When speaking up for patients came at a cost

Content note:
This story includes descriptions of workplace conflict, professional retaliation, and emotional distress experienced by a healthcare provider.

I still wonder why I had to go through five years of being bullied, scapegoated, and gaslit by my manager in the OR. It left me with PTSD and scars I’ll probably carry for life.

All I ever did was stand up for my patients. I spoke up about safety concerns because I cared — but apparently, that threatened the wrong people. Instead of supporting me, my leadership turned on me. Within six months, my 28-year spotless nursing career fell apart. Five letters of discipline. Two suspensions. The last one broke me.

I’ll never forget being escorted out of the hospital by two security guards, as if I’d done something terrible. I was heartbroken, humiliated, and completely drained. If I hadn’t been caring for my aunt after her hip surgery at the time, I honestly don’t know if I’d still be here today.

Thankfully, my family reminded me of the gift of life. I picked myself up and started looking for a new job in a different health authority. When I interviewed at the new hospital, I laid everything out on the table. I told my new manager about the trauma, the mistrust, and the baggage I carried — but also about my willingness to heal and to work hard.

He hired me on the spot. That decision — that chance — saved my life.

Within a year, I was promoted to nurse educator in the OR. My mission became clear: no one under my watch would ever go through what I went through. Together with our senior leadership team, we started educating staff about respect, communication, and what to do when someone crosses the line.

It’s easy for a hospital to have a “respectful workplace” policy. But if no one lives by it, what good is it? We made sure everyone — from housekeeping to anesthesiologists — understood that respect isn’t optional. Everyone is accountable. Everyone deserves to feel safe.

Building a healthy workplace takes time — it doesn’t happen overnight — but it’s possible. When everyone gets the same message and the same tools, things start to change.

Looking back now, I see those five years of hell differently. They were a painful lesson, yes — but also a catalyst. They taught me empathy, strength, and the power of using lived experience to drive change.

If my story can help even one person feel less alone or inspire one workplace to take bullying seriously, then it was worth it.

• If you need support

  Reading or sharing stories like this can sometimes stir up difficult feelings.
  If you need support, help is available.

  Canada (finding emotional & mental health support):
  Call 211 or visit https://211.ca/
  (Connects you with local mental health, counselling, and support services.)

  Canada (crisis or emotional distress):
  Call or text 988 (24/7)
  (You don’t have to be suicidal to reach out — support is available for moments of overwhelm or distress.)

  Outside Canada:
  Find local support at https://findahelpline.com/
  

  If you’re in immediate danger, please contact your local emergency services.
  
  You’re not alone in what you’re feeling.

• What this story helps us see

  • Care providers who speak up for patient safety can face profound personal, emotional, and professional consequences — including isolation, loss of identity, and long-term mental health harm.

  • Workplace bullying and retaliation are not abstract culture issues; they are lived experiences that can follow care providers for years and fundamentally alter their sense of safety and trust.

  • Being believed, protected, or given a second chance can determine whether a care provider leaves the profession entirely or finds a path back to purpose and healing.

  • Lived experience of harm, when acknowledged and supported, can become a powerful driver for empathy, education, and meaningful cultural change in healthcare settings.