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The Dark Side of Nursing
It would be fair to say that most people outside of nursing would have a fair idea of what a nurse gets up to during a shift.
Aside from nurses having to deal with things many people would find all too confronting to do themselves, there is another side of nursing that most people know very little about: what I like to call, “the dark side of nursing”.
Aside from nurses having to deal with things many people would find all too confronting to do themselves, there is another side of nursing that most people know very little about: what I like to call, “the dark side of nursing”.
It encompasses an extremely small number of:
So, why does it continue to happen?
Danger Signs:
The Remedy:
It’s only common sense but does it happen? No. Most times it’s left to drag on until it boils over where the staff member throws in the towel and leaves or refuses to work there ever again.
Question:
Have you ever encountered anything like this and if so, how did you resolve the situation?
Does this type of behaviour happen outside of Nursing? A: Bloody oath it does!
To be continued…
- Senior nurses belittling staff in front of colleagues and patients.
- Highly skilled nurses looking down their noses at less experienced staff.
- Senior nurses failing to help overburdened colleagues.
- Individual nurses making frivolous and sometimes false complaints against another nurse.
So, why does it continue to happen?
- Usually this type of behaviour is well entrenched with management either not knowing about it; turning a blind eye in the hope it will go away; or leading by example.
- It prevails because no one has the intestinal fortitude to do anything about it.
- Victimized staff see no other way around it.
- Staff ignore it with a water off a ducks back attitude praying the main offenders get their comeuppance sooner rather than later.
Danger Signs:
- High turn over in staff.
- Jump in sick leave.
- Low morale.
- Increase in frivolous complaints.
- Heated verbal arguments on the floor.
- Frequent visible disdain aimed at the perpetrators.
- Poor cohesion amongst certain nurses.
- Roster changes to appease warring parties.
The Remedy:
- Ongoing “Respectful workplace AKA Bullying in the workplace” awareness education and “Conflict Resolution” programs.
- Anyone with a complaint should first take the person aside that they’re having issues with and voice their concerns.
- Management to take a more proactive approach.
- Periodic individual staff interviews with management.
It’s only common sense but does it happen? No. Most times it’s left to drag on until it boils over where the staff member throws in the towel and leaves or refuses to work there ever again.
Question:
Have you ever encountered anything like this and if so, how did you resolve the situation?
Does this type of behaviour happen outside of Nursing? A: Bloody oath it does!
To be continued…
8 comments - care to make one?:
The right working environment is so important..Otherwise no one will have the enthusiasm to work..It must be really difficult for nurses, considering the amount of work and stress they have to handle everyday..
Hi Peter!
My, my, my professional vanity and jealousy (mixed with fear)...it happens in all professions. The more experienced ones fear that the younger ones will eventually take their place (and I do not even know why they fear something that is inevitable - it is called evolution; the young replace the old); the more experienced hold the power so they like to flaunt and show who the boss is; management is negligent (for they should tell senior nurses to attend human relations workshops); and those who make frivolous complaints against colleagues are jealous of their co-workers.
Remedy #1 - I totally agree.
Remedy #2 - Hear, Hear!
Remedy #3 - Absolutely! It is their duty to do so...
Remedy #4 - Again: Hear, Hear!
"Have you ever encountered anything like this and if so, how did you resolve the situation?" - hell yeah! My family have a business in Africa, and I saw this sort of thing happening there (that is why I said that it happens in all professions). What we did was: we gathered the staff and gave them a little speech on "how we are a family, and if we are not in harmony the business will suffer (thus their jobs will be in danger)"...then we solved little complaints by calling the opposite parts and confronting the facts (eventually people put it all out, and then they are fine)...so far it worked.
Peter, bloody good article :D!
Cheers
Hey Peter, you said: 'Does this type of behaviour happen outside of Nursing? A: Bloody oath it does!' - and I will confirm that, its every where, no body wants to work together, and the best one I seen is the big chip on the shoulder, or putting people down so they can be up, in stead of working towards the high level. It sucks, but I am happy I don't have to deal with this crap anymore, I have better and more important things to do in life, lol. Peter, excellent post, we need to be reminded.
BTW how is the little one doing?
Anna :)
Hi Novice Writer! Granted there is plenty of stress and the pace is mostly out of control but the one thing that makes my day is when I can put a smile on someone's face in the face of adversity amongst all the tooing and froing!
Take Care,
Peter
Hi Max! The ones that I am in awe of are the younger ones. So full of knowledge and so bloody keen, they're a credit to their profession.
When working with a student, I always tell them, "Your the brains and I'm the brawn!"
As time goes by though, I hope they do not learn to despise the job there in. For those that have gone that way, the stress of the job and going from one day to another with very little thanks, year in and year out, hasn't helped them whatsoever.
Take Care,
Peter
Hi Anna! So I'm not alone on this after all, thank heavens. I was beginning to think I was the only one that thought this way.
There is a saying, "It's not what you know but who you know." Sad but true!
Now, talking about chips, I tend to think I'm well balanced actually (well, sort of) because I have a chip on each shoulder!
Take Care,
Peter
Peter, super and honest post. I found the same thing in dental offices. The health care professions are stressful and difficult enough, let alone having this childish behavior going along with it.
We need to all pray.
Hugs, JJ
Hi JJ and thank you! I don't think I've overstepped the mark here, as any nurse or health worker would seen for themselves the same thing, just as you have!
If they haven't, perhaps after reading this, the saying, "Forewarned is Forearmed" will come into play.
Take Care,
Peter
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