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Can bullying result in the loss of your nurse’s license?

On Behalf of | Jan 30, 2018 | Blog |

You have reason to take pride in your nursing career. You work long hours to take care of patients, coordinate with doctors, console family members and even help to save lives. There is no doubt that your nursing job can be stressful, especially if you have to work with difficult people. If there is bullying or unprofessional behavior present in the workplace, how can it affect you and other California nurses?

Bullying is unfortunately more common in the nursing profession than people might think, as you may be aware. According to the American Nurses Association, it is common knowledge among nurses across the country that there is a hidden culture of bullying and unprofessional attitudes within medical staffs. You may encounter the types of bullying you witnessed in high school, including the following:

  • The senior nurses on staff questioning the abilities and knowledge of newer nurses
  • Hazing or prank-playing among new members of staff
  • Taunting, gossiping and name-calling
  • Sabotage of another nurse’s work, disruptive behavior or physical attacks

As you might expect, bullying in the nursing profession can not only create a hostile work environment, but it can also threaten the safety and well-being of your patients, compromise your own mental and physical wellness and undermine the nursing reputation as a whole.

How does this pertain to your nursing license? It goes without saying that if you are the one doing the bullying, improper behavior can result in disciplinary action. What if you are the victim of workplace abuse? As you may know, working in a place where you feel intimidated, belittled, unwelcome or unsafe can increase stress and may result in mistakes. Although you may have the best intentions and strive to perform your job well, a serious mistake can threaten your license. You have the right to work in a place where you feel valued and respected, and you also have the right to defend yourself if your license is at stake.

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