Why are some nurses so bitchy !!!!!!

Posts: 10 · Joined: 08 Feb 2006 Posts: 10 Location: Michigan

I have been a nurse for three years and found this is a bitchy profession, dont trust anyone if you dont really know them personally outside of work, I have just now started talking to a few people outside of work and am still not completely sure of myself. I love my job, and have found just doing your job to the best of your ability and trying to remember why you wanted to do this, keeps me somewhat sane. I have been feeling the need to vent lately, so I may put some posts up about a few bitches I have. I am sorry you have had a rough start, but try not to get too frustrated. Keep at it.

Posts: 30 · Joined: 12 Aug 2005 Posts: 30 Location: Michigan

BrownSugar wrote:

Thank you everyone, especially rnalso. Since I've started working in the OR I've changed. I knew at some point I would snap at work .. I have started being snappy at home and with friends even at times so it was only a matter of time. I've decided the solution is to start working part time .. take courses in ohter areas of nursing while I work there .. because I can't afford to not work. I have experience now I like my job I think its intersting .. I love getting scrubbed and getting up close to see whats going on. I think the stress is getting to me though.

Why does management not do anything about these people .. discipline them or whatever. I am now going to be labelled a trouble maker. Thats great. I hope I will get a good reference when I apply for other casual positions now to supplement my part time one. I never thought I could be this unhappy working as a nurse. Why are they becoming like this its like if you can't beat us join us .. I find younger nurses starting to imitate some of these older rude nurses. Oh well I appreciate your comments .. I'm 29 btw.

Brown Sugar, My empathy to you! I work as a Medical Transcriptionist from home, and get work remotely. Anyhow, I had an "extra grace required" person to work with some time ago and almost quit. Fortunately things changed and I was assigned to be under someone else. That has resulted in me, 1 year later, proceeding with more self confidence and desire to meet the challenges with some difficult dictators. I hope you will have the same fortune to find a setting that is right for you, and you can develop your abilities 1 shift at a time.
David

Posts: 2 · Joined: 11 Feb 2006 Posts: 2 Location: Southern Cali

Hi BrownSugar and everyone! I'm graduating in May and I an interested in working in the OR thru OR new grad program. However, after reading this.. I'm starting to have doubts. Could you tell me the advantages and disadvantages of being an OR nurse? thanks! Razz

Posts: 112 · Joined: 01 Jan 2006 Posts: 112 Location: Coastal Georgia

The Operating Room environment as far as nursing goes is so different than most area of nursing. To be successful as a RN in the OR you have to be driven, adaptable, fast thinker, etc... Working in the OR can also be very stressful especially when you have a patient going bad on the table or a surgery that is not going well. In my experience there are those that want to have extra help in the OR but they are not willing to help nurses that have never worked in the OR before. Have you ever heard of the "Immaculate Conception" nurse? Well the OR is filled with them. When I worked in the OR I probably went out of my way to make sure I did not behave like them and it was physically and mentally hard on me. In the end it was well worth it when the person that you helped "learn the ropes" turns out to be one heck of an OR nurse.

Posts: 15 · Joined: 16 Jan 2006 Posts: 15 Location: Vancouver

HI there,

Sorry I took so long to get back to you .. I worked all weekend. I must say I enjoy myjob .. I like working in the OR .. but there are so many personalities to deal with. I wanted to work in a team environment because I"ve always been a great team player and enjoy working with people. What I learned is that if the other players aren't wanting to cooperate and have their own agenda it can make your job much more difficult.

I would say if you really want to do it go ahead, but its difficult, fast paced, you have to think quickly, and be able to put up with a lot of attitude. I have made the decision btw to try getting part time status, as I've found a casual position to supplement it. I have also decided to focus on getting my degree and goign into occupaitonal health or community health nursing. I want to work more independently and one on one with people .. and I'm too young to face a life .. a job for many years where I feel degraded and not wanting to go to work, even though I lvoe it because I'm afraid of who I might end up in the room with. Thats just my little blurb .. hope it helps.

Posts: 3 · Joined: 15 Feb 2006 Posts: 3 Location: Idaho

I totally empathize. I'm still a student and have been blessed with awsome instructors and clinical experiences but I often see the behavior that you are talking about. Just as bad (or even worse) is when the nurses treat the patients or families disrespectfully. Thankfully I think nursing offers the flexibilty to change your surroundings until you find your nice niche. There's always home health...you hardly ever see your co-workers at all Very Happy

Posts: 30 · Joined: 18 Mar 2006 Posts: 30 Location: Virginia

For one thing, they operate on the "if you're not ok, I am ok".theory. I bet after being a nurse for a few more years you'll be able to answer that yourself. The nursing profession is predominatley female. Administration constantly pushes you past your brink, the stress is phenominal, and no one cares if you're sick, or upset about something. Now the insurance companies are trying to be doctors, making life even more miserable. Why do you think there is so much "burn out" in nursing?

