signs your nursing team doesn’t like you anymore

If there’s one thing that’s true about being a nurse, it’s that nobody can do it alone. Working in a hospital is a little like being deployed in a war zone–you have to act as part of a cohesive unit to get things done. There’s no room for the solitary "

If you’ve somehow lost the trust and respect of your coworkers, you are in big trouble. Lack of support from your nursing team can be the death knell for your career advancement, your capacity to work effectively and your ability to sleep at night.

Of course, people won’t always tell you to your face if they’ve got a problem with you. Instead, you can expect a stealth campaign of passive-aggressive acts that make you wonder if you’re starting to lose your edge—or your mind. Here are five indicators that may lead you to suspect that your nursing team has turned against you.

1. Bedpan Duty Forever

Everyone has to take their turn doing the least pleasant tasks in nursing. At least, that’s the way it’s supposed to be. However, these days it always seems to be your turn. Maybe you’re not even specifically being assigned to the dirty jobs. You just "happen" to be the only one available when these things come up. Funny how that works….

2. I’ll Be Watching You

You know that feeling of being stared at? The one that makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand up? You can’t shake the feeling that your coworkers are looking at you funny. You could swear that some of the stares you receive are downright hostile. But your teammates say nothing’s wrong when you ask, "What’s the matter?" or "Is there something stuck in my teeth?" You even come out and ask a couple of people if they are upset with you for some reason, but they deny it.

3. Where’s My Stethoscope?

It’s not just your favorite stethoscope or every pen you own that goes missing. You are having trouble getting the information and resources required to perform even the most basic tasks. When you need help, everyone is magically busy. They conveniently forget or deprioritize anything you ask them to do—or they treat it like a huge imposition. You just can’t get what you need to get the job done efficiently anymore.

4. Lost in The Mail

Somehow, you never received your invitation to Jan’s retirement party. Or the last unit potluck. Or Nurses’ Night Out. You always seem to find out about work-related events after they occur. Everyone innocently exclaims, "Oh, you didn’t know? I thought so-and-so told you. We sure missed you!" It rings false. Everyone has your email address and the bulletin board in the nurses’ lounge isn’t broken. It appears you’re deliberately being excluded from events your coworkers get to enjoy.

5. It’s All YOUR FAULT!

When a mistake is made, why does it always get pinned on you? Your previously stellar reputation is starting to suffer. You hate having to defend yourself and point the finger at someone else, but you can’t afford to keep taking the blame for others’ errors. It doesn’t matter, though, because nobody believes you. It seems like they’re colluding in rewriting history to make you appear to be the incompetent one—even when the truth is obvious.

You Aren’t Imagining Things

The signs above aren’t just something to shrug off. All five are actually symptoms of workplace bullying and sabotage, according to the Texas Nurses Association

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male nurse, I hope so too!  I imagine it must be  a real pain in the butt but also very hurtful... I can't think that , it happens much.. But for who it does have it done to them, I give them my  empathies..I also hope that if it is done, I hope it doesn't last long.. Thank you for following and posting on the forum.. Teresa

malenurse, I think that is the problem.. Alot of people still act like children..Nurses are one of them...Teresa

malenurse, Thank you for sharing your insight.. I also think that if just one nurse turns the treatment around, Hopefullythe rest will follow suit.. Teresa

malenurse, Kind of think about it, It certainly wouldn't happen in the best of circumstances. But maybe it can be diferent where our nurses work.. It really only takes one.. There's always one to resist, but then that's their problem and not the rest of the team.. Don't we really want to have a great shift with people we like and could trust? I think we deep down want that in the most way.. What do you think?  Teresa

bryan, Thank you for your kind words.. I still say "Wouldn't that be nice.."    Teresa

BTW, Welcome to NL.