Have you been asking yourself what makes bedside nursing toxic? Many nurses describe the profession as if it’s a toxic relationship, and in many ways, it’s accurate! Nurses are often celebrated for their dedication to caring for people at their worst and providing compassion to those who need it the most. However, when you take a closer look, nurses face extreme challenges that can often overshadow the rewarding aspects of the profession. After just a couple of years into their careers, many nurses wonder what they’ve gotten themselves into. Yet, just as hard as it is to stay, it’s even harder to leave.

Among these challenges, the increased prevalence of bullying and harassment stands as a concerning issue. Many studies indicate that nurses encounter these negative behaviors in the workplace regularly, which can significantly impact their mental health.

In addition to these interpersonal conflicts, systemic issues within the healthcare system further complicate working conditions for nurses. Management practices are often scrutinized for not adequately supporting nursing staff or addressing their concerns effectively. This lack of support can leave nurses feeling undervalued and overlooked despite their critical role in patient care. Unsafe working conditions–ranging from insufficient protective measures against potential violence–further increase the risks that nurses face daily.

Economic factors like low wages are especially striking, considering the high skill level required in nursing. The low wages, along with high nurse-to-patient ratios, frequently stretch nurses thin, impacting their ability to provide optimal care. These challenges collectively contribute to the common belief that bedside nursing is toxic.

What Makes Bedside Nursing Toxic In Some Facilities?

Recent trends, especially after COVID-19, indicate a noticeable shift from bedside nursing roles. This phenomenon has warranted those who don’t work in healthcare to look closely at what’s happening within the nursing community.

Analyzing The Emotional And Physical Demands

One of the main reasons why nurses are reconsidering bedside roles is the extreme emotional and physical demands that come with the territory. Outside of medical care, nurses emotionally support patients and their families under stressful circumstances. This continuous exposure to high-stress environments can lead to emotional burnout, characterized by exhaustion and cynicism, and reduces professional efficacy.

Physically, the demands are equally challenging. Bedside nursing requires long hours of standing, lifting, and performing tasks that are demanding. These factors increase the risk of potential injuries due to extreme fatigue.

Workplace Bullying And Harassment

Workplace bullying and harassment are significant concerns within nursing, leading many to wonder why bedside nursing is toxic. Unfortunately, most of this bullying happens between nurses, affecting morale and job satisfaction. The hierarchical and highly stressed nature of healthcare environments can contribute to these negative behaviors.

The Lack Of Staffing And Resources

Staffing shortages and inadequate resources have been long-standing issues in nursing. It has become increasingly apparent that high nurse-to-patient ratios not only increase workload but also contribute to moral distress among nurses. This stems from wanting to provide high-quality care to their patients but being limited due to an unrealistic workload.

Economic Factors

Compensation and opportunities for career advancement also play a role in nurses’ decisions to move away from bedside roles. The discrepancy between the high level of expertise required for nursing and the compensation received is a concern that needs addressing.

Moreover, many nurses who want to advance their careers are disillusioned by the fact that the cost of education doesn’t always reflect the return on investment (outside of CRNA and entrepreneurship roles). Additionally, nurses who want to go to NP school are often halted by the expectation that they must find their own preceptors after already paying tuition.

These are just a small fraction of the many issues within healthcare that are causing nurses to leave the bedside.

How To Deal With A Toxic Work Environment As A Nurse

Dealing with toxicity at work can be extremely challenging in the context of bedside nursing, where the stakes are high and the pressure is constant. How can nurses deal with this, especially if they can’t up and leave?

Document Everything

If you are being bullied at work, keep a journal of the time, date, and description of each event. This can come in handy if there comes a time when you need to report someone. Earning a nursing license is no easy feat, and the last thing you need is to work in an environment where it’s being jeopardized. Unfortunately, not every nurse can easily switch jobs due to geographic location, familial responsibilities, or financial reasons. However, keeping track of each offense and reporting it to the appropriate person via email is an essential step to ending toxic work environments.

Prioritize Self Care

A toxic work environment is bad enough. The last thing you want is the same situation at home. Taking care of yourself, whether it’s regular exercise, meditation, setting time out for your favorite TV show, etc, is key. If possible, taking PTO or reducing your house to part-time or per diem can also be a major relief for your mental health.

Communication And Friendships

Having an open dialogue and immediately addressing issues as they arise can be more helpful than letting negative emotions fester. Moreover, creating a supportive network among your peers or having at least one coworker that you are close to makes a difference. There’s strength in numbers when addressing a toxic workplace.

Workplace Rights And Seeking Alternatives

Nurses should know their rights and the legal protections against harassment. Knowing the law can empower nurses to take necessary actions against toxicity. Exploring different nursing paths or specialties can offer a new perspective and potentially more positive work settings if the toxic environment becomes unbearable. Don’t count out the non-bedside nursing roles such as case management, utilization review, ambulatory outpatient nursing, wound care nursing, public health nursing, etc. If you can’t leave your facility, keep an eye on job postings to be one of the first to apply to non bedside roles that may arise. Don’t give up on yourself.

For those still wondering if bedside nursing is toxic, remember that at the end of the day, we don’t have to be a reflection of our surroundings. Regardless of which setting you work in, you will always encounter negative people. Remember that while you can’t control other people, you can always choose not to let these people and the environment affect you. Your mental health comes first.