Has any one out there experienced the old saying "nurses eat their young"
I worked in a hospital on the floor from hell! All three shifts of nurses were horrible to one another.
Very clickish groups on each shift who harassed, made fun of, talked about on the floor in ear shot of patients and other staff members about nurses that worked on this floor.
I've never seen or heard any thing so unprofessional in my life.
It was awful. When I started the first thing I noticed was all the talk. Right in front of me a new nurse on the floor, these nurses did not have one good thing to say about any of the other nurses. I've never experienced any thing like this before and I've been a nurse for 13 years. I'm talking critising the safety of other nurses right at the front desk of a very busy floor with patients and family members walking about. This was a daily occurance on this floor.
I hate this behavior and I'm a bit of a rebel so of course I started making comments like "well, if you haven't got any thing good to say then don't say it." Or "I really don't care to hear all this, I'd rather be able to form my own opinion." One nurse in paticular was badgered and picked on constantly. While I was trying to chart one evening, this night nurse came on and at the front desk, with patients and family members and other nurses and aids all in ear shot started picking on this nurse; very loudly I might add. I couldn't take it any more and said "so and so; get off her case" the nurse picking on this nurse then said "this is none of your business", I then said "you've made it my business by simply harassing one of my co-workers in front of me, not to mention every one else that can her you"
Well you can imagine what my life on this floor ended up like.
I and other nurses were picked on to the point to where it was very difficult to work, and eventually difficut to even walk on the floor.
The next thing I know I'm being repremanded by my nurse manager because these nurses are complaining that they cannot stand to work with me.
So, at that point I started tellling this nurse manager every thing that had occured.
The next thing you know I'm on a step 2 action and two weeks ago I was terminated.
Now the reason for my termination was because I refused to come in to chart in the computer medications that I failed to chart. These medications were charted on the MAR, I had no doubt that I had given all the medications and that my patients were safe.
I didn't come in as asked because my daughter was in town from Chicago, I had just started on antibiotics and was running a temp.
It was a Saturday and Sunday that I failed to chart meds in the computer. I had 6 patients that day, ran non-stop until it was difficult to think any longer. The nurse manager was requesting me to come in at 10:00 at night that following Monday. The nurse manager kept saying "this is a big risk to you, you really should come in" I knew I'd be there in 6 hours to chart and just didn't go in.
I was especially anoid when my nurse manager said "this is a big risk to you" when during the weekend I took care of 6 acutely ill patients on an oncology unit, no break, no lunch and she's acting concerned about what "risks" I'm taking?
Hummmmm
I would love to hear all of your comments on this?
I just came across this post as I was searching for someone else having gone through a similar experience, and as always, i've found someone!
On my unit, one of my supposed "friends" recently became the latest charge nurse, and then proceeded to stab me in the back. I've been on this unit for the 6 longest months I've ever known and I'm not the person I was when i started there. Now that i've read about HV there's perhaps some of this going on.
I really love nursing, but I've chosen a unit with massive disorganization, no supplies, teamwork, camraderie (unless you're part of the "clique"; that's so not me!) and real lack of leadership that it's just not worth the fight anymore. my manager is one who shows blatant favoritism towards BSN grads (no offense) and it's nauseating.
I have an ADN and a political science degree BA that I don't talk about much, so now I'm considering doing something besides bedside nursing. I love the work I do, but the negative vibe and nasty people make me want to barf. I gave my notice to my beoatch of a manager last Tuesday and am counting the days -- of course, it'll be agony for the next 10 days, right?
Many "doctors" treat us as trash because we do not respect each other.............Why should they respect us if we consistently try to undermine each other..........WHY CAN'T WE SEE THAT WE ARE SUCH A POWERFUL AND RESPECTED SEGMENT OF THE WORLD???!!!
I just came across this post as I was searching for someone else having gone through a similar experience, and as always, i've found someone!
On my unit, one of my supposed "friends" recently became the latest charge nurse, and then proceeded to stab me in the back. I've been on this unit for the 6 longest months I've ever known and I'm not the person I was when i started there. Now that i've read about HV there's perhaps some of this going on.
I really love nursing, but I've chosen a unit with massive disorganization, no supplies, teamwork, camraderie (unless you're part of the "clique"; that's so not me!) and real lack of leadership that it's just not worth the fight anymore. my manager is one who shows blatant favoritism towards BSN grads (no offense) and it's nauseating.
