Why Some Nurses Stay in a Toxic Work Environment
I hear from so many nurses that they are working short staffed and in dangerous conditions. For example, some nurses are asked to falsify charting, others complain about how they are treated by administration and coworkers and there are many other troublesome situations.
If you are working in a toxic work environment, please consider leaving. As I often say, you can always get another job, but you can’t get another license.
Nurses stay in toxic environments because we are part of a very loyal profession. We truly care about our patients and want to make sure that our patients are cared for properly.
In addition, nurses feel like the facility is already short-staffed and if they leave it will have even fewer nurses. And who then will there be to take care of all the patients? That is not the nurse’s concern.
If you are in an unsafe situation or a toxic work environment, why would you want to stay?
As humans, we nurses are wired for consistency. It’s sort of like a hamster on a running wheel. We get out of bed at roughly the same time every day, we go through the same morning routine, we grab what we can for breakfast and off we go to work. Afterwards, we come home, try to get a good night’s rest, and then repeat the entire drill starting the next day.
Now, let me recommend to you one of the best books I have read titled, Breaking the Habit of Being Yourself: How to Lose Your Mind and Create a New One by Dr. Joe Dispenza. Dr. Dispenza talks about breaking the notion of being a hamster in a wheel and being very present in the moment of what is happening.
All we have is right now, we don’t have yesterday, and we don’t have tomorrow. The only thing that is happening is at this very moment. When you work in a toxic work environment, it really affects your self-esteem.
There are many reasons why nurses stay in toxic work environments one of which is because of limited job opportunities in the area. However, you do have a choice; you can move to another area for employment or choose a longer commute.
In addition, nurses are afraid of repercussions. They’re afraid that if they do find a new job they’ll be blacklisted in the community. While blacklisting is not legal, it is something that is very difficult to prove.
Nurses have amazing coping mechanisms to navigate stress and toxicity, but these coping strategies are actually only short-term solutions and should not be utilized for long term because when you are in a toxic work environment and stressed, it will affect your body and your well-being.
Should you choose to stay in a toxic work environment, know that your license can be at risk and that there really are better workplaces out there that can provide more supportive work environments where you can feel healthier, fulfilled, and have support of your coworkers.
