Bullying in Nursing: Understanding the Issue
“Nurses eat their young” – a phrase that resonates across the nursing community, highlighting an unfortunate reality. What I discovered through personal experience is that this behavior can emerge as early as nursing school.
This is a very real problem.
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During the summer, I began a new role at a long-term care facility and had my inaugural solo shift. With five years of experience as a CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant), I was confident in my caregiving abilities.
Originally, I had an exciting internship lined up in the ED-Trauma department of a major hospital. However, due to COVID-19, that opportunity was dashed. I then accepted a CNA position at a facility grappling with the effects of rising COVID-19 cases.
Assigned to an unfamiliar floor, my pace was steady, prioritizing thorough care over rushing through tasks for the sake of speed.
After taking my lunch break, I returned to an unexpected situation. To cut a long story short, a nurse manager on my floor publicly berated me in front of fellow nurses and CNAs. I was accused of taking an unauthorized break, mishandling the daily schedule, and subjected to harsh words over the facility’s communication system, audible to everyone, including residents. Keep in mind, this was my first day on this floor in a different facility. I stood there, tearfully explaining my situation, but my explanations were disregarded. I had never met this nurse before.
A guardian angel in the form of an LPN noticed my distress. She led me into a closet, allowing me to release my emotions, accompanied me to provide care on the floor, and offered me a moment to regain my composure before rejoining my duties, tears still streaming behind my face shield for the rest of my shift.
During this ordeal, all I could think was, “I should be interning in the ED-Trauma department right now. I chose to be here, to help this facility struggling with COVID-19. I’m running on five hours of sleep after staying late the previous night to complete tasks and assist at the other campus.” I longed to defend myself, but I stood frozen, finding it difficult to carry on with my work for the remainder of the summer.
According to the Joint Commission, 44% of nursing staff members have experienced bullying.
My experience has taught me never to belittle CNAs, patient care techs, or anyone in a “lower” position. I understand the feelings of being new, overwhelmed, and undervalued.
I strongly advocate for anyone facing workplace bullying to report it promptly. Speaking up isn’t “tattling.” It’s about safeguarding yourself and others from mental distress and mistreatment. No one should have to approach work with fear or dread.
Bullying has no place in nursing. Let’s put an end to this destructive cycle.
Authored by Courtney Smith
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