Toxic Healthcare Personalities

Valerie Salva, BSN, RN · Apr 13, 2009

OK, I'm not saying this is you. But what you said here at the end is one of the things, I must say that grates on the last nerve ending the lidocaine couldn't get to: The Defender!
This is the person that no matter who you marvel at (i.e., the dayshift nurse that for twelve hours was giving the wrong dose of amiodarone because he couldn't set the pump right, and it was getting in the way of his social time anyway, which is the same social time he used during the lecture in nursing school on dosage calculation), no matter what the atrocity, they always defend them. And then you realize they defend whomever you criticize until you realize that in doing so, they are really criticizing you! It's like whoever is your enemy is their friend.
:madface:I hate the way so-and-so is always late.
:nurse:Oh, she's usually really good about getting here early.
:madface:I hate it when no one restocks the room.
:nurse:Oh, the techs are pretty busy around here.
:madface:"I hate third world dictators who send out troops into villages to torture and hack people to death."
:nurse:"Well, it's probably not that easy to run one of those countries. He must have had some smarts if he became a dictator."
:angryfire:barf02:

Lol! Thanks for the smile. I needed that today!

3boysmom3 · Apr 14, 2009

OK, yes, yes, you're onto something- the NM who is on so many committees that she doesn't have time for her department, except to tell you that she joined some more committees? And thinks you'll feel sympathy for her? :bugeyes:

~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN · Apr 14, 2009

To me, the worst toxic healthcare personality I have ever encountered is the one who remains silent when an injustice is being perpetrated upon a coworker.

I am not a nurse yet, but a lot of these just ring true for life in general. I wanted to say bravo on this one though, Something about these situations just hurt me to the core, a lot of the stuff posted although bad is a lot of the way some people just are. But it seems to me that our society has taken a huge "not my business" approach. Or "it wasn't done to me so I am not going to say something"

Primetime has had a show called "What would you do" where they set up fake scenarios, ones that reflect real things going on but all actors and they do these situations and see how people will react. So many times people sit bye and do nothing, they watch these injustices happening or just terrible things and they do nothing. One that made me just cry, they were sort of imitating the Pt. that lay dead on the ER waiting room floor for I don't remember how many hours, before anyone helped. Security even showed someone rolling to look and go back and did nothing.

So they set up a scene of a man walking in a busy NY street and he collapses. I don't remember how many it was but I want to say 18 people walked by without calling for help, checking on him or doing a thing, he lay motionless on the sidewalk while people walked over him. A homeless lady tried to help him and she kept asking people to please call 911 and people just ignored her. Finally a woman called 911.

This seriously broke my heart, what if it was you or your loved ones laying there in need of help?? I have stopped my car to help a woman that was getting beat by her boyfriend in a parking alley. I have stepped in when 2 mothers were beating their child in a parking lot. I just can't imagine saying "it's not me or my business"

Sorry to go off on a rant here but it was nice to see your post!!!

A toxic personality that I have a hard time coping with, people that constantly complain but do NOTHING to change their situation. I have had to back away from a few people because of this. It was to draining to have them always calling me and unloading on me daily yet they would do nothing to change their situation. So it was a never ending cycle of negativity.

~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN · Apr 14, 2009

I can't stand those types. I always end up thinking "why did I even bother to let them help?"....I also hate when people can't say please or thank you or you're welcome.

Just have my newly 2 year old daughter be your Pt. She says Thank You and You're welcome so you don't have to say anything LOL. It cracks me up, she hasn't grasped yet that when she says Thank you that the other person says you're welcome.

barefootlady, ADN, RN · Apr 14, 2009

The DON who thinks getting a pizza, or donuts, or some other cheezy something makes up for the poor scheduling, lack of support, and overall do-nothingness she/he is guilty of. People do get sick, have family emergencies, car trouble, and wrecks, it is not acceptable to say"do the best you can" every time catastrophe strikes. Get off your duff and show us some of those skills you are always bragging about, do a med pass, an admit, a treatment, clarify orders, feed someone. SOMETHING, except turn a blind eye.

pagandeva2000, LPN · Apr 15, 2009

Oh, another one...the 'favorite child syndrome'. You know those ones that get to go to all of the committees or sell cakes when the rest are drowning in work and come back looking bright and breezy, and say "Oh, so and so told me to go to the store for her so, sorry, can't help you". They get the easy overtime, leave early, get any day off they want and then, when they suddenly get slammed with work for ONE HOUR, they are complaining to their fairy godmother, who chastises the nurse that gave her such a horrible and inconsiderate assignment.

Belfegor · Apr 16, 2009

how about the one that has low self esteem issues (i guess) and keeps putting down the colleagues she is jealous of in order to look good!

that nurse lies very convincingly and always portrait herself as the "victim-hero" (as in "poor me, no one else can do what i do...i am cursed to be so good") :saint:

i have a really hard time with those and want to tell them: get over yourself and grow up !!! :angryfire

allnurses Guide · Apr 16, 2009

The one that thinks no one else works as hard as she does, cares about the patients as much as she does, and accuses everyone else of having poor work ethics. Refuses to help newbies because she is too busy, and screams (literally, in the middle of the station) at the charge nurse for objecting to her changing assignments or directing priority of which patients need to be seen first. Yeah, I know that one has been waiting almost 4 hours in the waiting room, but an overdose still takes priority!

diane227, LPN, RN · Apr 16, 2009

Borderline personality disorders.