I have an ADN and a political science degree BA that I don't talk about much, so now I'm considering doing something besides bedside nursing. I love the work I do, but the negative vibe and nasty people make me want to barf. I gave my notice to my beoatch of a manager last Tuesday and am counting the days -- of course, it'll be agony for the next 10 days, right?
Good luck to you. You are SO not alone!
Hi,
If you love nursing why not think about looking into accelerated MSN programs? With a BA and your ADN and RN you can apply to
an accelerated program. Don't know what's available in your state
but it would be a shame for you to leave nursing.
Have you worked on other units? If you've read the other posts you have a good idea about the dynamics of HV. Rise above it.
Use what you have learned as a political science major and be proud of it. You have a lot to offer.
What a kind thing to say. I have looked into MSN programs; it's something I'm considering.
Today I did get some affirmation from one of my coworkers about the inappropriate ways the unit manager behaves. It certainly does sound like HV to me!
I am not surprised by the nursing shortage. I hear nuses complaining about work load and pay issues, but at the same time turning on each other to make an alreay stressful situation worse. Working in larger facilities, I can certainly see cliques develop and people left out of the proverbial loop of work place companionship. I am not a nurse yet (will start in 2005), so please dont roast me due to lack of nurse place work knowledge. I do however work in a military hospital and the same rules pretty much apply. I also believe that this is more of a human issue, rather than nursing issue. People can be nasty, devious, and all other things bad by nature. But what troubles me is that in nursing, the attitudes of the nurses may vastly affect patient care. Would you want a pissed of nurse caring for you, or a loved one? Sooner or later we are all going to need nursing care, and the nurses who are causing the work place drama may indeed one day find themself under the care of the "pissed of nurse".
You make a good point. I will be much more careful when I seek my next position, if I don't go sell real estate first!
Support and teamwork is what makes or breaks your day as a nurse, and a lousy manager spells disaster for you as a new grad. We all need and deserve the help that RN's can provide to each other; maybe someday we'll actually get there as a profession.
You can soooo be the one to affect a change. I like so many of us was in a very toxic environment as a new grad. I drove home in tears every morning.. I just refused to give in. I made sure to start every shift with a smile. It wasn't easy but I would not be beat down. After I became more confident in my skills I decided no new person would ever be left out in the cold when I was around. I always checked on them. Always took their beeper and made sure they went to lunch I would be friendly. I think eventually I just wore the meanies out... I wouldn't give them the satisfaction of thinking they could get to me. For me it took time . I wouldn't say I ever became a part of them but I think eventually I got some respect and made some great friends with the new people who came on. It changed the environment at least for me I enjoy going to work now.
Thanks for your response! Although I am not a nurse yet, I am trying to do as much research as possible. I believe that my military backround will help me as I have worked in many a difficult environment in my 22 years. What I am striving for if I should become a nurse (do not want to put the cart before the horse), is to keep a positive attitude and try to provide the best care possible. I am glad that you stayed with nursing! I am sure that your patients and co workers are the happy beneficators of your decision!
I recently transferred to another hospital, out of a hospital that sounds alot like the environment you described. Queen bee is the manager, second bee is her best friend (who has been written up so many times for what comes out of her mouth she actually gave notice started at another hospital, then came back so she would have a clean record), and the third bee is a secretary that has been in the position for 20+ years and is known to run off new RN's and other employees.
It is like high school.
Consider your termination a blessing in disguise. When you fill out an application when they asked why you left your last job just put "ethical conflict." You know if they were dogging other nurses and other shifts, they are dogging the patients.
Good luck to you, there is a better position for you at another facility.
This happened at the facility where I now work. Come Jan 12, the entire nursing staff except Unit managers will be reassigned to different units with different staff. We all received our new assignments via a letter on Dec 12th, one month prior to the move. The reason being because people couldn't work together, too much back stabbing going on, too many cliques for preferential treatment with some of the Unit managers, some people were feeling too comfortable and actually began to run the floors. They feel that by moving everyone around will "fix" things and bring new ideas into the arena of pt care, a period of reawakening so to speak. In a way it's a good idea, but I don't think it will be the cure all. Most people are very unhappy about it, and right now the moral is at an all time low. We'll just have to wait and see what happens.
