Why are new nurses treated poorly?

Nurses New Nurse

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I am a new RN. I am also a 46 year old man. I graduated in May, passed NCLEX and started work in July. I started in a new nurse bridge program that was basic but nice and informative. I worked in several units before ending up on a cardiac/pulmonary stepdown unit. I have been there 90 days. I still feel as though there is a lot of knowledge I am lacking. About 2/3 of the other nurses on the unit are great. They offer support and are very willing to answer questions. The other third are condescending and just plain rude. Giving report is the worst. I work hard to prepare for the report. I try to anticipate questions. I give more information than I typically receive. It feels like an interrogation. They inevitably ask a question I don't know the answer to and then they sigh and say things like "Don't you think that's important to know?" For example, I told the oncoming nurse my patient had an aortic valve replacement. She asked if it was tissue or mechanical. I didn't know and she made me feel stupid. She could have used this as an opportunity to teach why that was important to know instead of being mean. Sometimes I wonder if this is personal, if they don't like men, or if it's just because I'm new. Whatever the reason, it's getting old. Any advice?

Specializes in Nephrology, Oncology.

Adding to what another poster said about the type of meds a patient will be on depending in valve type, I imagine that info would come in handy if a patient was ever ordered an MRI?

I had a patient once ordered an MRI but the doc didn't realize she had this esophageal stimulator thing.

Keep your head up, though. I'm a new grad too; my preceptor before orientation was over told me something that I tell myself before every shift: it's called practicing nursing for a reason. The more you learn, yeah? We're in a huge learning curve. This nurse just taught you something but in a less-than-preferred way.

Specializes in Emergency/Cath Lab.
This is EXACTLY what I have a problem a with. It should not matter if the OP is my age (23) or twice my age. The point is he is not dealing with family/friends, machines, fast food, or any other retail job; he is dealing with people and patients who lives are in his hands.

Let me tell you from experience. When a seasoned nurse makes you feel like an idiot you become one. You start to loose your confidence, you start to have increased anxiety, you second guess everything you do.

I understand that no one has power over you and etc. however, lets face it when you constantly hear these things it will affect you.

You feel like an idiot and lose confidence because you let them. Sorry. I dont let myself get bullied. I had enough of that when I was younger. Instead, use the first encounter to learn something. What can I do in report to say the right thing? What kind of things are truly important when giving report the next morning/night ( cardiac floor think meds, procedures, pacer settings, etc etc ). Listen to how you get report and take notes from that for starters.

Ultimately you have to realize that there are just some nasty people out there with a stick up their ass no matter what you do. You cannot please everyone. You can only come prepared and leave it at that. You are right this job is like no other, but that doesnt mean dealing with people should be any different.

Specializes in LTC and School Health.
You feel like an idiot and lose confidence because you let them. Sorry. I dont let myself get bullied. I had enough of that when I was younger. Instead, use the first encounter to learn something. What can I do in report to say the right thing? What kind of things are truly important when giving report the next morning/night ( cardiac floor think meds, procedures, pacer settings, etc etc ). Listen to how you get report and take notes from that for starters.

Ultimately you have to realize that there are just some nasty people out there with a stick up their ass no matter what you do. You cannot please everyone. You can only come prepared and leave it at that. You are right this job is like no other, but that doesnt mean dealing with people should be any different.

Once again, I don't think the" you let people make you feel this way" applies to everyone. I'm so glad you don't let people make you feel this way, not everyone is you.

Specializes in Psychiatric Nursing.

Ruby,

I never questioned the fact that the information about a valve is important. If it wasn't noted in an otherwise comprehensive report, and remembered on demand, then the oncoming nurse can go and find out the information for themselves. In a prior comment you mentioned to let the "rudeness roll of your back." I don't think putting up with rudeness and lateral violence under the cloak of -maybe they are trying to help you by tearing apart your self esteem- idea is a great one. You seem to have the same theme for new nurses who ask these types of questions: -take the harrassment or get out of the profession-

Specializes in ICU.

