Bullying in the veterinary profession

Re: Bullying in the veterinary profession

azlana — Tue, 01 Oct 2013 14:17:05 GMT

This post makes me sad My trainng practice i felt i was bullied by one of the vets in particular she would pick on a certian memeber of staff but 90% of the time it was me. I stuck it out and finished my training. I am lucky now a couple of years later to find myself in a small lovely practice as head nurse where i feel i have some pull. I will not tolerate bulling in any way shape or form. I encourage all staff members under my supervison whether other nurses ANA's SVN's or placemnt students to come talk to me. I want to encourage people into this profession and not out of it.

It is sad that bullying does occur alot. It could be a thing that its a female dominated profession and most of the men in the proffession (vets only really) are a bit old and stuffy and set in their old school ways. (Not all vets i may add. Have had the pleasure of working with some amazing vets male female old and new grad). It seems to be proffession that is adverse to change in the HR depatment because alot of us are private owned and there is no BIG BOSS to go speak to.

I encourage any one going through this to not sit in silence but to go seek advice from eiher BVNA another collegue you are close to and can trust and if required a manager.

The RCVS do need to put some guidelines in place to give pracitces an idea of how they should be coping with these issues as someties the Managers themselves have no idea at all what they are doing. They hand out warnings before they even know the problem! URGH..

Re: Bullying in the veterinary profession

Susan Jackson — Mon, 23 Sep 2013 18:55:19 GMT

I remember being bullied in a different job when I was 18, too quiet and shy and didn't know any better. after that I went to an admin job which was the same but more groups or clicks as I called them, that would just snub you like you weren't worth anything.

After them I've only seen it in practice but never had anyone bully me personally. I really hate to see it and I'm not one to stay quiet about it. It's usually new people, students and just qualified vets/vet nurses and receptionist too. I'm not too scared to walk up to someone and tell them that I think they were mean or out of line if I see it (I do this nicely and in a diplomatic way of course), probably why I've not been bullied.

Re: Bullying in the veterinary profession

supamog — Sat, 21 Sep 2013 16:26:50 GMT

We all seem to agree on here that bullying NEEDS STAMPING OUT! I genuinely think that it's because we are seen as a sort

of "closed community" and outsiders don't have a clue what goes on. I walked from one practice and my husband walked from

another one. Thing is if we continue to "walk" then our places will be taken by other non-suspecting individuals who will then

go through it themselves. I feel ashamed that a, I chose to walk and b, that things are still the same. Yes, indeed education

is the key but why are so many peoply who are supposed to be compasionate, so mean to each other?

Re: Bullying in the veterinary profession

Shoned Hawksworth — Tue, 23 Jul 2013 10:06:57 GMT

I worked at a previous practice where i saw the head nurse bullying some of the other nurses, so i went and spoke to the manager about it, this then got turned around to perhaps because i was going through a difficult personal time that i felt this way. I went a tad mental about this and made a written formal complaint, i subsequently quit as could not work for people like that. I did find out after that the nurse in question was sent on a cpd course and was asked to leave a few months later!

It could all be handled much better and my sympathies go out to anyone who feels they are being bullied - all i can say is speak up and don't let them get away with it - it is not fair on anyone

Re: Bullying in the veterinary profession

Teri-Ann Baldwin — Mon, 22 Jul 2013 20:35:29 GMT

Sometimes though, it's the management that are the bullies so they don't do anything about it, which is just aggravating! I think these people should really go on management cpd to deal with these situations and then maybe they could see the impact they're having on the people they work with. Sadly adults think they can do what they wants and this can get worse in a senior position.

Re: Bullying in the veterinary profession

AlexandraC — Mon, 22 Jul 2013 18:43:29 GMT

Yes of course adults should not bully others - but they do. I was really thinking more of how the actual bullying should be dealt with by line managers/bosses etc. I have seen it dealt with very badly or not at all, which does not address the problem, it just allows the bully or bullies to think they can continue with their behaviour and start on a new victim should the old one leave. Maybe more support and guidance could be given on how to manage a bullying situation at college/uni?

Re: Bullying in the veterinary profession

Teri-Ann Baldwin — Mon, 22 Jul 2013 08:37:39 GMT

[quote user="AlexandraC"]

Hi everyone

Just an idea bit maybe this is something that could be covered early on in both vet and nurse training? It could be covered at college/university as part of the course. It seems that some of the management/HR type stuff is not really covered because there are so many clinical things to learn. Seeing as most practice managers (but not all) or clinical directors are either vets or nurses surely it would make sense to spend some time covering this insidious problem in the veterinary industry early on? Education is the key surely? All practices should have a 'zero tolerance' attitude to bullying from the start -it might save a few tears

[/quote]

In my course we had a module called 'the professional veterinary nurse' which did go over things like bullying. HOWEVER, surely as an adult human being in a professional working environment it should be logical to not bully others? Or as children did these people not get taught to treat others how you'd like to be treated and now they think it's okay to behave like this in adult life?

Education is indeed the key - when you're a child. Adults on the other hand should be fully aware of their actions and the way they treat others.

Re: Bullying in the veterinary profession

AlexandraC — Wed, 17 Jul 2013 18:48:56 GMT

Hi everyone

Re: Bullying in the veterinary profession

Teri-Ann Baldwin — Wed, 17 Jul 2013 17:59:56 GMT

I agree, i've noticed bullying in practice but in my case mainly towards new grad vets, newly qualified degree nurses & college nurses and also trainees. I find that some of the bullies start off by being very nice but then start being quite manipulative then just start picking at little things and generally de-meaning the person being bullied. I don't think it's addressed enough in practice at all and very easily brushed aside, much more needs to be done to sort the issue but the rcvs don't seem to care too much in my opinion.

