It has been while since I blogged. With the end of semester and Christmas festivities, I simply could not do everything. Please forgive me for being away for too long!!!
I love educating students to become nurses who will practice safely and provide optimum care to those they serve. How then, could I feel a little twinge of guilt doing what I love? There are those in nursing who are ugly and set out to destroy their peers, both novice and seasoned nurses. Some revel in seeing their colleagues (and at times, the student nurse) break down, become overwhelmed, and cry. So, what am I doing? I am encouraging, watering, building self esteem, and attempting to "grow" a nurse while creating a positive working environment for practicing nurses to criticize, tear down, and destroy what I and my colleagues have attempted to instill in the nursing students. We want the novice nurse to practice safely, holistically, therapeutically, compassionately, and be kind to their client and colleagues. If we provide this education during nursing school, maybe we can stomp out horizontal violence (HV) in nursing. We no longer tolerate harassment in the workplace so why is nursing administration and management still tolerating HV?
I know without a doubt, there are nursing educators who feel the dark secret in nursing should not be let out of the bag. Let the nursing student find out on their own how evil nursing administrators allow their team of nurses to treat one another. Nursing administration is as guilty of HV as the staff nurse. Need to be off for surgery or for an illness and the gates of hell hath no fury. We all hear how awful nurses have been treated by management when they need to be off for illness. Yes, even I thought this was a myth until the day (years ago) I felt the wrath of those in the Ivory Tower. Had it not happened to me, I would have probably still thought the other nurses who shared their stories, had surely misunderstood what management had said to them. I am still in awe of what happened so many years ago when I needed to be off for surgery. Forgiveness was given but the situation will never be forgotten.
I have watched how well nurses are treated as long as they give excellent care, work crazy hours when a shift cannot be covered, and do everything else management ask of the nurse...unless the nurse gets sick. All of the sudden the golden child, who could do no wrong, is no longer the golden child. Unbelievable isn't it?
Nursing educators feel the sting of HV also. When a colleague ask, "Is there anything else I can do for you? Do you need help with anything?" and the answer is "No", do not complain that the colleague did not do their share of the load. Spreading false rumors about colleagues is not conducive to a healthy and positive environment. If as much effort were put towards building one another up as is put towards tearing them down, what a wonderful environment would be created. Lord knows, one gets more with sugar than with vinegar. Sad that some have still not learned this life lesson!
I must be honest with the students in my care. I attempt to guide the students to practice safely while instilling positive leadership and management skills. My advice is to stay out of the cliques, learn to walk away from negativity in a positive manner, and to be kind to everyone! One person can make a difference and that person is you!
