Question

Rachita graduated from nursing school a year ago and, since then, has worked on a neurology unit. Normally a happy and healthy person, Rachita recently noticed that she always feels run down and is losing her hair. During the past year, she was told that her assessment skills were lacking because she missed an important finding on a patient while covering for another nurse. Her supervisor seemingly assigns her high-risk admits every time she works. Her co-workers complain that Rachita always gets the lightest patient assignments and should take the admissions. Last week, she overheard another nurse saying, “Rachita is almost useless. She spends so much time with her patients she can never help other nurses.” Rachita feels physically ill every time she goes to work. She wonders if these “tests: of her nursing skills will ever end. What type of violence is Rachita experiencing? Which of the signs of bullying from Table 25-1 is (are) evidenced in this scenario? What steps can Rachita take to minimize bullying in the workplace? What can Rachita do if her supervisor brushes off her concerns?

Answer 1

Rachitha is facing psychological abuse.It is also a form of emotional abuse and bullying experienced in workplace.

Some of the signs of bullying experienced by her in the workplace are

• Co workers complain : critising on the way she works and publically humiliating in front of others .This will be a emotional trauma and will decrease her self esteem
• verbal abuse :Rachitha is almost useless .This can make her feel very week mentally frustrated, leading to general health issues like fatigue, depressed

Some of the steps to minimize bullying at workplace are

• Stay calm and cool making abusers realize she is strong
• Speak directly with the person who is bullying on you with an optimistic, confident and in a rational attitude
• Report to the supervisor if cannot manage by self or the person doesn't change their judgmental behaviour being in a state of co-worker and holds the same responsibility
• Point out the mistakes done by them to show mistakes are possible by everyone as we are human ,finding a solution for it is the right way and not critising others.
• Focus on performance improvements so that others could learn from you
• Stress management

If her supervisor brushes off her concerns it will

• enhance her confidence level and improve her performance.
• This will give a positive impact on her quality of health experienced now.
• Can act as a role model and help others to handle workplace bullying