[scorpio77]

We may not be aware of doing it but yes we are guilty to this charge. Admit it or not at some point you have mistreated a fresh grad, a new nurse in the unit, or a more intelegent student than you are. It is being human. It threatens our teritory because of unfamiliarity. It is our instincs that drives us to behave that way. You cant say that you have never uttered any negative comment, feedback, to a new nurse in the unit. It is part of our interaction and process of getting to know them. Havent you ever wonder why there is a fast turnover of nurses in the unit. It is not just the stress from the job but also from who is doing the job.

[leemacaz]

Originally Posted by Tweety

There's very few that are saying it doesn't exist in nursing. The sad thing is that it does. I think students and new grads should be warned that they may come across a nurse or nurses that like to eat young. They should be taught skills in how to deal with these people.
However they should not be told that "nursing is a profession where nurses eat their young", because that insults me personally and the overwhelming majority of us doing our jobs to the best of our ability under tough working conditions and whom treat each other decently.

I think that a course on surviving the dining habits of the sharks on two legs should begin in middle school..and repeated at every level.....along with all the help a parent can give.....there are just too many times and places where the unwary are eaten by someone for whatever reasons...This goes through all industries I know of....some years ago I witnessed this between some executive secretaries....it was really unpleasant to watch and be around....

[Tweety]

Originally Posted by leemacaz

I think that a course on surviving the dining habits of the sharks on two legs should begin in middle school..and repeated at every level.....along with all the help a parent can give.....there are just too many times and places where the unwary are eaten by someone for whatever reasons...This goes through all industries I know of....some years ago I witnessed this between some executive secretaries....it was really unpleasant to watch and be around....

Agreed, but some parents just shouldn't be parents and really don't know how to foster assertiveness and self-esteem in their kids because they are too busy tearing them down. I grew up with very critical parents, nothing was good enough, but that's another thread. LOL

[Ruby Vee]

Originally Posted by scorpio77

We may not be aware of doing it but yes we are guilty to this charge. Admit it or not at some point you have mistreated a fresh grad, a new nurse in the unit, or a more intelegent student than you are. It is being human. It threatens our teritory because of unfamiliarity. It is our instincs that drives us to behave that way. You cant say that you have never uttered any negative comment, feedback, to a new nurse in the unit. It is part of our interaction and process of getting to know them. Havent you ever wonder why there is a fast turnover of nurses in the unit. It is not just the stress from the job but also from who is doing the job.

Negative feedback is part of the orientation process. I have never met the perfect person who never makes a mistake, and pointing out mistakes is part of what we owe our new nurses. Negative feedback does not constitute "eating our young." Unfortunately, some new nurses seem to construe it that way.

[nurse2b2010]

Originally Posted by Ruby Vee

Negative feedback is part of the orientation process. I have never met the perfect person who never makes a mistake, and pointing out mistakes is part of what we owe our new nurses. Negative feedback does not constitute "eating our young." Unfortunately, some new nurses seem to construe it that way.

True, negative feedback is part of the learning process, but I think there is a difference between negative feedback and constructive criticism. I would rather be on the receiving end of the constructive criticism. It makes one feel that they are learning from their mistake rather than being beaten down. Just my opinion. At least that's how I have experienced it in the legal arena -- the negative and the constructive!

[finn11707]

Another side to this is---in a smaller team I worked with, the newer nurses--the on call pool--were treated with MORE respect my management! eg.-They were asked to visit patients in the case manager's absence to evaluate amd give feedback to things like--if the patient really needed 2 x wk visits;if the patient really still fit the criteria for services---etc. A really negative culture! I suppose they did this because they had fractured the relationship with their staff so badly that they no longer trusted the casemanagers. And they were a really smart and seasoned bunch of casemanagers too!

[aloevera]

Originally Posted by Tweety

Agreed, but some parents just shouldn't be parents and really don't know how to foster assertiveness and self-esteem in their kids because they are too busy tearing them down. I grew up with very critical parents, nothing was good enough, but that's another thread. LOL

Agreed.....but you may have used this to your advantage without being aware of it.....may have caused you to work harder, thus striving for your potential....possibility???....we do not choose out parents, for sure, so we have to work with what we have and be grateful that they were caring enough to push you.....some of us had parents that were so wrapped up in themselves and their own problems that we grew up on our own....
just another prospective.... Peace......

[softstorms]

LOL. Do we eat our own? Seems we do! Should we? Of course not. Is this just seen in nursing? Oh No! But, it seems it is discussed by those with high diplomas and aides doing pt. care. It crosses all levels of care and jobs. Is it female oriented as one poster suggested? Nope! worked with male co-workers just as interested in rumor and self-help interests. How do we fix this? .....Lighten your work load, by training someone better. Know that you will not have to fix something, because you taught them the right way to do it. Know that the patient comes first, so train them to take care of the patient. And if you are so fixated on yourself......let them say you were the best mentor they ever had. Then, they can not say we eat our young....they will say we set them free.

[maluangel118]

Unfortunately, it seems to be part of the job. You have to prove that you are competent and can perform the required skills before certain nurses will give you respect. As a new nurse, my first year was spent proving myself to the other nurses in the unit. But now after 3 years, everything is much better, and I believe that I've transitioned to become "a part of the team." My advice to GNs, stick with it and believe in yourself.

[barbaratruth]

In nursing school, it seemed to be that way a majority of the time. In the professional setting, it has been my experience nurses are more supportive. There is still the usual work politics, but it is much better since I finished school and during internships.