common signs of bullying in nursing

 Please reply to at least two classmates. Replies to classmates should be at least 200 words in length. 
 Unfortunately, it is uncommon to encounter bullying in nursing. It is important for nurses to recognize signs and symptoms of bullying, so we are prepared to better manage this issue at the workplace. When I was a new nurse, I got bullied several times just because I was new. I had one experienced nurse told me the way I had my scrubs on was “ugly.” It had nothing to do with my professionalism or anything to do with patient care or safety. I was upset and told my preceptor what happened. My preceptor pulled that nurse aside and pointed out that her behavior was inappropriate. Since then, that nurse had never bullied me and started to treat me okay. Personally speaking, one way I manage workplace bullying is self-reflection. Have I done anything or said anything that potentially damaged my patient safety or my own safety? How can I improve myself to be more professional? What I should have done to prevent workplace bullying in the future? As I gained my knowledge and become a nurse with experience, when I encounter with a new employee or a new nurse, I always watch my tone or the way I talk to them when I had to teach them. Patient safety is the first priority. Our goal is to promote the professionalism at our workplace that can increase patient safety and job satisfaction among staff members. Caristo and Clements (2019) pointed different ways bullying manifests at a workplace, such as verbal abuse, non-verbal cues (eye rolling, walking away), or withholding critical information. 
            Common stressors can definitely act as “triggers” that contribute bullying. Nursing is a high-stress profession. Some nurses got bullied when they first entered this profession and think getting bullied is acceptable. Misunderstanding can also take place when we work long hours under high intensity of stress. This is the reason why we have to utilize the professional communication tool such as SBAR to eliminate our emotions and stress during the communication. Another strategy is self-reflection. Knowing what triggers our negative emotions can be helpful to manage our emotions at work. Another strategy is to talk about it with our coworkers after the shift. “I am sorry I raised my voice, or my tone was harsh earlier.” If the conflicts are difficult to resolve, it is important to bring it to the manager. “To promote a culture shift that does not tolerate bullying, incivility, or workplace violence, the nurse manager should be easily approachable, and the staff should feel comfortable reporting behaviors without the fear of retaliation” (Caristo & Clements, 2019, p. 47). 
 
References
 
Caristo, J. M., & Clements, P. T. (2019). Let’s stop “eating our young.” Nursing Critical Care, 14(4), 45–48. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.ccn.0000565040.65898.01

Student #2 Jessica

  Unfortunately, I have witnessed other nurses belittling and bullying others. They were mean and targeted individuals they thought they could control and who would not report them. Their behavior was unwarranted, and they caused many nurses to lose confidence in their nursing abilities and critical thinking. For example, they would make nurses feel dumb for calling rapid responses or talk about nurses rudely so that they could hear what they were saying. This behavior went on for quite some time before they were reprimanded and eventually let go due to social media content that included patient information. I’m not sure how their behavior was tolerated for as long as it was, but it is definitely a better work environment now that they are gone. 
Bullying in nursing is defined by the American Nurses Association (ANA) as “repeated, unwanted harmful actions intended to humiliate, offend and cause distress in the recipient” (Lamar University, 2017). Bullying in nursing endangers patient safety, costs healthcare organizations money, increases occupational stress, and results in high staff turnover (Lamar University, 2017). Classic indications of bullying in nursing are a condescending tone and demeanor, the silent treatment, yelling, impatience, public belittling, sabotage, or ostracizing (Lamar University, 2017). Nurses who are bullied may experience irritability, depression, sleep deprivation, or loss of appetite (Lamar University, 2017). Their work performance may also suffer due to a lack of initiative, energy, and fear of drawing attention to themselves (Lamar University, 2017).            
Stress occurs when an individual’s expectations differ from their perception of their ability to meet those demands (Weiss & Tappen, 2015, p.190). Nurses are at risk for experiencing acute stress due to unpredictable hours in high-stress conditions while caring for multiple patients and at times in life-and-death situations (Duquesne University School of Nursing, 2021). Other stressors in the nursing workplace include poor staffing, inadequate wages, aggressive and violent patients or families, the demand for high skill levels, communication challenges, and emotional burdens (Duquesne University School of Nursing, 2021). Over the last year and a half, the COVID pandemic has heightened the stress level more than ever. If stress is not managed properly, it can be detrimental to a nurse’s physical and mental health. To manage stress, nurses can identify their stressors by keeping a journal and noting days that are incredibly overwhelming (Duquesne University School of Nursing, 2021). Another excellent way for nurses to manage personal and professional stress is to take time for self-care. This can include exercising, getting proper sleep, yoga, meditation, or massages (Duquesne University School of Nursing, 2021). Establishing personal and professional boundaries and having realistic expectations about the job is also vital for nurses to avoid stress caused by unrealistic goals (Weiss & Tappen, 2015, p.191). 
 
References
 
Duquesne University School of Nursing. (2021, February 8). Strategies for managing nurse stress in the workplace | Duquesne University. https://onlinenursing.duq.edu/blog/managing-nurse-stress/
 
Lamar University. (2017, September 6). Bullying in nursing. https://degree.lamar.edu/articles/nursing/bullying-in-nursing/
Weiss, S. A., & Tappen, R. M. (2015). Essentials of nursing leadership and management (6th ed.). F A Davis Company