It's not your gender. I'm brand-new, 38, and this is a new career for me. I started in a step-down unit in July. The nurses in that department were rude (and that's putting it mildly). It didn't matter if it was a woman or man. Snide remarks and nasty comments were what I got from them. There were staff members who were decent and helpful if you needed it. They showed you where your mistake was, or they showed you an easier way to do it. However, I got stuck with the nastier ones since one of them was my "preceptor." I asked for help from a supervisor and got none whatsoever. Firmly but politely tell them you're not tolerating it any longer. And talk to your unit manager. It didn't do any good for me, but you have to go up the chain of command with this.

Actually it's Kowtow (cowtow) Kowtow, which is borrowed from kòu tóu in Mandarin Chinese, is the act of deep respect shown by kneeling and bowing so low as to have one's head touching the ground.

Meet my mentor ladies and gentlemen!!!!!

Specializes in Adult/Ped Emergency and Trauma.

Hey, get in line. Lol!:)

She's like a Big Nursing Textbook, but much more fun, complete with a Weimaraner!!!!:)

It's a cruel world. Some people are rude, their life is falling apart, depressed, negative, and some just don't want others to be better. Some people Cant keep their personal crap aside and they take their anger out on someone else. I am so sorry you had to face one of these people. I am a new grad myself , I do my job and mind my own business. I ask lots of questions, I don't care of people think i ask stupid questions. I need to learn while I am on orientation, bc one day I am going to be on my own. These people get paid to teach/ orient , they don't get paid to have me do everything while they sit on their butts and gossip about shopping, boyfriends etc. I have learned that if you do what you are supposed to, more work and less gossip, and only good things will happen. For some reason every single nurse out there thinks they are great nurses , yeah right!!! All you can do is be respectful in the work setting and only focus on the positives . There are great nurses out there who actually loveee their job and what they do, and they have a big heart and are willing to help new nurses. While others will try to bring you down to their level, just ignore them :)

Nah, most nurses are beyotches to new grads. Your unit sounds EXACTLY like mine when I started...the nurses were ugly during report. Now that I've been a nurse a few years I don't take their crap anymore. I'm rude right back to those nurses who were to me during report. When they miss something or make an error I point it out like they are dumb just like they did me. 1st time I got the oppertunity it felt GREAT!! That right there was enough to make this certain nurse (who thought she was God's gift to nursing) back off.

To new grads however, I NEVER do that. We all make mistakes and its even harder when you're new...so with them if they miss something I kindly point it out....like "hey you might not have known this but ___" And I don't shout it loud for everyone to here.

Specializes in neuro/ortho med surge 4.

This standard answer of "because you let them" is BS. Why does the person who is being "bullied" need to change their behavior? What about the "bully". They are the ones in the wrong and their behavior needs to be modified and not the innocent. Are people really serious when they say this? Think people.

No offense but you are 46, shouldnt you have come across this before in another line of work or with friends/family? Dealing with less than pleasant people is sadly a day to day thing it seems like.

This person sounds just like those 1/3rd of nurses you're talking about. Sad he/she doesn't even seem to realize it. You shouldn't have to take it just because you're 46 and should be use to it by now.

Sistasoul I agree with you 100%. I care about what happens to people at a bad time in their life but that doesn't give them the right to be mean and hateful. With my job I travel for a healthcare system so I never know anyone. So if a person is rude to me it's because I let them? No, it's because they are mean. I let them know right away that I don't appreciate they way they talk or act towards me. But just because I said something doesn't mean they will change. And some people have trouble sticking up for themselves. It isn't their fault it is all these rude people we encounter.

And yes, I have reported people for their bad behavior. I had a doctor cuss me out because I could not read his hand writing for an order I was trying to enter. Everyone was shocked I wrote him up. Why? Because he is like that with everyone. I said if he wants me to take care of his patient then he needs to write clear orders. Well these types of people shouldn't get away with bad behavior.

I'm not a new nurse but I see this happening so much. I try to be a resource to the new nurses and students because I've been in their shoes.

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