other, and a no tolerance attitude for bad behavior.

The reason this kind of behavior continues is because it is allowed to.

I agree. But with the help of all the nurses in this site, we can make a new system that would fairly treat all the nurses in the field. It only needs to start in ourselves. Just a thought.