Let’s face it, rumors are a fact of life. I’m sure each and every one of us is guilty of playing a part in the rumor mill. Whether it was back in high school when you heard Susie dumped Johnny for Mike to go prom and you told your lunch table. Or maybe it was between family and that Uncle Jim lost his job because x, y and z. It all seems harmless at the time, but is it really?

Most of the time rumors start because there is a lack of information or truth pertaining to the subject. Rumor is defined as, a story or statement in general circulation without confirmation or certainty as to facts: a rumor of war. It’s difficult to separate ones self from being involved with such happenings, but there are ways to handle the situation in a professional manner.

As a traveling nurse, you will come into many new surroundings where you will not know a single soul and your only connection would be with the manager who hired you. So that is your point of contact and probably the one person you should be able to trust. There may be some chatty nurses and it could be real easy for you to feel accepted by playing along with their gossip, but in the end it can hurt you. Building trust among your peers is an important quality to your career, but that is not how it’s done. My best advice to you is that if you hear something derogatory or blasphemous, ask kindly to hear no more. Knowing such “information” can make you feel uneasy and add stress to your already hectic environment, so it is best to just avoid it all costs.

So what should you do if you are burdened with a rumor? If you do hear a rumor, either go to the source or speak with a superior to find out the truth. Before you prolong the gossip, ask yourself, “Is there a reason to pass on this information? Is it fact or fiction?”