Workplace Cowardice

Nurses Relations

Published

One of my biggest pet peeves is when people have an issue with what someone else does and before addressing it with that person, they take it directly to management or a "higher up" while the offender may have no idea they even did anything. For example, so and so will hear so and so say something that they felt should not be said at the nurse's station, and instead of taking the issue to them directly they go to the floor manager (didn't happen to me, but I saw it happen).

To me it's cowardly and unprofessional. If you have an issue with someone or something they did, take it to them first and let them know exactly why it's an issue. The majority of the time most issue could be solved interpersonally without having to involve anyone else. If they continue to do whatever they're doing and it's some kind of policy or rule violation, then is the time to take it to the next level and report it to someone above their head.

There are rare exceptions when the first and best option is to go straight to management, but those are few and far between.

Anyway, this is my long winded way of saying don't be a snitch. If you have a problem with a coworker, be a professional and an adult and try to settle it with them personally and leave anyone else out of it if at all possible. If you try and it doesn't resolve the issue, then take it to the next level. You will be a more respectable coworker and management will probably respect you more too.

Specializes in Critical Care/Vascular Access.
The word "snitch" is not juvenile. It connotes that a person has betrayed a group to which they have currently or previously pledged allegiance. It also implies retribution for betrayal.

I really think it's pointless to argue semantics in this particular situation, it's beside the point. Had I chosen a different word, this thread would have half as many posts.

I understand what you're saying and respect it, but where I'm from "snitch" is kind of a childish word that you rarely hear in the professional world and I intentionally used it to refer to childish behavior.

Can we all just drop the use of that word please? Just imagine I used whatever word you find more appropriate and move on.

Specializes in Long Term Acute Care, TCU.

Op says:

You do know what that quote means, right? and why canigraduate perceived it as a threat?

What I said:

Snitches

take

out

STITCHES (those little things that help to approximate wounds)

The "snitches" that you are referring to are NURSES.

Nurses are trained to take out stitches

Those snitches take out stitches.

No threat.

Just a play on a familiar quote.

The stitches are the direct object {they are the object receiving the action of the transitive verb}

For more lessons on the use of the English Usage, please follow me on my blog

Specializes in Long Term Acute Care, TCU.
Telling on someone, or snitching (I'm not sure why some of you are so caught up on that word), would be to call someone out by name behind their back, not make a generalized and public suggestion to a group of people that they behave in a more constructive way.

I don't even know why some of you are all wadded up over me suggesting that people be mature enough to talk to each other face to face. I'm guessing that I'm coming across to you as arrogant and bigoted so I need to be put in my place or something?

Wow!

Everyone is so wrong. You are perhaps the most insightful social commentator of this or any generation.

REPRESENT! (That is me pretending to be you throwing up your gang sign)

There are three words rhyming with itch that should not be used by an op.

Snitch implies a thug mentality :ninja:

Unless you use the word in a humorous way :woot:.

I completely understand.

Been there.....got my beat down:blackeye:

Specializes in LTC Rehab Med/Surg.

I just go to work to work. Rarely have my fellow nurses done anything that I can't escape, or ignore. Rarely has anything risen to the level where I feel I need to rock the boat, or go to my manager.

Once in the past year I've confronted a co-worker who hurdled over a personal line. Not stepped or walked, but hurdled. If I could have ignored it I would have, because I just go to work to work.

If I had to make a choice, confront a co-worker or go to the boss, I'd choose confrontation.

Main reason in my experience for a colleague running to management is that the complainer is scared to confront you personally, so runs to management. Which he/she thinks will put some black on you anyway.

Pray that you have a good manager who will send the complainer to you with instruction to sort the complaint between you before taking it to him/her.

If this doesn't happen, request that it is noted that the complainer has not tried to resolve the problem but has instead run straight to management. If he/she does this often and it is noted, the pattern will emerge and reduce his/her credibility.

Specializes in Long Term Acute Care, TCU.
To clarify the quote, another way I have seen it said is "snitches get stitches". In other words, if you are a "snitch" then you're going to end up getting your ass beat (i.e. getting stitches). The person that brought up that quote first accused me of being a snitch, then made the snitches/stitches comment, implying I was going to pay for being a snitch on snitches. ha.