Posts: 8 · Joined: 27 Mar 2006 Posts: 8 Location: philadelphia PA USA

Thank you for sharing your difficulties, i think that we can all relate. Just remember that everyone is not like that and please do not leave the profession. We need you and others like you, we need to work on this issue idividually and as a group so that the stereotype of nurses"eating their young" will becoma an ancient phenomena of nur nursing history.

Posts: 1 · Joined: 18 Jul 2006 Posts: 1 Location: Illinois

I am new to this board but needed to post after reading everything.

Oh my gosh! I so hear all of you! I am working as a CNA. I was studying for my BSN & got divorced. My grades slipped through the stress of a messy divorce & I couldn't afford the University since my income now goes to support my two children & not toward school. So, I got certified as a CNA while on the waiting list at the community college to begin attending clinicals for my RN which I start next month - baby steps. I know that I can get financial aid, etc. but as I mentioned my grades suffered while I grieved the loss of my marriage. I am recovered & doing well with a 4.0 last semester.

ANYWAY, I almost thought nursing was not for me. Nobody prepared me for the bitchiness. I had no idea. The girls I work with gave me such a hard time. I cried often & began calling in alot too. I was seriously thinking of quitting. It was friends from church who reached out to me & made the bumpy ride more comfortable. Finally, I learned to just do my job better than anyone & give nobody anything to complain about. Now, when someone is being inappropraitely bitchy I can quickly put her in her place. The residents at the home I work at prefer me to other caregivers which gives me the satisfaction and morale boost I so needed. Management does not want to listen to the petty complaints as I have pointed out to them that they have much bigger worries (like care, legal, social service, family, etc.) than whether I sat at the empty "Nurses desk" or the full "CNA table" 3 feet away while I did 5 min. of charting. I am sure that management was aware of their responsibilities but, for some reason, dealt with this ridiculous unprofessionalism until I came and spoke up.

I also pointed out the time they are wasting assigning duties that everyone should be doing. Now, it is the bitchy nurses who feel the pressure when she(they) act(s) so childishly. I am happy and loooooove my profession. Also, I learned that I have completed waaaay more education than most where I work. I just need to finish it & get licensed. Many who gave me a hard time are a little nervous & some are much nicer to me since they realized I will be their boss in two years. Very Happy

Iam LOL!

Posts: 12 · Joined: 04 Jul 2006 Posts: 12 Location: Northern Ireland

I definitely wanted to do nursing, but after reading these posts I have been totally put-off! I know when training to be a RN you have to work to all areas of the hospital and community. I was admitted to my local hospital over the weekend, and the nurses there weren't nice at all!! A few were, but very little. I don't know what else I'd do if I don't do nursing....I';m at a loose end. I'd love to be a Ophthalmic nurse. I'm from Northern Ireland.

I'm rubbish at dealing with "bullies" so to speak.

Posts: 4 · Joined: 11 Jul 2006 Posts: 4 Location: East Yorkshire

Hey! Try not to let it get you down..I've just left my last job where one of my colleagues told me that the bully in the unit had said quote" I can't wait till that silly little bitch leaves!". Nice eh? I know i'm not a horrible person, its just her. She was a passive aggressive who would get at you by putting you on lots of nights or letting you take all the patients that came out of theatre...ok she was lazy too! But I'm moving on to become a health visitor...so I've escaped her! I do pity the next person who fills my post though!

Posts: 84 · Joined: 28 Sep 2005 Posts: 84 Location: ohio

is it possible to let the difficult nurses of the day swim in thier own "bad day" without letting them put you in it with them?
Could it be possible to respond to this nurse having a difficult time by saying.......Gee, it seems you are having a very stressful day today. I hope it gets better for you? then walk away.
is it possible to not let their emotional disfunction interupt your personal space- keeping a postive outlook and keeping busy -- away from them.
we are not victims of other peoples difficult circumstances unless we choose to be involved -- either physically or emotionally -- to them.
how we respond to their day is a choice and not easily carried out but worth the effort. let their difficulty be their problem and do not allow their problem to soak into your own self. maintain peace within your self and concentrate on your responsibilities. a soft answer turns away wrath.
if we are able to offer assistance to help, more power to us. but their difficulty is not necessarily your problem. hope this helps

Posts: 4 · Joined: 11 Jul 2006 Posts: 4 Location: East Yorkshire

That is EXACTLY the way to deal with it, just be the better person and be seen as reliable and hard working! Its hard to rise above it, but well worth it, although there will be times when it will just upset you!

Posts: 3 · Joined: 30 Aug 2006 Posts: 3 Location: London

Hey..
I'm only a trainee nurse, but already people are being nasty! they have no time to talk to you, or even try to teach you, theres just this one girl who is great with everyone who has been there the same time or longer, but anyone whos been there a shorter time she has no time for, i think she's way out of line! Hope i'm not that much of a bitch when/if i qualify Confused

x_x Rachy x_x

Posts: 4 · Joined: 11 Jul 2006 Posts: 4 Location: East Yorkshire

Hey Rachy,

There sre no "IF'S" only "WHEN'S"!! You will qualify and you will make sure you are approachable and friendly, you will make the difference!