Why do nurses fight so much with one another?

[bree*]

I'm a new nurse and had some clinical rotations where nurses were just vicious to one another. It seemed like every time I came in, there were a few in a bad mood and giving another one the "evil eye" lol. As crazy as it sounds..this is the part of the job that will stress me the most. I don't like confrontation and I never go out of my way to start "drama", but so many nurses seem to be the exact opposite..and at the same time, I'm not going to be disrespected, but you also have to think about your license and making a bad impression with your boss, etc.

I realize that nursing is a team effort, but I'm wondering how hard it is to mind your own business and go about your job without "getting into it" with other nurses? I felt bad for the RNs I was working with..their patient care techs were lazy and gave them all kinds of attitude...the doctors and patients were barking at them...and then..for some reason..they were always fighting amongst each other.

I'm one of those people who is pleasant..In my perfect little world..everyone can be nice to each other, without being taken advantage of..but let's be real..that doesn't exist. I quickly discovered this in nursing school, as well. Some of the most disgusting people I have ever met in my life. I realize this doesn't speak for everyone's experience, but mine alone. So my idea..when I start working..is to get in and out. My nice attitude has always got me into trouble..seems people become too comfortable with me and mistake my kindness as my weakness..that's when the disrespect starts..little things here and there..not trying to deal with it. So when I first start working, I am going to be as quiet as possible...observant...and I don't plan on making any friends. The few people that I have seen who seem to do a little bit better than others are the ones who are quiet and/or shy and/or anti-social. You don't catch them in the break room chit-chatting...EVER. Bless them. haha

Are there any other tips? I can't see myself having an issue with the Docs or RNs that I will work under. I'm eager to help and don't take their indifference/stress too personally. I'm sure that will be challenged lol..at some point. Does anyone have any pointers?

BTW, as a LPN and/or RN..what exactly in your daily position do you have to do that requires/forces you to work with the other nurses? I realize there are reports at the change of shift...but what else and how do you minimize becoming a part of all that cattiness and abuse?

[bree*]

I can only speak for my unit.

On my unit its a new vs old thing. The nurses that have been there for awhile vs the new grads. There are so many new grads passing through the revolving door some of those that have been around longer treat us like doormats. They try to take total advantage and try to order you around and dump all the new admits on you.

It only took a couple of weeks for me to get a stonger backbone and make it clear that this wasnt going to happen. Some newbies are too nice and worry too much what other people think about them, and they get taken advantage of by the older clique on my unit. They run themselves ragged trying to do it all on their own whilst more gets dumped on them.

I go, do my job, and I help those who help me. Some people participate in teamwork and shift swaps, and some people dont. You learn quick who is on your team and who isn't. And that is who you work with. I am willing to help you out, but if the favor is never returned, I notice.

That's a lot of what I have seen. :-/

[mentalhealthRN]

here's my answer short and sweet. Nursing is a female dominated profession. Yes we are lucky to be getting more and more men all the time, but overall, it's mostly women. And well............woman are catty!!! LOL If given the choice I would rather work with all men! lol (And I am an engaged lesbian so its not that I am at work to find a man.)

[obnurse4u]

Maybe it's because we are females and we spend so much time together? Especially on units like where I work, where we are understaffed and have been that way for several years. But as much as we might bicker we also work as a team,, as contradicting as that sounds! There was an exception... this one nurse was so bad to the point where if a fhr strip didn/t look good she would call the doctor to let them know the nurse wasn't properly watching the strip (despite not knowig what interventions the nurse was doing!). She was a charge nurse at the time and after numerous meetings with staff and HR involving her she got demoted. She to this day still tells doctors about certain nurses who supposedly don't know what they are doing.. She has been a nurse for many years and her ex is a doctor. She even parks in the darn doctors parking lot. And unfortunately she picks up extra shifts alot so we are always around her. Took me five years to stop hating her and feel sad for what a miserable person she must e on the inside. You eventually just learn to stay away from people like that. Don't get suckered into the drama because trust me it is easy to find! Just stay away and worry about yourself :)

[klone, MSN, RN]

It absolutely floors me that the lunch/break thing isn't written out...this isn't something nurses should have to worry about..there should be an assigned schedule with designated lunch times and who covers what.