NO:banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead:NO:banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead:NO:banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead:

No one makes physical threats here.

Your (mis)interpretation shows a failure on both my part and yours.

Comedic effect intended in the original post.

Apologies for any trauma this may have caused.

No need for a restraining order

Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.
NO:banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead:NO:banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead:NO:banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead:

No one makes physical threats here.

Your (mis)interpretation shows a failure on both my part and yours.

Comedic effect intended in the original post.

Apologies for any trauma this may have caused.

No need for a restraining order

Perhaps the fact that the majority of posters commenting have "misinterpreted" your intent speaks to the fact that online communications has its pitfalls, and it would be best not to make such comments that would be so easily misinterpreted.

Specializes in Psych, Corrections, Med-Surg, Ambulatory.

This is a function of poor management. Managers should not be supporting this type of childish, backstabbing behaviour. The response should be something like this: "If you think it's important enough to talk about, then talk about it with that person. If it doesn't go well, let me know and I'll moderate a conversation between the two of you." That would be encouraging professionalism in the workplace.

However, many managers encourage tattling; they like to keep people pitted against one another. You know that when You get called into a manager's office to answer to an anonymous, vague complaint that has no substance. When you ask for clarification and the manager says "Well I don't have all the details..." Well, shouldn't you have the details before you pull me away from my patients?

This is a component of a dysfunctional workplace. The buck stops with the manager.

Specializes in Long Term Acute Care, TCU.
Perhaps the fact that the majority of posters commenting have "misinterpreted" your intent speaks to the fact that online communications has its pitfalls, and it would be best not to make such comments that would be so easily misinterpreted.

Agreed.

However, it is obvious that this is personal for the op and they should have said that this situation happened to them. The words that have been used such as coward, snitch, arrogant, and bigoted are all telltale signs.

Here is my take on the situation:

Everyone, at one time or another says something inappropriate at the nursing station.

There is always that one person that runs to management about everything. If you say something inappropriate, and have been called out on it after someone went to management, then simply watch what you say around that person. Don't get all thug and start throwing around terms such as snitch and coward. I can literally see your snarled lip as you type those words. The person who made the inappropriate comment is the person who is in the wrong.

I have made inappropriate and impulsive comments. I knew that they were inappropriate and I faced the consequences, if any.

I have been reported to higher-ups. One time when I worked as a supervisor, an employee went to my CCO and told them that I never helped with any admissions. I was confronted with this and I confirmed that I never helped with admissions because there had not been an admission on any day that I had worked.

I would be concerned with the culture of the floor. If you use words such as coward and snitch in your topic, then I can only imagine the words that you use with your buddies at the nurses station. The person was likely fearful of peer repercussions and took it to a higher authority.

Lesson learned.....right? Don't do it again and everything will be okay :specs:

Specializes in Med/Surg, Academics.
Wow!

Everyone is so wrong. You are perhaps the most insightful social commentator of this or any generation.

REPRESENT! (That is me pretending to be you throwing up your gang sign)

There are three words rhyming with itch that should not be used by an op.

Snitch implies a thug mentality :ninja:

Unless you use the word in a humorous way :woot:.

I completely understand.

Been there.....got my beat down:blackeye:

This is so bizarre.

Specializes in Long Term Acute Care, TCU.
This is so bizarre.

Upon further review, it can certainly appear that way.

Imagine if you will, overhearing a conversation in which one person refers to another as a snitch and a coward. You usually only hear that combination in rap songs. What is your initial impression?

Also, the op's argument is nearly absurdist. The op argues the unprofessional nature of reporting an unprofessional occurrence. Further argument is made that it would be more professional to confront the offender. Why? We are not members of a street gang. If in doubt, then report the situation.

Also the mob mentality with other commenters using the words "snitch" and "coward" is bothersome. The cowardly thing to do would be to ignore the situation. I would prefer that people come to me first, but if I am unapproachable then I would expect them to go to management.

lol. I love when someone post a topic expecting meaningful conversation and only seem to get a bunch of BS in the process. lord have mercy

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