Nurse bullying has been in existence for a long time and although there are a lot of theories behind why nurses “eat their young” and what bullying looks like, not a lot has been done to stop it. One of the reasons that this issue has gone on for so long is because we accept bullying behavior as the norm. We tolerate or try to ignore the crusty, mean nurses who seem to find great joy in squashing other nurses. Many nurses believe that there is nothing they can do and just bide their time until the bullies choose a different target.
Although we know older, experienced nurses can become the target of bullying, new nurses are still the most vulnerable.
New nurses fear two things when they start their first job: Making a mistake and that the other nurses will eat them alive! I’ve talked with many student and graduate nurses over the years and get asked the same question:
“What do I do if the nurses are mean?”
Unfortunately, they have every right to be worried.
I once witnessed a new nurse on her very first day working in a small community hospital, approach the unit clerk and announce that she was there to start work. The unit secretary, who didn’t smile or even acknowledge her presence, shouted to another nurse, “Hey Debbie. Your baby nurse is here.” Debbie looked up and said, “Great” sarcastically and then said, “Look. I didn’t want to be a preceptor and I tried to get out of it. Just don’t get in my way and try not to kill anyone okay?”
The look on this new nurse’s face was a look of horror.
Another newer nurse shared that she was hired with four other new nurses. When they got to their unit during orientation week, two of the experienced nurses pointed their fingers at them and said, “Listen here bitches. You just took away our overtime.”
Did you know?
A 2012 study showed that 21% of novice nurses were exposed to bullying behavior daily (Berry, Gillespie).
Nursing Solutions, Inc. showed that 81% of nurses who leave an organization cite peer and manager relations as a cause for leaving. The problem is even worse with newly graduated nurses. A study in the current issue of Policy, Politics & Nursing Practice reveals that an estimated 17.5 % of newly licensed RNs leave their first nursing job within the first year, and one in three (33.5%) leave within two years.
I receive no less than 5 emails a week from nurses, young and old; new and experienced; staff and leaders asking for help.
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH
If you find yourself the target of nurse bullying, there are things you can do right now.
1. Start a documentation trail
One of the most powerful weapons we have against bullying behavior is our ability to document. Seriously, as they say in legalese – if it wasn’t documented, it wasn’t done. Document any acts of bullying you witness with date, time, person, and facts. To strengthen your documentation, align the behavior to a patient safety, patient quality, or patient satisfaction concern! Think…how did this person’s behavior impact patients?
Get a copy of your organization’s policy on disruptive behavior or code of conduct. You can use this to validate the bully’s behaviors are disruptive and that they undermine a culture of safety. You may have to do this retrospectively, but do the best you can to recall the events as objectively as possible.
2. File a Complaint with Human Resources
If your attempts to address the bullying don’t work, consider filing a formal complaint with an HR representative. Even if HR doesn’t take action, you now have a record that you reached out for help.
3. Develop Your Skills
The good news is that addressing workplace bullying is a skill that can be learned. The bad news is that we don’t do a good job teaching new and experienced nurses these skills. But that doesn’t mean you can’t develop the skills on your own. Numerous resources are available for you to learn how to recognize bullying behavior (not everything is bullying), how to utilize simple confronting techniques, how to document bullying behavior, and how to protect yourself from the bullies.
Go to my website and read everything I’ve written about bullying. I have articles, blogs, videos, interviews, etc. You want to equip yourself with as much knowledge about bullying so that you can use this to address it.
4. Engage in Continuous Professional Development
The more you learn and grow, the more you will create an invisible force field surrounding you against negativity, bullying, and the other nasties that sometimes accompany the work environment. The stronger YOU become mentally, professionally, and emotionally, the more you will be able to ward off any potential bullies. Learning and growing can be formal or informal. READ something educational or inspirational every day – Numerous blogs (like this one) can support your learning by providing practical tips, resources, and strategies to grow your nursing career.
Have you read my book, “Do No Harm” Applies to Nurses Too! Strategies to Bully-Proof Yourself at Work? If not, why? This book has helped thousands of nurses stop the bullying!
5. Join The Movement To A Healthy Workforce
We don’t all eat our young. There are more nurses who LOVE mentoring and supporting other nurses, especially our newest. Find them. Spend time with them. Ask them for help. They will help and protect you! The point is you don’t have to suffer alone. Not when there are numerous people and resources available to help you. I’ve just given you a few ideas. There are more! Until we can come together as a profession, take ownership of our behavior and hold others accountable, bullying will continue.
One person who stands up to the bully can inspire others to do the same.
The world will not end if you stand up to a bully. In fact, others around you will see that an assertive response is possible. A mirror phenomenon can occur where others start to model or “mirror” your assertive behaviors. Not only will you be a role model for professional behavior, but you will also be sending a message to others that bullying doesn’t have to be tolerated.
For more help on nurse-to-nurse bullying, you can check out my YouTube Channel videos by clicking here. Also, my first book titled, Do No Harm” Applies to Nurses Too! Strategies to protect and bully-proof yourself in your work environment is available for purchase.
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Be kind. Take care. Stay connected.
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