And what happens if your scheduled lunch break is at 12:30, and at 12:30 your pt calls and needs X, Y, Z and pain meds and decides this is the time he wants a shower, etc?

Or in the case of my line of nursing, the patient goes to complete and starts pushing, or decides right now that she wants an epidural?

Pre-assigned breaks just don't work well in floor nursing, for the most part.

And I've only been an RN for 5 years, but every place I've worked, everyone got around well, for the most part, and there was a lot of teamwork and cameraderie.

[tntrn, ASN, RN]

And what happens if your scheduled lunch break is at 12:30, and at 12:30 your pt calls and needs X, Y, Z and pain meds and decides this is the time he wants a shower, etc?

Or in the case of my line of nursing, the patient goes to complete and starts pushing, or decides right now that she wants an epidural?

Pre-assigned breaks just don't work well in floor nursing, for the most part.

Exactly. That what happens to most of my meal breaks, too.

[obnurse4u]

Or in the case of my line of nursing, the patient goes to complete and starts pushing, or decides right now that she wants an epidural?

Pre-assigned breaks just don't work well in floor nursing, for the most part."

I agree. Pre assigned breaks where I work have never worked out and we have been trying to do that for past year! We are understaffed as it is, and when it would come our turn for break, a patient would always be ready to deliver, or an epidural was needed, or strip looks like crap. We usually take our breaks when we are able to, on our own time..

I

[imintrouble, BSN, RN]

Lets see.........cultural, social, class, age, gender, divide. That pretty much covers it. Is it possible that it's impossible for everybody to like everyone? In my pre-nursing days I worked in a factory, a restaurant, and a business office. Things were not so different in any of those areas.

Also, I have always resented the assertion that as a woman I'm ruled by my hormones. That as a woman I lean towards hysterics and drama.

But that's just me.

[systoly]

Because it's a very stressful environment and there are few outlets. Also. and this is not intended as a sexist statement, but rather based on my personal observations from working with other nurses, females more so than males seem to bear the burden of family management. I've traded lots of shifts with other (female) nurses, because their child or spouse needed their time and attention while the few times I've traded shifts with males was because they wanted the day to pursue a hobby or other personal interest. I understand my own personal observation is not representative of the nursing community as a whole (disclaimer added so as not to get into a fight with anyone ).

[NurseBlogger, BSN, RN]

I have to add to some of the above comments. Many nursing units have a lot of problems because it is accepted. I will always miss diploma nurses. They we loyal to nursing, often wore their caps, and I found them the best mentors. There are usually a few good mentors around. Don't waste you life in a bad environment. Find somewhere you are thankful to work. It may take a few switches. Nurses pay too dearly for their license to let co-workers, patients, or administrators make them not like nursing. I have worked a few places that simply sucked. That is an administration problem for the most part (I did make a lot of money as a registry nurse thanks to them). I have worked some awesome units though. Again, I believe adminitration or unit supervisors get a lot of credit for good units or hospitals.

Find a place you enjoy to work. Find your happy spot and don't accept anything short of it!

[ImThatGuy, BSN, RN]

Your "perfect little world" doesn't exist. All occupations have employees that constantly bicker and cause problems like that. That is single-handedly the hardest part about being a supervisor. The more idle they are the more mouthy and gossipy they are.

[Katie5]

Lets see.........cultural, social, class, age, gender, divide. That pretty much covers it. Is it possible that it's impossible for everybody to like everyone? In my pre-nursing days I worked in a factory, a restaurant, and a business office. Things were not so different in any of those areas.

Also, I have always resented the assertion that as a woman I'm ruled by my hormones. That as a woman I lean towards hysterics and drama.

But that's just me.

Bitter but true.If women would just cut theatrics and emotion out of work,everything would go on smoothly.

I'm female but sometimes I look on in despair..then disgust then sheer hilarity:D when I watch some nurses do the whole theatrics.

[Katie5]

Your "perfect little world" doesn't exist. All occupations have employees that constantly bicker and cause problems like that. That is single-handedly the hardest part about being a supervisor. The more idle they are the more mouthy and gossipy they are.

I'm going to ignore your username and guess right off the bat that you're male. GossipY??Only a male would say that.