All Entries in the "nurse-to-nurse hostility" Category
Kathleen Bartholomew, RN, MN, answers questions about ending nurse-to-nurse hostility
Kathleen Bartholomew, RN, MN, dared to ask the question, how can a profession that is based on caring include such uncaring behaviors? Her powerful research exposes the toxic relationships and bullying behavior that causes nurse burnout and threatens patient safety. Here’s a question and answer session where she offers practical advice to real-life problems.
Q: It’s often easy to point out the shortcomings in others. What do you do for people to help recognize and overcome their own bad behaviors?
A: Peer evaluations are effective, but a critical conversation is the most powerful tool both peers and managers have. I ask, “What do you do well?” “What would you like to do better and how can I help?”
Q: What is the most important thing we as nurses can do to turn around toxic work environments that are deeply rooted in bullying and disrespectful behaviors?
A: SAY WHAT YOU SEE. Your voice is your power. These behaviors will be NORMAL until someone stands up and says, “Hey, this is impacting the patients and morale. This needs to stop.”
Q: Any suggestions on how to handle shift-to-shift complaining and bullying?
A: I know this one is hard. When I was a manager, no amount of teaching or counseling could change the shift-to-shift so I asked the nurses to switch shifts for a week. Then I never heard another word. The “walk in their shoes” experiment also worked for nurses complaining some floors were easier. Next, I worked closely with the charge nurses and gave them the knowledge, skills, and confidence to stop these behaviors when they saw them (that took almost two years).
Q: Have you actually seen the “turnaround” of a bully in the workplace work other than dismissal of that employee? Isn’t the bully in a person part of their personality trait?
A: Great question. Personally, it’s been 50/50 in my experience. And if you are a leader/manager and start drawing the line, there is a high chance of the bully going on FMLA/being injured etc. It takes a lot of people skills to turn them around because if they are not going to be the bully, then who are they? How do you create an alternative role for this nurse in the unit? Also, don’t think of a bully as an individual problem. It’s the unit’s problem because many nurses have tolerated the behavior for years (even decades).
Enter HCPro’s nurse leader best practices contest
Enter HCPro’s nurse leader contest and share best practices with your peers!
How do you deal with horizontal hostility among your employees? Do you have one staff nurse who makes the unit toxic every time he or she is on the floor? Or a clique who spreads gossip and makes others feel uncomfortable? Share your advice, best practices, and stories on this topic for the chance to win a free book.
The rules: To enter, simply share a recent success story, advice, or policy that has helped your unit become a healthy work environment. The sky is the limit—as long as your entry somehow helped implement positive change, it qualifies! If you are sending a sample policy or tool, please include a short paragraph explaining the goal of the sample.
The prize: The winner, chosen at random from all entries, will receive their choice of one of HCPro’s training resources for nurse managers:
- Lead! Becoming an Effective Coach and Mentor to Your Nursing Staff
- Accountability in Nursing: Six Strategies to Build and Maintain a Culture of Commitment
- Nurse Retention Toolkit: Everyday Ways to Recognize and Reward Nurses
The deadline: We will draw our winner at the end of the business day on Friday, September 16, 2011, and announce the winner in the Monday, September 26 edition of Nurse Leader Weekly.
The best entries will be posted individually on The Leaders’ Lounge Blog.
Please send contest entries to rhendren@hcpro.com. If you have any questions about the contest itself, please feel free to contact me any time.
Free webcast about ending bullying and toxic behavior in nursing
A live, free, 60-minute webcast, A Conversation with Kathleen Bartholomew: End Bullying and Toxic Behavior Once and For All, is being offered by HCPro Tuesday, October 4, 2011, 1:00-2:00 p.m. (Eastern).
Bartholomew is a visionary nurse leader who dared to ask the question: How can a profession that is based on caring include such uncaring behaviors? Her research exposes the toxic relationships and bullying behavior that cause nurse burnout and threaten patient safety.
During the presentation Bartholomew will share her experiences through true stories about the struggles she has faced and overcome and give listeners the tools and strategies to end disruptive behavior once and for all.
Click here to learn more about this program.
Due to the inspirational nature of this program, HCPro is placing no limits on who can attend. Invite your staff, friends, or colleagues. Forward information to a friend now.
