Ok- I volunteer at a local hospital and love the dept I'm in.  Problem is I never seen a profession(and I know it happens in other professions, but I haven't seen it)  in which people really treat you a certain way according to rank.  I mean damn- if you are a housekeeper, meal provider, volunteer,or anything else low on the totem pole, you get snubbed and ignored.  You don't even start to get any recognition unless you are a Nurse Tech.- and they get snubbed too.    I mean damn.  I felt like going to another dept, but I have a feeling this is the general consensus across the board. Plus I'm not going to run, I'm developing a "stickittoit "attitude and some thick skin since this is the real "nurse world"  Why is this so??? I never treat people this way. 

I love this Avatar - "healer'. That says a lot.

What you said is true, about people being treated a certain way according to their 'rank'. Recently I went through orientation for a new job, and Day 1 was the usual parade of suits banging the corporate drums. The Public Relations rep started talking about patient surveys (don't get me started about Press Ganey scores - ggggggggrrrrrrrrrrrr) and how her office gets calls every day with patient complaints. Then she forwards the complaint to the "appropriate dept."  This company preaches a good sermon on taking ownership of problems, and teamwork, and having happy customers. All things I agree with. So with that in mind, I asked this PR rep when the last time she cleaned a bathroom to resolve a complaint, or helped serve meal trays because a floor was short-staffed and patients were complaining about getting trays late, or even just went to a unit to help answer phones? She didn't like the question at all. Too bad. Where I come from, if you are on the clock, you are there to work, and nobody is too good to do anything.

So just keep doing what you are doing, healer. You can be a leader by example. Sometimes you have to shame people in to change. If they see you do things that you don't really have to do, it bothers them that they didn't do it. When they see you interacting with everybody equally, the barriers start to break down.

What do you do as a volunteer? I have thought about doing that, but not sure in what capacity. Might be fun.

Take care!

Walter

Whoops!   Candy  STRIPER!  I was never a candy stripper! LOL

Hang in there!  Those crabby people have a serious case of the gumpies..................it will get better.  Just smile and continue being sweet to everyone.  The patients are the important ones..........they deserve to see a happy smiling face.  They need you to smile because the crabby person probably just left their room. 

respect is a two way street and those who expect it should also give it....

it takes teamwork to get most things done.....

I am a CMA and worked in a hospital and clinic....I have witnessed these kinds of treatment...I think its a shame and that people should work harder to be kind and courteous to each other ...I know what you are talking about dmazement but even a statement like that.....'Once you become a nurse fi you do you will understandwhat were all saying"

is just proving a point out to all that everyone should work harder in this field to be kind and courteous and stop trampling on each other.

I hate this type of thing and it happens in every proffesion.  I have worked in many and have been on both sides.  My own philosophy and it seems to work is to never expect anyone to do what you would not do yourself.  So if there is trash to be emptied, I empty it.  If there are supplies to be put away, beds to be made, whatever I do it.  Then no matter what, everyone works together as a team.  When management does what they expect of their staff, then staff follows along.  It is respect and teamwork.

frumpster65 says ...

I am a CMA and worked in a hospital and clinic....I have witnessed these kinds of treatment...I think its a shame and that people should work harder to be kind and courteous to each other ...I know what you are talking about dmazement but even a statement like that.....'Once you become a nurse fi you do you will understandwhat were all saying"

is just proving a point out to all that everyone should work harder in this field to be kind and courteous and stop trampling on each other.

according to your profile, it says you're considering nursing.  How am I supposed to know you're a CNA?  There was absolutely no discourteous intent.

People can be nasty for a variety of reasons, mostly known only to them. If you remain confident in yourself and know you are doing your job and doing it well, other people's attitudes will fade into the distance. It would be great if everyone worked as a team; it would also be a miracle...human nature gets in the way. Patients are the priority anyway...if they are happy, then you can be happy knowing you did your job.

I worked with an LPN who had her nose so far up in the air that she was in danger of drowning when it rained. She had an attitude toward most of her co-workers and even worse, her patients. She refused to help patients who were not assigned to her during a code. She was too good to interact with me until I became Unit Clerk and she needed me, in a way. Her problem...not mine.

BTW, I know about those Press Ganey surveys...they were kept in a notebook in the nurse's lounge. Monthly meetings: loyalty, customer service, we were all lacking in skills, etc. Never a pat on the back. That's life and this was in a small, community hospital. Clique, clique, clique.

I think I am the opposite from "THE HEALER" (love it by the way) I am in the service and now I have the mind set that everywhere is a ranking system. I was coming into nursing actually expecting this was I wrong?

Sounds like this is a widespread problem, although, thankfully, it is not quite outwardly evident where I work; I see that there are differences in how the different shifts operate and treat one another, but I guess that is part of the dynamics.  I see that some people are very serious and feel like they "don't have enough time to chat", but I also see what volunteers and CNAs do for the patients and, quite frankly, I certainly appreciate it, as do the patients!  I think it is especially important for someone to make volunteers feel welcome and valued; I fee fortunate to work with the team that I do.  I view the mission as a Health Care Team mission, where every player is important, so as long as everyone is willing to help others to accomplish the care goals, then it is a good shift (some days, granted, are better than others!).  Please hang in there:)

I work 12 hour shifts in the ER, so I know how stressful it can be.  And, yes sometimes those of higher rank can come off as rude or arrogant;however, I just don't let it bother me.  I know that I am an important part of the ER, and they need me.  Our ER team is pretty awesome though.  WE spend so much time saving lives together that we all respect one another pretty much.  Even our docs are awesome.  Hang in there and remember you are important!