Re: Bullying in the veterinary profession

wobbliebob — Sun, 07 Jul 2013 21:10:24 GMT

It's strange that I haven't been on the forum for a while but the first time I do the subject of bullying is the first thing i see. It does seem that it is more easily brushed aside in veterinary practice and that victims are unsure how to proceed if they are having problems

Re: Bullying in the veterinary profession

Mlwelsh — Mon, 01 Jul 2013 17:37:35 GMT

Hi, i have personally experienced/witnessed bullying in all the practices I have worked in (apart from this one but we have only been open 3 weeks and there is only 5 of us in total!)

I left my training practice in the end due to having had enough rubbish put on me by one nurse in particular. I had reported her to the practice boss several times as she upset me so much, i was in tears. It was an awkward situation and I felt at the time that not alot was done about it.

Then at my next practice, I felt I was unfairly treated and picked on by my head nurse and others. In the end I was unfairly dismissed (have looked into it since so know this to be the case) but did nothing about it at the time as was so distraught. I was suspended from night duties because the head nurse 'couldnt trust me' but there was no-one else in the room and no formal discilinary action taken. I was also not given ANY reason apart for the suspension and after she told me i was suspended - then made me work that night shift as my last one because she couldnt find cover?! They decided to extend my probation - even though the probationary period had finished 2 weeks earlier according to my contract - and less than a week later I was dismissed, based on an 'accumulation of things' for which i was NEVER given ANY examples of what these things were!!

Unfortunately I feel that there is not enough done at all, and although I accept the fact that you wont get on with everyone in a practice, I still feel there are times when that is not the case and it is downright bullying! Something needs to be done and soon. but whether it will or not is a different matter entirely!

Re: Bullying in the veterinary profession

Ema24 — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 08:32:48 GMT

Its nice to know that you're not alone when being bullied at work. Sometimes you feel like it could only be you, but obviously other people go through the same thing at different practices

Re: Bullying in the veterinary profession

michelle smith — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 22:06:58 GMT

I have worked outside the veterinary profession and in the veterinary profession and unfortunately I have to say that I agree with you. Bullying is almost everywhere, for some reason this profession attracts it! I've no idea why. I work as a locum so to avoid the "politics" but even as a locum can find myself the target of bullies. Easy person to blame I suppose. The only reasurance I get is that I know it is them and not me, because I am always welcome back at the nice practice where there aren't any bullies!!!! Shame when all we really want to do is help animals

Re: Bullying in the veterinary profession

Caro Laithwaite VN — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 22:02:11 GMT

I was on the rcvs forum at bvna congress for anti-bullying a few years ago now. rcvs **** spokesman well l am not allowed to give comments on him but he and the legal woman politely put looked and sounded total planks.

I am responsible for making them look/sound like the total planks they were and am totally happy about the fact as they deserved it and they took it badly, my heart bleeds looking back on it... honest!

What was NOT fine was afterwards. The pair shook hands with the chairman then totally blanked the lass who was a vn that the legal people had helped AND knew the legal woman. The did not look at her hand, did not look at her she may as well not have existed for the notice they took of her. She was on the panel, was very shy and nervous and barely spoke the whole time, l was furious at them for that total disgrace.

They blanked me which was fine as it saved me having to disinfect my hand. Brian and l invited the lass to have lunch with us as she looked lost but she smiled shyly thanked us and went off with friends.

I have a website up to help with antibullying if anyone wants, has a lot of links to other sites, l pop it up here every so often, get a lot of media requests from researchers and people all over the world.

Re: Bullying in the veterinary profession

Sal the 1st — Wed, 05 Jun 2013 22:05:44 GMT

[quote user="Helen Tottey"]

Wasn't there a recent survey that the RCVS did that showed bullying was one of the things they needed to work on??

[/quote]

there was indeed - but the way it read it was more to do with bullying within their own building, its something they need to start taking seriously and very soon and then maybe they can start looking at how some of the people who help to pay their upkeep are also being bullied. Surveys are fine but only if you act upon the information/ issues they throw up

Re: Bullying in the veterinary profession

Helen Tottey — Wed, 05 Jun 2013 21:48:30 GMT

Wasn't there a recent survey that the RCVS did that showed bullying was one of the things they needed to work on??

Re: Bullying in the veterinary profession

Philippa — Tue, 04 Jun 2013 22:58:26 GMT

I am in total agreement, bullying does seem to be of great concern within the veterinary profession. I went through it at my previous practice and when I moved practices I thought to my self - yes a clean break, these people I am working for seem nice and genuine - big mistake. I am being singled out and victimized in my current practice ( facing a disciplinary tomorrow as it happens for something we are all gulity of but, only I get the punishment - where is the fairness in that??) Bullying makes people's lives a misery, is it any wonder that a number of SVN's and RVN's are looking at alternatively employment!!

Bullying obviously happens everywhere, but other professions seem to be better equipped to deal with it. I am so unhappy at work, I have even considered working in Morrisons money would be better to!

Re: Bullying in the veterinary profession

AlexandraC — Tue, 04 Jun 2013 22:44:23 GMT

Ok, thanks Sal I will have a look. I feel quite strongly about this issue and have considered writing an article about it (I could probably write a book about some of the dreadful things I have seen and experieced in practice!) I am particularly interested in how the bullying in the veterinary profession compares to other professions.

Re: Bullying in the veterinary profession

Sal the 1st — Tue, 04 Jun 2013 22:32:25 GMT

my opinion is start dealing with it from the top down - and I mean right at the top. I find the RCVS very bullying towards nurses, and if its ok for them to do it then .......

As an internal matter within a practice there are loads of ideas on some of the threads on here