Recently,
I was involved in a conversation about "coddling"
students. To coddle means to be indulgent or act sweat, squirm, cry, and
become so stressed the student cannot think. While I do want to grow
nurses who practice safely and in a holistic and therapeutic manner, I do not
want to and will not participate in any way, to provide a hostile environment
where the student feels they are bullied and or humiliated.
I am not even sure why this negativity is
present in nursing schools and the environment many nurse's work in.
Nurse educators are not exempt from participating or being the victim in
horizontal violence (HV) in nursing. The National League of Nursing
(NLN) (2008), the American Nurses Association (ANA) (2006), and the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations
(JCAHO) (2008) all concur there should be ZERO tolerance. Heavens to
Betsy, JCAHO (2008) issued a sentinel event in 2008 to stop HV in nursing and
stated there should be ZERO, yes, I said ZERO tolerance. So, why are we
continuing to allow and tolerating HV. We continue to sweep it under the
rug. Is it because there is a shortage of nurse educators and nurses to
staff the floor? Businesses are so concerned that their facility does not present
or tolerate a hostile work environment but yet organizations that employ
nurses and nursing schools are allowing this behavior. When we watch this
happen and do not voice a concern we are as guilty as the mean nurse
I refuse to participate in HV. I refuse to mean to my peers and colleagues. I refuse to be mean to nursing students. If a student is having a bad day, has done poorly on a test, or just needs some positive reinforcement, I am your go to person. I give out hugs, I give out chocolate, I give out smiles, and positive constructive criticism. My office is very cozy and open to the student who just needs to voice their feelings. I would never say anything negative to the student in regard to another faculty member, but I will listen.
How
do we give out constructive criticism, sandwich, sandwich, sandwich
the comment!!!! How do you do that? Here is an example: “Your
bedside manner with the patient was therapeutic and your knowledge of the
medications administered went very well. The sterile dressing change was
going well, until you broke the sterile field. You did realize your
mistake and started over again. The education you provided the patient
and care giver was very good. This was a learning lesson for you today
and you did well correcting the error, and keeping the patient out of harm’s
way.” How difficult is this? I guess I am worn out with hatefulness
and we all can stop HV if we band together. Remember, one person can make
a difference and that person is YOU!
Those who participate in HV in nursing must be so miserable with their inner self. Truly, they need to find another profession because we all are miserable with the negativity they project. I feel sorry for them, will continue to be nice and smile in hopes that someday, they get the picture that you get more with honey than you do with vinegar....and the patients will have better outcomes and their colleagues will appreciate them! Stand up for ZERO tolerance!!!!!! Be kind to all!
References
American Nurses Association. (2006). Background report: Workplace abuse and harassment of
nurses. Retrieved from www.nursingworld.com
National
League of Nursing. (2008). Nurse bullying. Retrieved from www.nln.org
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