It's been almost 9 months or so, and I haven't been active much on the forum...but I had made some posts about the hostile work environment at my job, and how my nurse manager tried to write me up for med errors that didn't happen and for documentation errors made by another nurse. Well after submitting and resubmitting and resubmitting my transfer...I finally just quit. I'm now working in a different hospital...and it's like nothing I've ever experienced before. I'm still waiting for the "honeymoon" to be over, because everyone is too nice...It's almost unreal. It's not perfect, and there are still nurses who dont' give a $$it...but it's such a relief to not be held responsible for those nurses actions. To not have to micromanage every tiny aspect of care for everyone's patients because I'm charge and "it's my responsibility". I'm not quit making as much as I was before, and have had to economize...but I'm less stressed, and much happier...my husband and family have noted a huge change in me.I'm even having less back trouble. My new coworkers have told me they don't understand why I'm so uptight sometimes about checking and rechecking to make sure that how I'm doing something fits into any interpretation of the policies/procedures. It's been almost 2 years since I've had a nurse manager tell me that I'm doing an even halfway decent job, much less say "well done". It's still so alien to me to not have every incident with an irate pt/family be my fault...I was so shocked when my new nurse manager said "you can't please everyone...don't worry about it, you did everything you could and should have done."
I guess I'm posting this so that maybe someone who was stuck in a position with workplace mobbing/bullying can see that it's not always like that. I'm still very wary, and I won't stop watching my back...but I'm starting to regain my confidence in myself. And I'll never stay somewhere for the pay/benefits again...I don't care how great a paycut I have to take, or if I even have to take a second or third job. I can always make more money, I'll always have bills, but I feel emotionally battered from the experiences at my old job, and the pay wasn't worth the abuse.
well i could understand if you're stressing but taking it out on other co-workers, to me you need to know that their probably stressing also. and what about the one's that like to down size people is it right?
Good for you!!!; "moving on" was a necessity for me too, and, like for you, the best decision ever! I thank God above that I was given the new position (2 yrs ago)!
I guess I'm posting this so that maybe someone who was stuck in a position with workplace mobbing/bullying can see that it's not always like that. I'm still very wary, and I won't stop watching my back...but I'm starting to regain my confidence in myself. And I'll never stay somewhere for the pay/benefits again...I don't care how great a paycut I have to take, or if I even have to take a second or third job. I can always make more money, I'll always have bills, but I feel emotionally battered from the experiences at my old job, and the pay wasn't worth the abuse.
I am in recovery from a mobbing/bullying environment. There is nothing like the feeling of relief of just being able to do your job and take care of the patients. I lasted 2 1/2 years in that environment.
I was forced to demote but this enabled me to enroll in nursing school for this fall. I don't like the way that my name and reputation was sullied by these evil people but I believe that I will get the opportunity to show others that they were wrong.
I'm not a Nurse yet, but I went through ALMOST the exact same thing you did as a Social Worker. Like you I got blamed for things I did not do or say. Like you I tried to transfer departments without success. So like you I quit and moved on to a better environment. To ensure I would not be blamed for anything at my new job, like you I checked over my self so much that people thought I was ANAL!
By the way, later I ended up getting a really bad boss. But because I knew how to spot her a mile away, I took immediate action within my work place. When my actions (talking to her in private and asking advice from others I could trust on how to best deal with the situation) did not work, I submitted my letter of resignation.
No fussing, no asking for a transfer, no sadness or hassles at home. I just left and found a better work environment.
By leaving the way I did I managed to keep my good reputation, which was something she was determined to destroy while I worked under her supervision. The odd thing that occurred afterwards was that she was visibly shaken by my resignation! I later found out she had to scramble to justify why I left to those who thought the world of me! Although I tried not to make it obvious to others, people drew the correct conclusion that she was the problem.
Good luck to you and know you are not alone.
Man I saw my situation in almost every line! I think that the character [EVIL][/EVIL]assasination that supervisors like this use is the most damaging part of the relationship. I really believe that these kinds of[EVIL][/EVIL] supervisors have a real desire to control the work environment and show "Whos boss" by willfully destroying another person. What I am most p**SS**D off about is how this bully was promoted and I was "voluntarily" demoted. I ended up with serious discipline in my file that will follow me for the next 2 years. (I had worked for 18 years for the same employer with only one minor infraction!) :angryfire
I have absolutely no time for bullies! As a good friend of mine put it "Mean People Suck".[EVIL][/EVIL]
God do I hear you! I am a new RN (since 9/2005) working on a med/surg unit that I worked on for 28 years as a secretary. I thought my co workers would be supportive but the opposite has happened! They are the cruelist most arrogant bunch of people I ever want to know! Life is unbearable there and I cringe every day I have to go there. We are union so I guess my seniority has alot to do with it. They say I move to slow with assessments and proceedures but atleast I do them. I love my patients and take the best care of them as if they were family but I am absolutely shocked at the lack of moral responsibility in these seasoned RN's. What I need to know is how to survive these next few months so that I may get another job. Here in my area you need atleast 1 year of med/surg before anyone else will talk to you...even in my facility to bid upward. I am ready to quit...HELP
Specializes in Surgical, orthopedics, skilled care.
Wow, Elthia...glad you found a new job. I have worked in some really bad places myself, and it sure makes you appreciate the good jobs you come to later on down the line.
I sometimes shake my head when I hear people at my present job complaining. I just think to myself you don't even know what its like out there and how good we have it here. I figure every job has some problems, but compared to some of the places I've worked, I am so glad to have a decent job where most people basicly respect each other, the work load is reasonable, and at least basic supplies are available. (My last job didn't even have a back board for CPR or even the simplist face mask for mouth-to-mouth let alone an ambu bag!)
I feel your pain. My very first job out of nursing school was 10 months of being put down, talked about, and treated like crap by both coworkers and supervisors. There were a few angels who made the job worthwhile, but overall I would say I drove home crying at least once a week. One guy I worked with was a huge jerk to me and talked down to me before getting my license. Once a RN he basically ignored me. Oh, what fun.
After talking to the husband I interviewed at a closer hospital and quit that job. It felt sooooo good to hand that resignation letter to the boss who cared more about herself than the patients. I now have a decent job with mostly awesome coworkers who are willing to help out and answer any question I ask. My boss isn't the best, but I stay out of her way and don't get involved with politics.
Still, my husband described nursing to a friend who came into town this weekend as a place where you work long, hard hours, are treated like $hit, and are underpaid. He's been my rock. :)
So glad to hear you found a better place to work!!!
SmilingBluEyes
20,964 Posts
Good for you moving on. Best wishes.