[NurseWannabe1129]

Wow! Surprisingly I have never heard this expression. It's a shame that "Nurses eat their young". Personally, I am only a student, but every nurse I have talked to has been very informative and helpful. I hope I find this same attitude when I finally graduate and get into the field.

The phrase should be that bartenders eat their young! I've been bartending for over three years now and every time we all see one of those young bartenders straight out of "bartending school," we roll our eyes. But this is also very different career-wise. Another good bartender takes our tips. Another good nurse, on the other hand, could lighten our workload.

[rjc729]

I'm a recent graduate, I have to say when doing my clinicals, myself and fellow students were very uncomfortable with the environment we were in. A couple of the nurses were graduates from the year before, same program, and still were not very nice. How quickly they forget where they came from....we all have to start somewhere. My question is, wouldn't you want to help new nurses be all they can be, after all, they are going to work along side you, why not help them be successful at it?

[nurse2b2010]

Originally Posted by rjc729

I'm a recent graduate, I have to say when doing my clinicals, myself and fellow students were very uncomfortable with the environment we were in. A couple of the nurses were graduates from the year before, same program, and still were not very nice. How quickly they forget where they came from....we all have to start somewhere. My question is, wouldn't you want to help new nurses be all they can be, after all, they are going to work along side you, why not help them be successful at it?

First let me say congratulations on your recent graduation! Second, I agree with you -- it seems like (from what I have been reading on many of these posts) that many nurses seem to quickly forget that they were once new nurses and had to gain experience. I start nursing school this fall, and I hope I get some good nurses to mentor me. I want to be a good student and a great nurse some day.

Best of luck to you in your new career!

[SMK1]

Some people are also overly sensitive. I have been nitpicked about stuff as ridiculous as what side of the bed I put an extra chair on or the side table etc... Yeah it s annoying, but it is not exactly "eating the young". If all you get is nonsense like that then yeah, it will wear you down, but some stuff has to be able to slide off of your back.

[Ruby Vee]

Originally Posted by rjc729

I'm a recent graduate, I have to say when doing my clinicals, myself and fellow students were very uncomfortable with the environment we were in. A couple of the nurses were graduates from the year before, same program, and still were not very nice. How quickly they forget where they came from....we all have to start somewhere. My question is, wouldn't you want to help new nurses be all they can be, after all, they are going to work along side you, why not help them be successful at it?

This thread is getting longer and longer and will probably never arrive at a consensus. DO nurses eat their young?

I'm amazed at what some people seem to believe is "eating their young." One negative interaction, one uncomfortable situation does not mean that "nurses eat their young." I cannot believe that you really expected to get through an entire nursing program without leaving your comfort zone.

The fact that you and your fellow students were very uncomfortable with the environment you were in does not mean that nurses eat their young. There could be numerous reasons for your discomfort, starting with the possibility that you were unprepared and ending with the unfortunate possibility that the unit was just not one of the more nurturing places to do a clinical.

My answer to your question isn't simple. Maybe these nurses WANTED to help you to be all that you can be but were simply too overwhelmed by all of their OTHER responsibilities to give you all the nurturing you believe you were entitled to. Maybe your expectations were too high. Maybe they were trying very hard to mentor you, but their teaching styles clashed with your learning style. Maybe you came across as already knowing everything -- an attitude that I personally find extrememely difficult to deal with -- and they gave up rather than constantly bucking your attitude. Conversely, maybe you came across as needing to be constantly spoonfed information with any effort on your part. (Another attitude that I have difficulty with, but somewhat less difficulty than the "know-it-alls.") Maybe every other student nurse who comes to that unit thinks those nurses are wonderful, and you and your friends are the exception.

I have to reiterate here: when "young" complain that they're constantly being "eaten", I have to wonder if they've taken the time to fully examine their own attitudes and what they've brought to the negative interactions they're complaining about.

[rjc729]

Originally Posted by Ruby Vee

This thread is getting longer and longer and will probably never arrive at a consensus. DO nurses eat their young?

I'm amazed at what some people seem to believe is "eating their young." One negative interaction, one uncomfortable situation does not mean that "nurses eat their young." I cannot believe that you really expected to get through an entire nursing program without leaving your comfort zone.

The fact that you and your fellow students were very uncomfortable with the environment you were in does not mean that nurses eat their young. There could be numerous reasons for your discomfort, starting with the possibility that you were unprepared and ending with the unfortunate possibility that the unit was just not one of the more nurturing places to do a clinical.

My answer to your question isn't simple. Maybe these nurses WANTED to help you to be all that you can be but were simply too overwhelmed by all of their OTHER responsibilities to give you all the nurturing you believe you were entitled to. Maybe your expectations were too high. Maybe they were trying very hard to mentor you, but their teaching styles clashed with your learning style. Maybe you came across as already knowing everything -- an attitude that I personally find extrememely difficult to deal with -- and they gave up rather than constantly bucking your attitude. Conversely, maybe you came across as needing to be constantly spoonfed information with any effort on your part. (Another attitude that I have difficulty with, but somewhat less difficulty than the "know-it-alls.") Maybe every other student nurse who comes to that unit thinks those nurses are wonderful, and you and your friends are the exception.

