I was reading about bullying in nursing, and came across this blog by Phil Baumann on Health is Social. It hits in on the head, for me anyway. Some people take nursing, and themselves, far too seriously.

Most of us have heard the term "nurses eat their young," and it's a rare student or graduate that hasn't experienced it at some point. I certainly have! And on the other hand, you often see nurses joking and laughing at work, which some people see as inappropriate. Many people believe that nurses need to be "serious" as nursing is a "serious" business.

Without a sense of humour, a nurse would quickly become sour. I could not do this without being able to share a laugh or joke with my colleagues. You certainly cannot make jokes about a patient or their condition, as this would be completely inappropriate, but to have a laugh with your colleagues is, in my humble opinion, imperative to keeping your sanity in a tough profession. Many patients also like having a laugh with you, although you do need to remember that you are representing your employer, and nursing as a profession, when you interact with your patients. Keep it appropriate!

As Phil says, being "serious" is not the same as being "responsible," and it is the latter that is important for nurses. Being serious is emotional and personal - being responsible is to do with assessing, understanding, and taking the right actions. Serious = create anger and blame, responsible = find a solution.

I brought this up because I too am experiencing bullying. Not just at myself, but at a patient. And this is totally unacceptable and unprofessional. I'm not going to relate the entire incident, but would just like to say that a patient's comfort is always of high priority in nursing care. Just because the nurse thinks something should, or should not, be done, is not the key here - if the patient requests something in their own care plan (that is not unreasonable) and is documented to be done, then it should be done. One nurse does not have the authority to arbitrarily change something and then tell the patient that too bad, this is how it is. Consultation and respect are required, especially when the patient clearly tells you that changing things would make them uncomfortable. To not be allowed to speak on their own behalf is belittling! In this instance, the current regime was working, however the nurse wanted to change the care plan. They felt that the current strategy was impairing healing, however to do so would cause discomfort and distress to the patient. While it may have been of better clinical value, the stress and discomfort caused may well negate that value. The patient clearly made their wishes known at all times.

Never forget your patient (or your colleague, or your student) is a person. They have feelings too.

And don't take yourself too seriously. :-)