Re: “Mean Girls of the ER: The Alarming Nurse Culture of Bullying and Hazing”

Dear Staff,

A friend sent me this article from the May 2015 issue of Marie Claire. I found this article, “Mean Girls of the ER: The Alarming Nurse Culture of Bullying and Hazing” to be interesting. First of all, the article was categorized under the header “Culture”. That is a concern in itself. Then the statistics seem to indicate that this is a predominate behavior in health care. The scary part of the article is how this behavior may affect patient safety. Do we have this behavior here?

Granted, we are not perfect. I will admit that there have been negative comments and an occasional lack of enthusiasm to help teammates. I have heard staff putting co-workers down, instead of building them up. To the best of my knowledge, we have never not helped each other where patient safety was concerned. I would also note that more often, I have heard and seen our staff members helping each other, teaching each other, and encouraging each other. At huddle in the mornings, there are recognitions of good work and deeds. There have even been submissions for employee of the month! We do appreciate, for the most part, our co-workers. Good work!

Therefore, I bring this article to your attention because of the potential risks. Not only risks of patient safety, but of career, and legacy risks. When we speak of past co-workers, what legacy have they left us with? 

We have had some really great folks work with us in the past and then there have been others! I have heard some past employees described with lackluster adjectives. So, how will you be remembered? Will you be remembered as the smiling, enthusiastic mentor and helpful co-worker, that everyone wishes was still here to make the work day brighter and a joy, or will there be an opposite view of your presence in the work day?

I know there are great expectations that management is responsible to take care of bullying behaviors. To a certain degree, bullying issues are management business. I would, however, suggest that this negative actions grows when other staff member have also let this behavior get out of hand. Just like on the playground, there are only bullies when the rank and file allow or encourage such behavior. Teachers and principals did not intervene until the bullying was out of hand. So it is with management — not until bullying is quite noticeable is there administrative action.

Staff usually use peer pressure and abhorrence of behaviors to stop such negative action. When you ignore or walk away from gossiping, when you stand up for your co-workers that others are putting down, and better yet, when you ask those naysayers, “What can we do to help that co-worker?”, you will make a difference. You can bring out the best in both weak and strong co-workers!

I am pleased to note that I have seen this positive side of our staff as well. Confrontations have been dissolved and walls have been torn down when staff members have intervened. When you stop others from putting others down, you bring us all up! When you calm things down and build teamwork, you make the biggest difference! I have seen you demonstrate caring not only for patients, but your co-workers. When you sign cards of condolence, when you bring food in for a breakfast or lunch, when you listen to the stories of wins and losses, and when you share a wish for a good day, and when you say good night…when you share…you are doing good work!  

Nurses and technologists “eating their young” should not be a part of our culture! 

What are your thoughts on this subject?

Can we improve in any area?

How can we bring the best out?

Keep up the good work and bring out the best in everything!

Respectfully yours,

Marshall W. Ritchey, MS, MBA, RCIS

Manager, Cardiac Cath Lab, 

Piedmont Medical Center, Rock Hill, South Carolina

Marshall Ritchey can be contacted at Marshall.Ritchey@tenethealth.com.