Toxic nursing culture and nurse bullying continue to impact many healthcare workers, both professionally and personally. Last year, I had the opportunity to speak with Jeri Ford, BSN, CPN on nursing culture on the Nurse Converse Podcast.
In our conversation, we explore why toxic nursing culture still exists and how ongoing stress, burnout, and workplace trauma can influence the way nurses relate to others. These experiences often extend beyond the workplace, affecting communication, emotional regulation, and connection in personal relationships once their shifts are over.
As a therapist specializing in attachment and trauma, I often see how healthcare workers adapt to high-pressure environments by entering survival mode. Over time, this can lead to emotional exhaustion, reactivity, or disconnection. In some cases, these patterns contribute to nurse bullying or conflict, not out of intention, but as a result of unprocessed stress and limited emotional support.
While every workplace is different, common themes often include lack of psychological safety, high expectations, and a culture that encourages pushing through rather than slowing down. This can make it difficult for nurses to process their emotions, leading to unresolved stress that shows up in workplace dynamics and relationships.
In this podcast, we also share practical ways to begin shifting these patterns. This includes increasing self-awareness, setting healthy boundaries, and creating more supportive and compassionate environments within healthcare teams.
If you’re a healthcare worker navigating workplace stress or toxic workplace culture, this conversation offers insight and tools, validating the real stress of these experiences and providing ideas for more groundedness and connection.
I hope you enjoy the podcast, which you can listen to on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or YouTube below!
