Why are nurses such back-stabbers?

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Why do nurses feel the need to "tattle" on colleagues to the boss for petty things? Behavior like this does nothing to elevate our profession and everything to keep us down. Why are there some nurses who feel superior when they tell on someone to the manager? This recently happened to me and I thought I had a good rapport with my co-workers yet one of them ratted me out to the boss on an off-the-cuff remark that I made. Why does this happen? Is it because the majority of nurses are women and women are catty individuals. I'm a woman btw. From now on though, I am just going to do my work, and only talk to the other nurses/aides about clinically relevant stuff only. Other than that, I'll keep my nose in a book. Actually, I won't be working at this current place much longer. There are staffing issues that put my license in jeoprady so I am starting a job hunt after the holidays.

So, why do we do this to eachother?

Specializes in Med/Surg/Tele/SNF-LTC/Supervisory.

I'm a woman too, but I am someone who does my job, treats others respectfully, doesn't get involved in the gossip etc etc. Maybe I'm more like a guy.. lol.. I don't know.

I see this EVERYWHERE in nursing. It's horrible!!

I've recently had to deal with another supervisor (I supervise on her "off nights" she on mine)..reporting things to the DON that were petty and just crap that she wanted to have the DON focus on to make ME look bad as opposed to the actual issues. There was nothing that I had done wrong, she just wanted to "b" about something. Now, I've heard from two of my nurses, that she has been "slamming" me on the nights I am off. Very unprofessional. I'm still usure of how I'm going to deal with this.. may just let her keep making a fool of herself and say nothing.

BUT.. this is RAMPANT in nursing!!! I hate it.. it's the MAIN reason I am getting OUT of nursing.

It's so funny how, those that gossip about others, or roll eyes, talk about other nurses and how they hadn't done something right etc etc... are SO unable to accept responsibility for mistakes they may have made.

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Specializes in Peds, PICU, NICU, CICU, ICU, M/S, OHS....

So, in other words, you're probably one of those nurses this SIX year old thread is about. Or, you are a new nurse who doesn't understand what she is talking about but used big words to try and sound smart...I mean seriously? Re-read your comment. It is absolutely one of the most ridiculous things I have ever read on AN. I really hope I never have to work with you. Just sayin'.

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The only team I am on is my patient's team. Everyone else can go to hell, in the professional sense of the term of course. As a professional registered nurse it is my professional duty and legal obligation to report any action or inaction that would endanger the welfare of the patients. In addition to this, I am again compelled by professional integrity and mandated by state law to report any behavior that can be seen as immoral, unprofessional, unethical, or other behavior that demonstrates a lack of professional integrity.There is no room for the "old boys club" in nursing, there are too many lives at stake for that garbage.
It's because people twist these obligations around so that they can beat someone over the head with it. I taught for many years and this was the excuse for the pettiness teachers used to tattle on each other. Also someone mentioned the military and if the unit culture allowed the hint that tattling was ok then it was rampant. It was also an excuse to beat someone emotionally. Only when the boss forced people to work it out did the tattling go away. My old boss was a retired SMG. and he was the biggest offender of allowing teachers to tattle. So it's not just nursing , but other careers too. When we are expected to act like professionals is when we do. Itis not a "girl" thing. When I had female bosses I had less gossip problems. I think it wasn't because they were female, but because they didn't put up with the pettiness.
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Specializes in Med surg/Ortho.

Jealousy....its true...

If you know who is saying what..I would confront them. Not yelling and screaming....but in a grown up manner....this person has probably been a bully and never had anyone confront them before.

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Specializes in Med surg/Ortho.

Jealousy....its true...If you know who is saying what..I would confront them. Not yelling and screaming....but in a grown up manner....this person has probably been a bully and never had anyone confront them before.

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My 2 :twocents:....it isn't the nurse part...it is the woman part.

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I'm just answering the question in the title, haven't read anything else.....my answer to why "nurses are backstabbers" is because PEOPLE are backstabbers. This is nothing different about the habits of people in this profession as anywhere else you work. I've had enough jobs and enough interactions with people to know that.

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To the ones saying it's because nurses are mostly females....I've also had a job where it was primarily females and a female boss and there was very little gossip and drama. One of the most professional and enjoyable places to work. This was not a nursing job. One job I had (also before nursing) was run by a man and mostly male employees, it had the most drama, gossip, and backstabbing than any other job I've ever had.

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Backstabbing, gossiping, carrying on......I thought that part of a job of a charge nurse or a nurse manager is to keep an eye on what the nurses in the unit are doing, that the patients are well cared for, and everything is as it should be. Maybe if more charge/managers were on the floor engaging themselves it the day to day workings, people would not be so fed up as to have to bring this behavior forward. And if there were policy in place to nip it all in the bud before it gets out of control, people would think twice about the behavior if there were consequences, and the focus could be on patient care as opposed to who did what to who and who isn't doing their jobs.

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@ nurseel56 google good ol boys network, or good ol boy network then your aloud to make more comments.

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Specializes in LTC.

Like Rodney King said "why can't we all just get along". I am a very positive person, and I go into work and ignore the negative ninnies. I do my job the best that I can, I have as much fun as I could possibly have in one shift, and I always do the right thing clinically. Life is short, LIVE IT! You need to let the nasty back stabbing wenches roll off of your shoulders :)

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I just think it's funny thatpeople get so upsetL:)

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