I’ve been a nurse for two years, and while I’ve met plenty of fantastic people, I consistently struggle to feel accepted within nursing groups. I’m naturally quieter, kind to everyone, and have no interest in gossiping about coworkers or putting people down. I’m also not particularly Type A. I care about my work and take pride in doing it well, but I have boundaries and don’t believe in sacrificing my personal time or well-being to prove my dedication. Nursing has never been my entire identity or a lifelong end goal; I’ve always envisioned exploring other careers eventually. My first job as a new grad involved malicious bullying that pushed me out. My second was much more positive, although there were still people who got irritated when others didn’t do things exactly their way. My current workplace is a mixed bag: I enjoy most of my coworkers, but there are a few bullies, and my first experience has left me wary of things escalating. What I find particularly frustrating is the gossip, cliquey behaviour, and double standards. Some nurses laugh off their own mistakes but criticize others for theirs. Others are incredibly inflexible about how tasks are done, even when someone else’s approach is equally safe and effective. I understand the importance of standards and patient safety, but I don’t understand the need to police every little thing simply because someone does it differently. What gets me is these same people then complain about nursing and yet why are they making things extra difficult for themselves and others??? I realize I’m only seeing things from my perspective, but I’ve never experienced this to the same extent in other professional environments. Has anyone else felt like they don’t fit into nursing culture, even when they get along with individual coworkers? I’d love to hear from people who have worked in other industries and can compare the workplace dynamics.   submitted by   /u/Aloo13 [link]   [comments]