hopelessly flawed and supremely benevolent

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Editorial Hopelessly flawed and supremely benevolent There is no denying that our profession is fraught with conflicted interactions and disconnected relationships. The petty tyrants in our professional lives come in all shapes and sizes and usually arrive when we least expect it. These tyrants emerge in the form of student nurses, novice nurses, seasoned nurses, nursing faculty, clinical faculty, superiors, subordinates, and peers. Their interaction is targeted and meant to be mean spirited and intimidating. It is probably safe to say that most of us have been the target at least one time in our practice, if not many times. If we are very honest, we might even admit that we have slung the barbed arrow that wounded another nurse. Our words and/or actions left them feeling disrespected, devalued, and dismissed. Nurse bullyingwas one of the top 10 blogs of 2013 for one nursing publication. I read each of those blogs, and the damage was irreparable. The pain on each of those entries was palpable. These individuals were beyond wounded. They had their professional spirit shattered by another nurse. These horrific behaviors have no place in a profession built on a foundation of care and concern for the other. Correction needs to be swift and immediate whenever and wherever these behaviors occur. No nurse can afford to put their head in the sand when they witness this type of injury. As a profession, we seem to have an increasing interest in exploring the nature of these horrific behaviors among our ranks. Gratefully, our interest in correcting the behaviors is even more intense. This phenomenon has been frequently investigated in current professional journals and conferences. However, it was only recently that I noted that these behaviors are being referred to as cannibalistic,and the profession was being referred to as a culture of cannibal- ism.I take strong exception to both those expressions. Those terms certainly capture the imagination, but they do not paint a full and accurate picture of our complex professional culture. Those terms do not put forth a positive public face that will serve us well. Although our flaws need to be honestly examined and corrected, they do not define or characterize the profession that I know and love. Along with its flaws, the culture of nursing is also filled with unbelievable kindness and compassion. Just like the petty tyrants, there are benevolent creatures that come in all shapes and sizes when you least expect it. They come in the form of student nurses, novice nurses, seasoned nurses, nursing faculty, clinical faculty, superiors, subordinates, and peers. Their interaction is targeted and meant to encourage and empower. It is probably safe to say that most of us have been that target many times in our practice. If we are honest, we admit that we directed the arrow that lifted another nurse when they needed it. Our words and actions left them feeling stronger, braver, and smarter. While we explore ways to correct the tyrannical behavior (as we must), I hope that we do not lose sight of our culture of care.We are, after all, a culture of human natureboth hopelessly flawed and supremely benevolent. Perhaps, we can unlock the secret of nurturing the latter. Perhaps, we can extend sincere apologies to all those severely injured by the former. Judith Stetson PhD, RN E-mail address: [email protected] www.jtln.org 1557-3087/$ see front matter © 2014 National Organization for Associate Degree Nursing. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.teln.2014.01.005 Teaching and Learning in Nursing (2014) 9, 51

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Page 1: Hopelessly flawed and supremely benevolent

Teaching and Learning in Nursing (2014) 9, 51

www.jtln.org

Editorial

Hopelessly flawed and supremely benevolent

There is no denying that our profession is fraught withconflicted interactions and disconnected relationships. Thepetty tyrants in our professional lives come in all shapes andsizes and usually arrive when we least expect it. Thesetyrants emerge in the form of student nurses, novice nurses,seasoned nurses, nursing faculty, clinical faculty, superiors,subordinates, and peers. Their interaction is targeted andmeant to be mean spirited and intimidating. It is probablysafe to say that most of us have been the target at least onetime in our practice, if not many times. If we are very honest,we might even admit that we have slung the barbed arrowthat wounded another nurse. Our words and/or actions leftthem feeling disrespected, devalued, and dismissed. “Nursebullying”was one of the top 10 blogs of 2013 for one nursingpublication. I read each of those blogs, and the damage wasirreparable. The pain on each of those entries was palpable.These individuals were beyond wounded. They had theirprofessional spirit shattered by another nurse. These horrificbehaviors have no place in a profession built on a foundationof care and concern for the other. Correction needs to beswift and immediate whenever and wherever these behaviorsoccur. No nurse can afford to put their head in the sand whenthey witness this type of injury.

As a profession, we seem to have an increasing interest inexploring the nature of these horrific behaviors among ourranks. Gratefully, our interest in correcting the behaviors iseven more intense. This phenomenon has been frequentlyinvestigated in current professional journals and conferences.However, it was only recently that I noted that thesebehaviors are being referred to as “cannibalistic,” and the

1557-3087/$ – see front matter © 2014 National Organization for Associate Deghttp://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.teln.2014.01.005

profession was being referred to as a “culture of cannibal-ism.” I take strong exception to both those expressions.Those terms certainly capture the imagination, but they donot paint a full and accurate picture of our complexprofessional culture. Those terms do not put forth a positivepublic face that will serve us well. Although our flaws needto be honestly examined and corrected, they do not define orcharacterize the profession that I know and love.

Along with its flaws, the culture of nursing is also filledwith unbelievable kindness and compassion. Just like thepetty tyrants, there are benevolent creatures that come in allshapes and sizes when you least expect it. They come in theform of student nurses, novice nurses, seasoned nurses,nursing faculty, clinical faculty, superiors, subordinates, andpeers. Their interaction is targeted and meant to encourageand empower. It is probably safe to say that most of us havebeen that target many times in our practice. If we are honest,we admit that we directed the arrow that lifted another nursewhen they needed it. Our words and actions left them feelingstronger, braver, and smarter.

While we explore ways to correct the tyrannical behavior(as we must), I hope that we do not lose sight of our “cultureof care.” We are, after all, a culture of human nature—bothhopelessly flawed and supremely benevolent. Perhaps, wecan unlock the secret of nurturing the latter. Perhaps, wecan extend sincere apologies to all those severely injured bythe former.

Judith Stetson PhD, RNE-mail address: [email protected]

ree Nursing. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.