Not a bad idea! I know a hospital that I used to work at that should adopt this idea, too.
I can so relate to your post, Iworked on a unit I loved with good people who worked well together. TPTB decided to change HN, well she was the pits, no bedside experience in 20 years, married to a psychologists, and have to analyze everything you told her, and never got a straight answer to your question or complaint. Over 20 nurses left that floor in less than 2 years. Silly me, I was caught, Hubby had 2 cabg procedures within a month and needed FMLA to take care of him. When I returned HN had hired a bunch of really smart but do nothing nurses. I was always mentioned in patients letters for my good care and kindness to the family, I did take the time to teach home care of wounds, med/diet, exercise. I went from being nominated nurse of the unit for 2 years running, winning the unit award for patient care for 4 straight months, and keeping the HN from making a BIG mistake, to being the worst nurse on the floor in less than 9 months. I should have resigned, but hubby was too ill for me to give up
medical insurance. The day I quit and they terminated me, I had a rought draft of my resignation written at home to retype and turn in the next day. I could take no more. There was enough staff to do the care but, as usual, severalof the nurses and aids, were at the desk gossiping, lights going off everywhere. I was helping a patient get cleaned up from an accident and was called to the desk for a doctor. CN would never take care of this type of matter. I instructed the aid to finish cleaning patient up. SHE DID NOT WASH the dried feces off of her body and put her back into a dirty bed. When I met her in the hall I asked, did you finish cleaning her up. SHe said yes. I went on to help a patient in the next room who had a light on. When I went back to check on the first patient I found her dirty, bed dirty and wet, feet dirty, dressing wet. I proceed to rectify this situation, since family was there to see this patient, I took the aid to CN qnd asked her why she did not clean patient up. She said she did clean her "feet" and that was all I wanted. I told CN the condition of patient, and that aid had left her dirty but told me she had cleaned her up. CN told me aid probably did not understand what to do! She has worked at this facility over 2 years and has 2 kids. She knows what SH$T smells like and that a bath is needed. CN said I should have stayed to help with bath. I told her , if you would have given the doctor the info her wanted and taken care of his minor order I could have. She just walked away to HN office. I finished my am work and then HN wanted to talk to me. I had fresh post op and told her I was too busy, she told me now. I asked CN to look after patient and she said she would try. I went into office of HN and told her I quit, after 2 weeks. Then she said no I will terminate you for being rude to a staff member.
to make this long story short, I have had 2 hearing on my unemployment, won both, last one was with a judge. They have one more time to appeal, but I hope they do not, I am thinking of getting a lawyer, I was told since I am over 50 I would have a hard time getting a job. I may take a while, the first one would not be my favorite, but I will get another job. All of this was at an HCA facility, Never again will I work for that company. One of the worst for staff abuse and patient overload. Thanks for letting me vent again. I agree with the other posters, sometimes these things are blessings. Look for another job and count yourself lucky you got out of there without an ulcer.
barefootlady- You are the best, I just wanted to give you a vote of confidence. Those fools- I can't believe some of the things that are acceptable in health care today. Frightening.
I know a hospital that I used to work at that should adopt this idea, too. 
Stitchie
587 Posts
I just came across this post as I was searching for someone else having gone through a similar experience, and as always, i've found someone!
On my unit, one of my supposed "friends" recently became the latest charge nurse, and then proceeded to stab me in the back. I've been on this unit for the 6 longest months I've ever known and I'm not the person I was when i started there. Now that i've read about HV there's perhaps some of this going on.
I really love nursing, but I've chosen a unit with massive disorganization, no supplies, teamwork, camraderie (unless you're part of the "clique"; that's so not me!) and real lack of leadership that it's just not worth the fight anymore. my manager is one who shows blatant favoritism towards BSN grads (no offense) and it's nauseating.
I have an ADN and a political science degree BA that I don't talk about much, so now I'm considering doing something besides bedside nursing. I love the work I do, but the negative vibe and nasty people make me want to barf. I gave my notice to my beoatch of a manager last Tuesday and am counting the days -- of course, it'll be agony for the next 10 days, right?
Good luck to you. You are SO not alone!