Why are nurses so backbiting?

Nurses Relations

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I see it in the hospital. I see the "keep your head down and don't ever correct a teacher" and I've seen it in my current place of work. Why does it seem that nurses want to one up each other or socially isolate people? Do you see what I see?

Specializes in Behavioral Health.

I've seen lateral aggression in both nursing and in my prior field, and while I'm a big fan of standing up for myself the research tells us that this behavior flourishes in environments where management is weak or laissez faire so that the people who engage in it rarely suffer consequences. It's a systemic rather than individual problem. It's more common in high stress environments, like nursing units, the military, LEOs, etc. It's also more likely to happen between those with resources and those without, which is why it's more likely to happen to new nurses (regardless of age).

This power differential perpetuates the cycle because standing up for yourself, while noble, doesn't grant you access to resources, especially when arguably the most significant resource we have is experience. Thus, if the experienced nurses use their experience as a cudgel, less experienced nurses in an environment with weak management have only two options: submit to incivility or work blind and dangerous. Or find a new place to work, which may or may not be an option for a less experienced nurse, depending on their location.

As a mental health guy, all of this makes sense to me. Both the Joint Commission and the Institute of Medicine have identified it as a known cause of harm to patients. I'm glad people have found workplaces where it doesn't happen, but I frequently get the sense that those who haven't experienced it believe it doesn't happen. Which is odd to me. But c'est la vie.

Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

I've worked at a couple of healthcare settings with 'backbiting' coworkers.

I've also had backbiting coworkers in the fast food industry, retail, manufacturing, and so forth. The moral of the story is this: petty minds are not exclusive to one single occupation.

Specializes in Behavioral Health.
It's almost always a function of poor management, no matter what type of workplace. If the leadership is weak or nonexistent, then people will try to elevate themselves, some at the expense of others. If strong leadership is provided, the low functioning personnel are weeded out and the overbearing ones are contained.

Aw, you got to the point I was trying to make while I was rambling on. Good on ya. :)

When there is weak management often staff with bond together. That I have experienced. And that wasn't until I left the hospital. I was in a non union teaching hospital and we were treated pretty well, the new nurses had a cushy orientation and we used to fight to be preceptors.

This is personally. I believe it exists. I'm lucky to have not experienced it.

And I don't think it's exclusive to nursing, or to age.

I'm using the word cudgel today.

Specializes in ORTHO, PCU, ED.

We nurses and CNAs on my unit have a great time together. It's the unit clerk that creates tension and thinks she's in charge. This doesn't go over well with RNs. And yes I'll admit I'm glad when her shift ends or she's got a day off and so is everyone else. The other part that creates tension is that it seems that our manager treats her special. Things like that cause division.

Dogen - of course it exists. I don't deny that there are bullies or "backbiting" co-workers.

I simply don't buy into the "nurses" are backbiting wenches. This plays into the NETY nonsense.

I agree with the posters who say it can be a management problem if it is allowed to continue to occur.

Still and all . . . "NURSES" in general are not "backbiters".

I've worked at a couple of healthcare settings with 'backbiting' coworkers.

I've also had backbiting coworkers in the fast food industry, retail, manufacturing, and so forth. The moral of the story is this: petty minds are not exclusive to one single occupation.

Exactamundo!

(My word for the day Farawyn. I like cudgel though too). :blackeye:

Specializes in HH, Peds, Rehab, Clinical.

Nope, I don't. But apparently I'm in the minority because it's a VERY popular topic here. Do a search, you'll see

As we see from the above post from a male nurse.

All I know is I consistently hear from females how they like to have male friends instead of female friends. Not to mention all the ladies that tell me they love working with a guy and are sick of working with women. Or the fact that I personally deal with women and petty personal BS daily when I'm completing my management (charge nurse) duties.

All I know is I consistently hear from females how they like to have male friends instead of female friends. Not to mention all the ladies that tell me they love working with a guy and are sick of working with women. Or the fact that I personally deal with women and petty personal BS daily when I'm completing my management (charge nurse) duties.

You think men are better? Ever been to a fire department?

It is very simple...Hospitals don't promote unit moral. They simply want us to rat on each other and constantly put blame on us for anything that goes wrong. So many nurses are now paranoid and need to write each other up too. You don't see doctors doing that. Just nurses. the female dominated profession that has molded a mountain of very bitter, tired and angry woman...LOL

It is very simple...Hospitals don't promote unit moral. They simply want us to rat on each other and constantly put blame on us for anything that goes wrong. So many nurses are now paranoid and need to write each other up too. You don't see doctors doing that. Just nurses. the female dominated profession that has molded a mountain of very bitter, tired and angry woman...LOL

Sorry 'bout your job. And your coworkers.

LOL.

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