On the other side

Did I blink during Nurses' Week and suddenly it's August? Yes, I did. And Bubba reminded me today that in two weeks, he starts high school.

What's happened? My boss was removed, then two months later resigned. When I found out why, I wasn't surprised. Basically, being a bully comes back to get you.

Bubba went to MiddleState U's Science Camp again. He had fun. We picked him up and enjoyed a weekend hotel jaunt in a suite free (that's what happens when you save years of credit card points). We ate, drank and were merry. We wouldn't miss our designated IHOP stop for anything, because it's become a tradition.

The summer of the first year of Trump has been heartening. I last switched jobs fortuitously right before the big 2008 crash.

I'm ready again, but I'm older and more leery. There are some things to be said for basic security, short commutes and decent benefits. All the folks at the Hotel eligible are getting out as soon as they can.

Nevertheless, I'm preparing for whatever fall might bring.

Stay tuned.

Bully pulpit

I have a friend (no April Fool-- call him/her M) who is having this problem, and because he/she felt threatened while we completed our studies, he/she kept quiet until his/her internship was over. He/she suffered.

ANA discusses bullying in their Healthy Nurse section on Bullying and Workplace Violence:

Lateral violence refers to acts between colleagues and bullying is often described as acts perpetrated by one in a higher level of authority. This behavior may involve covert or overt acts of verbal and non-verbal aggression. These types of behavior have been reported to result in enough psychological distress to nurses to cause them to leave the profession (Dellasega, 2009). 

The person perpetrating this bullying is in a higher level of authority. Ever heard of C-suite? Well, he/she is up there. It's hard to believe that your former preceptor would, out of the blue, accuse you of theft of intellectual property and assault your character in company e-mail of a prominent hospital system, but the former preceptor did.

All the while, my friend was just happy to receive a national award recently. When he/she came home the other day, there was a family crisis. Off to the hospital, but not for work. One of the family had become ill and required emergent surgery.

After I calmed him/her down, we discussed what happened since school. Everything is documented. Since the degree is done, I suggested he/she contact an attorney. Life's too short to live in fear of this crazy person.

As the saying goes, tough times never last, but tough people do.

More to come...