[Diahni]

Originally Posted by BrokenRNheart

There are very good posts here but I think the first two from Nursepooh and Nightingale are the best.

This really isn't about nurses eating their young it is about the environment and people.

It is a dog eat dog field and has nothing to do with experience, young or old. It has to do with personalities and the biggest problem is that management allows it and is often part of it. I have seen many units run by new grads and young nurses and they can't keep staff so that would shoot this theory down. It's a people thing.

BH -
Yeah. Just like I said, the fish begins to smell at the head. I have more than a few friends who might have made good managers who turned the job down. I know why.
Diahni

[BrokenRNheart]

In my perfect world:

Management would be "deleted" if a floor experiences a high turnover and short term employment. Start fresh. I would also get deep into the matter and find out what is going on with the nurses that are still there and get rid of any one that is "eating the young" or driving staff off.

I would also get out there and round the unit regularly to make sure people are working together. I would not be blind to the same social butterflies hanging out socializing while lights are going off.

Of course, I would staff so the work could get done and pay good techs good wages so they will appreciate their jobs and reward them for hard work. That way it would be easier to replace dead weight.

When I started nursing, we didn't have techs. We got the work done and we worked together as teams to get baths and care done. Now our workload is heavier and we have to babysit adults who don't seem to want to work. I can't believe how many units are run by the techs. The techs dictate what the nurses do. I'm tired of babysitting and then having to do the work myself.

[Ksather222]

You have some very valid points. However, your statments about techs is a little harsh. I have worked with some amazing techs in my 20+ years of nursing and started as a tech myself. I will admit there are far more lazy people in this world when it comes to nursing tech or nurse then the hard workers. We have to face facts the old ways are gone and the new ones have arrived. Some for the better and some for the worse.

[nurse nettie]

Nursing is highly regulated. The profession is such to prevent harm to our patients. I think nurses have alot of watchdog behaviour in them. That is we are contantly checking and double checking ourselves and our peers to ultimately prevent errors....prevent harm. I think the term eating our young is based on this intesity to do things right. We need to allow the new nurse a learning curve. Perhaps a solution could be a strong mentoring program on the unit that lasts long after orientation?

[augonit]

I have purposely gone out of my way to make new nurses feel welcomed, secure, confident, etc. I tell them of my stories of how I felt unsure of myself, scared, etc., when I started out. But I do have a problem with new nurses who are just plain bad nurses. For instance, where I work, they are mostly PRNs. They are catered to, make their own schedule, (no weekends or holidays), paid out the wazoo, and don't change dressings, don't pass all the meds, sit on their cell phones most of the time, stuff like that. The experienced nurses get upset when we see this lack of caring and not even finishing tasks that these new nurses get by with. It does no good to complain, and even if you try to nudge them in the right direction, you get the "I'm a nurse, I know everything" **** poor attitude. So for these types of nurses, I say bon apetite.

[nanacarol]

Several of you have voiced your frustration with RNs who are the l eaders whether theyare "charge" or not and they continue to allow techs and others to perform poorly. I am of the opinion that I MUST step up and demand that every one be held accountable for their work performance. If I just grip with others who see it as "managements" job to make change, then I get what I get. I teach others, including my organization's leaders how I think I should be treated. If the care on my shift is poor and I do nothing thru the appropriate channels to facilitate change then I am signing off on the poor performance. I know there are those who say, "it is not my problem" if that is true, why are you frustrated and leaving good positions? If that is so, why are you so angry with the poor performers? We are all in it together and if we do nothing we are enabling the poor performer to continue to be poor performers and that covers managers as well. Nanacarol

[rddsnurse]

Originally Posted by catlady

Pul-eeeeeeeze put this stupid saying to rest!

There are as many arrogant young nurses who disrespect their elders' experience and accumulated wisdom as there are old birds who are intimidated by new blood and new ideas. It's not a factor of age, but rather of the individual coming to the position. To perpetuate the mantra, "nurses eat their young," is to give continuing life to a stereotype and to reward a thoughtless naivete about the world of work, while providing a disservice to those veteran nurses who must repeatedly defend themselves against unfounded unreason, while bringing us all down as a profession worthy of serious respect.

Mostly agree, but if the "old birds" are not up on current issues, and refuse to continue educating themselves not only do they jepordize their own licenses, but risk mine being called in to the courts. While there are many helpful nurses for sure, I have yet to meet a nurse that was not a preceptor who has the time or inclination to explain many details. Much of this is the facilities handiwork and the "shortage". I work at a small hospital where even the NM is putting out memos to be nice to new hires. What does this say about our profession? Let's just face it, with the technical advancements and ladder climbing, we are no different than an Ad Agency or Sales businesses. The world of nursing is getting competetative (careful my spelling sucks) and anyone thinking it is an easy ride where everyone stands together is going to be shocked. I also think this is why nursing is getting better. In my minimal experience in nursing there are no handouts and no warm touchy moments with other nurses, they are as competetive as anyone. No one looks out for the newby unless they are paid to do so.

[rddsnurse]

What do you do when there is not a workforce from which to choose new employees, due to the lack of employees you already have and no applicants?

[nurse nettie]

Originally Posted by rddandy

Mostly agree, but if the "old birds" are not up on current issues, and refuse to continue educating themselves not only do they jepordize their own licenses, but risk mine being called in to the courts. While there are many helpful nurses for sure, I have yet to meet a nurse that was not a preceptor who has the time or inclination to explain many details. Much of this is the facilities handiwork and the "shortage". I work at a small hospital where even the NM is putting out memos to be nice to new hires. What does this say about our profession? Let's just face it, with the technical advancements and ladder climbing, we are no different than an Ad Agency or Sales businesses. The world of nursing is getting competetative (careful my spelling sucks) and anyone thinking it is an easy ride where everyone stands together is going to be shocked. I also think this is why nursing is getting better. In my minimal experience in nursing there are no handouts and no warm touchy moments with other nurses, they are as competetive as anyone. No one looks out for the newby unless they are paid to do so.

Nursing is getting competative....We all know there is a cap on nursing salaries, and we've all felt a little angry when a new graduate makes not much less than we do. Maybe senior nurses are resentfull and feel the new graduate should earn their wage.

[Tweety]

Originally Posted by nurse nettie

Nursing is getting competative....We all know there is a cap on nursing salaries, and we've all felt a little angry when a new graduate makes not much less than we do. Maybe senior nurses are resentfull and feel the new graduate should earn their wage.

Recently they raised the new grad salary and my employer decided to give ALL RN's a raise (which of course upset the LPNs, but they aren't hiring them anymore either) and I thought was a nice way to handle it. They haven't always done that, but it is a bit discouraging to stay with an organization for years and git piddly raises while a new grad walks makes nearly the same.

Still that's no reason for nurses to eat their young.