Why so many tattletale nurses?

Nurses Relations

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Maybe the real question is why is there so much back stabbing, snitching and exaggerating in the nursing field. Ive heard that nurses eat their young but it never seems to end. Im generalizing of course because I have met some outstanding nurses and made quite a few friends. However in this field, it seems that someone is out to get someone or trying to one up the other. Then there are the 'new' nurses that insist they know more than the seasoned nurses but that is another thread. I must say that I have alot of respect for nurses that are seasoned and have weathered this storm of nursing. I really would like to hear your opinion of why there seems to be so many 'tattletales' and gossiping in the nursing field. thank you

I am thinking Ruby means UNREPORTED by guilty party....

Ruby

I guess my question asks why it's your business if Sue makes a med error? Why not allow Sue to report her own med error? Your statement doesn't read right to me. If Sue makes a med error and you tell on her you are tattling. If Sue makes a med error and reports you then Sue is a liar. I'm all about being a patient advocate but I'm also a big fan of personal accountability and allowing people to correct their own mistakes.

I think it boils down to how a mistake is discovered. I imagine a typical day doesn't allow me much time to watch what every other person is doing so how would I even know if an error was made? If another nurse comes to me to discuss a dilemma regarding her med error then by the end of the discussion it will be clear from my perspective that either she reports the error or I will.

Specializes in Orthopaedic Nursing; Geriatrics.

But if it's unreported by the first nurse, why not go to her or him first? Then ask them if they want to go report it or if they want you to report it for them? By the way, Ruby Vee, I am not a female hater - I AM a female! I just find men more straightforward usually.

Specializes in MPCU.
as always, i'm astounded by how many misogynists there are on allnurses.com. maybe it's astounding that i haven't caught on yet how many nurses, student nurses, pre-nursing students and wannabes actually don't like women, consider them inferior, etc.

i see a lot of it too. women can be misogynists. even if it were true that something fundamental in nature makes women prone to "tattletale" behavior, it would be non-productive to address it. as in, "well, caint do nuthin bout the weather." but, you can dress appropriately or give a coat to someone who needs one.

Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
ruby

i guess my question asks why it's your business if sue makes a med error? why not allow sue to report her own med error? your statement doesn't read right to me. if sue makes a med error and you tell on her you are tattling. if sue makes a med error and reports you then sue is a liar. i'm all about being a patient advocate but i'm also a big fan of personal accountability and allowing people to correct their own mistakes.

i think it boils down to how a mistake is discovered. i imagine a typical day doesn't allow me much time to watch what every other person is doing so how would i even know if an error was made? if another nurse comes to me to discuss a dilemma regarding her med error then by the end of the discussion it will be clear from my perspective that either she reports the error or i will.

​i think you missed my point.

Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
but if it's unreported by the first nurse, why not go to her or him first? then ask them if they want to go report it or if they want you to report it for them? by the way, ruby vee, i am not a female hater - i am a female! i just find men more straightforward usually.

sadly, being female does not seem to exclude you from the female-haters club. and you've missed my point.

i suspect that being a tattle-tale, like beauty, rudeness and bullying is a good deal more in the eyes of the beholder than an objective truth. many folks seem to believe that if someone does it to them, it's being a tattletale (or bullying) but if they do it to someone, it's patient advocacy (or well-deserved comeuppance).

hopefully, my point is more clear.

Specializes in OB (with a history of cardiac).

"Just remember, when you tattle on someone, you're not only tattling on them, you're tattling on yourself, telling everyone you're a tattletale." :clown:

Specializes in Med-Surg Nursing.

I think that nurses 'tattle' on one another to make themselves look better to the manager. It also takes the focus off the tattler. In my experience, those who tattle are inferior nurses who like to get better nurses in trouble for petty things. I've experienced this MANY times in my current workplace. And it's not for patient care issues. But more like stupid stuff like things I post on facebook that have NOTHING to do with any patient or even work for that matter. So, I cleaned up my Friends list and have pretty much BLOCKED everyone at work who has a facebook account.

TRUST NO ONE!!

In a field where human compassion and empathy for people should be an inherited trait in the nurse, one would think this quality would incompass all people, including fellow nurses. Unfortunatley, government has advertised nursing career to the masses through media and institutions, with no regard to the type of character, morals or values the nurse should have. The government needs a body to push pills and implement physician orders. In nursing school, the programs and books try to make you feel that your job is so important, with this vast amount of book knowledge you do not use once in the field. Moreover, media again, draws people to the field with words related to "job security, endless opportunity, good money."

So why so many bad nurses with bad attitudes? They didn't follow their own dreams in life! They where drawn to something that appeared enticing, protective and secure. When they got into the field, they hated their job, yet feel trapped. They whine, *****, complain to point the blame at anyone but themselves. He who points one finger forward, has 3 pointing back.

Nurses who love nursing are not included in my thoughts here. They are the greatest. Nurses who love nursing, love and help other nurses. They want them to be successful because they are smart enough to know, this builds a stronger work team and safer environment for everyone.

We must be willing to change ourselves before we can change others.

I did not mean to "*****". I agree with many post here. I am a previous manager of a fortune 500 company, with little tolerance for immature tattle tales. They would only come to my office once, before they realized that I put them on the pedestal for questioning. Such questions I'd ask. "So tell me, what did you do to help her?" It's interesting to watch a tattler reflect and realize she never reached out to help, rather attempts were made to destroy.

A manager who allows tattling fosters this back-stabbing, 3rd grade, mean girl behavior. A good manager will bring parties TOGETHER to discuss issues & concerns, rather than calling the one tattled on into the office & blindsiding them- which I have seen happen too many times. The best managers I've had do not take sides, they do not protect the tattler, (which enables the tattler to continue in this childish behavior) but they sit down as a mediator, with the parties involved and let the tattler confront the accused in an adult, professional manner, so they can come to an agreement for a viable solution. Good managers communicate with all staff, not just a few chosen/favorites. Communication is the first step towards teamwork & conflict resolution. Sadly, there are more poor managers than good, which creates a hostile work environment & low morale, as well as lack of trust. In my experience unresolved problems amongst staff can almost invariably be traced to management. It starts at the top.

I once had a manager who would take the word of one person, and without confronting the accused, immediately write them up, no questions asked- and don't you dare try to tell your side or defend yourself. This was accompanied by a diatribe of yelling, screaming, confrontational behavior accompanied by door slamming. This manager's other glowing character trait was blatantly lying in the employee reviews of her 'targeted' staff. Fortunately shortly before I left to move to another state, our hospital was taken over by a large organization, and they replaced her with someone with real management SKiLLS. Management skills, now there's a concept ;)

Specializes in Rehab, pediatrics.

If someone does something that doesn't hurt the patient I won't go out of my way to report anything.

The times that I do complain is for complete laziness. Such as the same person keeps passing the same things on that they didn't complete during their shift. Or one of my coworkers continuously gives me a harder assignment while she sits on her butt all night answering none of the bells, even her own included...

I have no patience for laziness. And I will talk to the perpetrator first but after it continues I get fed up and I do complain to the managers.

I hate complaining but laziness is just something that grinds my gears. Other people shouldn't have to pick up your slack.

Now the people that complain and tattle on almost everything, I don't have time for that!

I couldn't agree more. Lazy nurses increase the work load on everyone around them and jeopardize the safety of the patients.

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