Submitted by: Lawanna Brock
Years ago Lawanna Brock went into nursing to become a nurse anesthetist or practitioner. She was young and dumb and, while she did not care for bedside nursing, she had an intense love for medicine and helping people. She wishes to share with anyone considering this profession the cold hard facts about what it is really like. Healthcare is not about helping the patient anymore, it is about competing for jobs, position, and power (all which equals money), the realistic conflict theory in play. Lawanna is referring to something that is worse than cyberbullying or racial taunting. This ends careers. It is called lateral violence.
According to the USLegal.com, lateral violence occurs when people, who are in a situation to achieve dominance, turn on each other rather than confront the problem that oppresses them both. Lateral violence occurs when groups or individuals internalize feelings such as anger and rage, and manifest their feelings through behaviors such as gossip, jealousy, putdowns and blaming. Some turn to board reporting and chat site ridiculing to cause harm to their victims. Many call in sick, develop depression, and are simply miserable at their place of employment. According to Heather World of nurse.com, it is the violence that ends careers.
Lawanna Brock was a victim of lateral violence and after careful research, she found that it is a growing problem among nurses and in the healthcare setting. Her husband (retired after 25 years in the medical profession) told her that it is was because nurses and most healthcare workers are women and women tend to be envious and vindictive toward each other. This is less publicized than physical violence but it is more widespread. Researcher Martha Griffin PhD reports that people who feel oppressed commit acts of passive aggression. She found that as many as 50% of nurses new to the filed leave their first position due to lateral violence. SIXTY PERCENT. That is a serious problem. What is more, her research also found that 20% of registered nurses leave the profession within three years to escape hostility. To escape hostility!? Where is the management during all this?
Patricia Rowell, Ph.D researched this behavior and concluded that the agency must employ a zero tolerance policy related to lateral violence. Sadly, most organization leaders do not want to rock the boat and allow this behavior to continue. Managers, administrators, and even doctors do not want to be a part of the workplace politics and turn their head when they become aware someone is the victim of lateral violence. Many large organizations have implemented programs regarding lateral violence, and their administrators acknowledge the problem exists. In rural areas and in small offices and workplace settings, it is not commonly acknowledged as a problem. If you are looking for a profession where you will be accepted and treated fairly, do not enter the healthcare field. Two words: Lateral Violence.
A list of behaviors associated with lateral violence:
* Backstabbing, gossiping
* Belittling gestures (deliberate rolling of eyes, folding arms, staring straight ahead or “through” when communication is attempted)
* Constant criticism, scapegoating, fault-finding
* Elitist attitudes regarding work area, education, experience
* Humiliation
* Ignoring, isolation, segregation, silent treatment
* Inequitable assignments
* Inflammatory angry outbursts, impatience
* Insults, ridicule; patronizing, or condescending language or gestures
* Intimidation, threats
* Judging a person s work unjustly or in an offending manne
* Making excessive demands
* Sabotage, undermining
* Unfair evaluations of work
* Unwarranted criticism sarcasm
* Withholding information or support
About the Author: Lawanna Brock has a Master’s of Science from the University of Tennessee. She is currently working on her Ph.D in Public Health/Epidemiology from an accredited university. Lawanna has worked for
momshealthymarket.com
where she is a contributing editor,
newacneskincare.com
, where she is a natural skincare consultant, and several Ph.D level researchers in the areas of medical esthetics, dermatology, primary care, and behavioral medicine. She is skilled at developing health related materials for the general public as well as the professional audience. Lawanna’s work can be viewed on her website.
professionalfreelancemedicalwriter.webs.com/
Ms. Brock’s training is well suited for CME medical writing, as well. She has studied pre-medical courses in addition to her practitioner and nursing background, which includes general and organic chemistry, statistics, calculus, and physics. She earned a minor in chemistry from Lincoln Memorial University before pursing a career as a Family Nurse Practitioner. Lawanna is also a skilled independent beauty consultant and medical esthetic provider. Her interest is in intradermal cosmetics, esthetic skin procedures such as botox injection and microdermabrasion, and derma-rolling. You can contract Lawanna Brock through eLance, iFreelance, or GURU.
Source:
isnare.com
Permanent Link:
isnare.com/?aid=937587&ca=Legal