I have to reiterate here: when "young" complain that they're constantly being "eaten", I have to wonder if they've taken the time to fully examine their own attitudes and what they've brought to the negative interactions they're complaining about.

All I can say to this is WOW!

[aloevera]

I have to agree with above post, "don't take everything so personally"
the nurses were probably so overwhelmed doing their own job that they just didn't have that extra time to "make you feel more comfortable".....that is reality....we are usually short-staffed, very busy and extremely luckly to get a meal break....we are thinking of what all we need to do, if we did it, and constantly being interrupted through all this....it is a very stressful situation at times.....

[Bortaz]

I didn't expect nurturing, but I DID expect common courtesy.

Originally Posted by Ruby Vee

This thread is getting longer and longer and will probably never arrive at a consensus. DO nurses eat their young?

I'm amazed at what some people seem to believe is "eating their young." One negative interaction, one uncomfortable situation does not mean that "nurses eat their young." I cannot believe that you really expected to get through an entire nursing program without leaving your comfort zone.

The fact that you and your fellow students were very uncomfortable with the environment you were in does not mean that nurses eat their young. There could be numerous reasons for your discomfort, starting with the possibility that you were unprepared and ending with the unfortunate possibility that the unit was just not one of the more nurturing places to do a clinical.

My answer to your question isn't simple. Maybe these nurses WANTED to help you to be all that you can be but were simply too overwhelmed by all of their OTHER responsibilities to give you all the nurturing you believe you were entitled to. Maybe your expectations were too high. Maybe they were trying very hard to mentor you, but their teaching styles clashed with your learning style. Maybe you came across as already knowing everything -- an attitude that I personally find extrememely difficult to deal with -- and they gave up rather than constantly bucking your attitude. Conversely, maybe you came across as needing to be constantly spoonfed information with any effort on your part. (Another attitude that I have difficulty with, but somewhat less difficulty than the "know-it-alls.") Maybe every other student nurse who comes to that unit thinks those nurses are wonderful, and you and your friends are the exception.

I have to reiterate here: when "young" complain that they're constantly being "eaten", I have to wonder if they've taken the time to fully examine their own attitudes and what they've brought to the negative interactions they're complaining about.

[Tweety]

Originally Posted by Ruby Vee

This thread is getting longer and longer and will probably never arrive at a consensus. DO nurses eat their young?

I'm amazed at what some people seem to believe is "eating their young." One negative interaction, one uncomfortable situation does not mean that "nurses eat their young." I cannot believe that you really expected to get through an entire nursing program without leaving your comfort zone.

The fact that you and your fellow students were very uncomfortable with the environment you were in does not mean that nurses eat their young. There could be numerous reasons for your discomfort, starting with the possibility that you were unprepared and ending with the unfortunate possibility that the unit was just not one of the more nurturing places to do a clinical.

My answer to your question isn't simple. Maybe these nurses WANTED to help you to be all that you can be but were simply too overwhelmed by all of their OTHER responsibilities to give you all the nurturing you believe you were entitled to. Maybe your expectations were too high. Maybe they were trying very hard to mentor you, but their teaching styles clashed with your learning style. Maybe you came across as already knowing everything -- an attitude that I personally find extrememely difficult to deal with -- and they gave up rather than constantly bucking your attitude. Conversely, maybe you came across as needing to be constantly spoonfed information with any effort on your part. (Another attitude that I have difficulty with, but somewhat less difficulty than the "know-it-alls.") Maybe every other student nurse who comes to that unit thinks those nurses are wonderful, and you and your friends are the exception.

I have to reiterate here: when "young" complain that they're constantly being "eaten", I have to wonder if they've taken the time to fully examine their own attitudes and what they've brought to the negative interactions they're complaining about.

I'm tending to agree. Sometimes the expectations are too high from students, sometimes they're too sensitive and others they judge all of us by one bad nurse.

But sometimes, probably too often, there are mean spirited and rude nurses.

I worked with some students yesterday when I stayed over working overtime. We where short staffed and I was tired and overwhelmed. Two students had one of my more heavy patients and I was so appreciative of the help, thanked, them went out of my way to tell their instructor how good they were and what good critical thinkers they were. But there was a point when I was in the room, they were asking me to do this and to get that and finally I said "I'm sorry, I'm busy and I'm not your personal gopher". I can only imagine them coming here to post "why do nurses eat their young, doesn't he remember he was a student once?" sigh..........and so it goes.

[mb1949]

I have to say I must be very lucky, but after 3 semesters of clinicals I have only had great nurses, are they short sometimes when I ask where things are, yes. Where they extremely busy, you bet. But all in all they were good and helpful. Some were great others were ok, but I myself have been in the business world for years before going to nursing school, I know how it is to be overwhelmed with work and have to train someone. I don't mean to be mean or short tempered but I was, I know how much I don't know now. I mean these nurses are so smart so competent , so efficient I am in awe of them. I am actually kind of scared to go out there on my own.