I qualified as a registered nurse this year, but I decided not to work for the NHS. I became mentally and physically ill during my time as a student nurse due of the toxic environment. My current job is incredible, nice staff and I don't feel overworked or underpaid. I won't ever go back to the NHS.
I applied for a job and got an interview, passed the interview, and selected that area to be my final placement. Attended that placement, and on the very first day, my mentor made me cry. She was just absolutely horrible, which i never understood why. She had over 20 years of managerial experience abroad, and I could clearly see her skills and knowledge, which i totally respect. During this time, i was not even qualified, and i was still a student, and she, for some reason, expected my knowledge and skills to be on the same level as her. She had an issue with the way we were tough at university. She had problems with our module, ect, and this was something that i knew was out of my hand. I told her that if she has a problem with the way we are taught, she should speak to my university. My placement was 6 weeks, and after 3 weeks, i have had enough. The funny thing was that even others saw that she was bullying me and told me that i should stand for myself. I raised this issue with the placement facilitator, and she moved me to another area . Now, thinking back, i wish i had shared my experience with my university. Btw I dont work there. My application is withdrawn 😊
I made the mistake of raising concerns about a school nurse who was bullying a single parent family during my nursing degree at LJMU. She wrote on my PARE documentation I had raised a concern. This followed me to other placements. I was a disabled student. I am now more disabled as I have PTSD due to the extent of bullying I was subjected to. The actions of RNs towards me contributed to two attempts to end my life due to the actions of RNs and SNs. I come from a construction background - despite common perceptions of builders the female dominated work environment is far more toxic and unsafe. I would never trust a nurse having worked with them and heard the dehumanising gallow humour from the older ones. Its toxic because its female dominated. Men are not so welcome in my experience and the rates of men in nursing have dropped from 12% to 10% in recent years. The worst mistake of my life entering such a toxic environment full of evil.
Hi Zara, all your suggestions are all good and are usually recommended by the NHS as part of policies to follow when dealing with challenges / toxicity within a work place. However, in my situation, those suggestions did not work in my case. The best thing I would have done was to just leave my job quietly and never raised any thing to my management. I was bullied by one individual (HCA) who was feared by nearly everyone (doctors & practitioner nurses included) in a NHS hospital outpatient department. The line manager (practitioner nurse for many yrs) was best mate to my bully and the management above line manager were also “mates” to my bully. The management would cover up the bully ‘s behaviours. I was not the only one that fell prey to bullying by the same individual. A number of other HCA colleagues suffered the bullying by same individual and nothing was done when it was escalated to management. Instead individuals ended up leaving their jobs or lost their jobs due to bullying by the same individual and management and top bosses covering up. I went to report concerns to line manager after witnessing her bullying as a newly employee to the department and experiencing also on small scale of her bullying. Little did I know that the line manager was close friends with the bully. My bully was made to know of my complaint and concerns. This snowballed into more bullying including from line manager herself. It felt like being back in a school play ground and this went for all the nine months that I worked there. Such a toxic and unprofessional environment if one finds themselves. I would suggest to just leave as soon as possible and do so quietly. I was working in department which is part of NHS outpatient hospital department. You would expect steps would be taken to tackle such behaviours and there would be support. But sadly none of that happened in this NHS outpatient hospital department. Policies and protocols as good as they are; sadly don't always work. I think sometimes, you just have to use your own intuition, wisdom and do the right thing for your own health and well-being. And the right way to go, is to leave that work environment and don't hang on in the hope things will get better or change. Reason is if line management and the topmanagement above line management is toxic too, there is no where else to go and there is nothing you can do to change such an environment of a workplace. And you have to look after your own well-being /health and you can do so by leaving such a toxic work environment and rather staying on and fight to bring about change. I tried to bring change instead I lost the job and could not get reference from same line manager. And I was not the only person that experienced this same treatment from the same workplace in within the NHS.
Hello Zara :), this happened to me when I was in my placement year as well. I did a degree in Computer Science though, in my third year, I went on a placement at a high school in Halifax as an ICT technician, I started the placement during the school summer holidays and it was okay, I was able to go to Friday prayer without a problem. Later when term started I was no longer permited to go for a longer lunch so I could make it and get back. I raised this with my manager but was told it was part of the role and we want you to get the real experience of the working environment. I argued that this is a voluntery placement and as I am not getting paid, I think an exception should be made for this. But this wasn't accepted. I raised this with my University Placement Coordinator but was told that if I don't like it I should leave the job. I then raised it to a senior leader in the school but was again told I could not go. I then resorted to speaking to the Students Union at my university who said they would speak to my Placement Coordinator and see what they can do. An agreement was made a while later with my manager on placement that if I start earlier one week of the month, I can then work half days on Friday and attend Friday prayer. I said I was happy with this and then I was able to attend Ma shaa Allah.
How to resolve it? EMPLOY PROPER GENUINELY CARING nurses and carries such as ME! As a british english fluent speaking person whos agenda IS NOT to come to the uk and get paid n send money abriad not giving a s about those poor ppl who RELY on being carerd for on a PERSONAL level and not just bcoz its a job that pays! Patience with the patients is a MUST! N no confusing communication issues! THIS is wot most if not all disabled n elderly patients WANT and NEED! FACT!
Hello from NZ - I love your vlogs and it would be exhausting working all day and all night - you are so clever so that is good you are enjoying what you do.
Hii 🖐️ Zara I'm a nursing student in India And I'm immeresly impressive With you , Your way of speech and presentation skills is so Amazing And I'm your new subscriber keep rocking Love you from India STAY BLESSED ALWAYS
Please i had an accident before 2years and its affect my right eye i cant see by her but it dosent affect my work performance at all so i want to ask if that will affect me to goin nhs or not
Hy Zara I love watching your videos and it lifts my spirits ! I'm an internationally educated nurse and after few months I'll be working at NHS and I would like to take up some courses for my professional development Could you please suggest me some courses and universities where i can work and study as well
Hello, I have very a important question!! I am from London. 🇬🇧 I have graduated BSC nursing 2021/22. And I still haven’t started working yet due to disability. Complicated 😔 it’s been 2 years. I haven’t done any hours or registered to NMC. But I am more confident now. I am planning to start end of this year or beginning of this next year! Excited!! Will there be any issue with my registration? Will I be able to get the job? What shall I do ? Please someone reply to me!’ I will really appreciate it!
You can't correct a toxic work culture when the toxic people are doing all they can to escape accountability for their actions! As long as toxic nursing culture keeps getting a hand clap of praise it will continue!
Hi Zara, hope you are doing great. Can you please make a video on Msc pre registration nurse 2 years course, RN, any chance to get PR via this route. I have bachelor but non nursing. Thanks in advance.
Hello 👋 I work in the United States of America as an anesthesiologist’s assistant, where we do 99% of the work of an anesthesiologist’s assistant, and our degree is a bachelor’s degree. We bring the patient and stay at the anesthesia cart, and after treatment we monitor the intensive care equipment (ICU). Can I work in Britain 🇬🇧? Do you have information about working in this field? I hope you have a great day.
You missed a couple. . NOT FEELING (( or being) APPRECIATED, and HAVING NO CONTROL OF YOUR CAREER OR LIFE. I didn't see 5 Christmases with my kids in a row.
