New nurses wanted.

We need new nurses. We need people with strength of character, intelligence, and drive. So who says they're being driven away? Nurses General Nursing Article

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BrandonLPN, LPN

3,358 Posts

It's been my experience that most nurses who paint themselves as constant victims are the authors of their own misfortune.

Maybe they're trying to mask their own incompetence. Maybe they like to be the center of attention. Maybe they are chronically incapable of fitting in and expect an already established team to conform to *them*. Or maybe they're just overly sensitive and emotionally brittle.

But ive personally never seen a floor where everyone "gangs up" on a newbie. I suppose this can happen, but I think it's mostly a myth. There are certain people that just like to portray themselves as the innocent ingenue surrounded by "old meanies". They go from job to job and unit to unit failing to see the pattern....

Specializes in ICU.
It's been my experience that most nurses who paint themselves as constant victims are the authors of their own misfortune.

I agree.

I think this also goes for those who paint themselves as victimized by the preceptor role.

joanna73, BSN, RN

4,767 Posts

Specializes in geriatrics.

I'm a recent grad (less than 3 years) and I had various interactions with nurse preceptors, instructors, and managers during my four year schooling and employment. Most nurses are more than willing to help if the mentee displays initiative. The whole "nurses eating their young" is mostly myth. The fact is, most people aren't going to sugar coat everything. Why? We're in the business of saving lives. Maybe after some of you gain some life experience, you will understand. Overall, your perspective changes at 30, 40, 50...and beyond. I don't know, my nursing experience has been pretty great as far as preceptors and co-workers. But then, I'm 40, not 20.....so probably just as crusty as they are.

nurseladybug12

161 Posts

I think that is pure ignorance to say that "nurses eating their young is a myth" because it is one of the most highly researched areas of nursing! and it is a very prevalent and very real problem, just because you may not have experienced it first hand doesnt mean you can write it off as not existing. I have had some experienced nurses chomping at the bit to belittle me while im giving report, they are ready to pounce on any little thing they can, asking so many detailed questions to trip me up, that you would have to look back at the emr , and heaven forbid I didnt write down what time their last pain med was given! It takes 2 seconds to look it up in the computer, and they act like it is the end of the world and I am a terrible nurse for not having written that down for them. Ive had nurses roll their eyes at me, laugh in my face, gaff-aw at me. It is meant to put down people and that is "eating your young" and the sad part is, many nurses that bully do not realize they are doing and that is part of the problem. I have also heard other new nurses giving report to the same seasoned nurses who were extra nit-picky with me, and they behaved the same way, so I know not to take it personally but I think some seasoned nurses should calm down and stop trying to jump down the throats of the newbies as to try to embarass them and make them appear incompetent! This is not school, you are not supposed to behave like the professor from hell. That is just unprofessional.

nurseladybug12

161 Posts

P.S. I also recently read in the NY Times that over 60 percent of new grads leave their first nursing job in less than 6 months because they were bullied by nurses they worked with. So "nurses eating their young" is real to all those new grads.

BrandonLPN, LPN

3,358 Posts

P.S. I also recently read in the NY Times that over 60 percent of new grads leave their first nursing job in less than 6 months because they were bullied by nurses they worked with. So "nurses eating their young" is real to all those new grads.
I'm sorry, but if that's true (of which I'm skeptical) then it's just another sign that the coming generation is becoming increasingly narcissistic and overly sensitive.

PatMac10,RN, RN

1 Article; 1,164 Posts

Specializes in Nursing Education, CVICU, Float Pool.
I'm sorry but if that's true (of which I'm skeptical) then it's just another sign that the coming generation is becoming increasingly narcissistic and overly sensitive.[/quote']

Oh it's true, just google Work Bullying and Nursing. There are PLENTY of articles (scholarly articles) and reports about the topic and how it applies to other fields. I think many people can be sensitive, but the statistics don't necessarily mean that the upcoming generation is narcissistic and overly sensitive in every case.

It could mean that people are finally giving light to something that has been an apparent nationwide issue for a whole. Not everyone is sensitive it's just that its been reported and studied enough to where people, in various professions, are tired of putting up with the unnecessary BS that comes from both sides of the "track".

All of those study's and statistics can't be lying. Just a thought. Just like how now things are being done with women getting equal pay for doing the same jobs, or how bullying is being highlighted in schools more. Same principle.

Some of the articles mention how bullying can come from various individuals, not just the experienced ones, but the new and sometimes more tech savy nurses or whatev!

This is definitely not a one-sided issue. So why treat it as such?

thenursemandy

276 Posts

Specializes in Med-Surg, LTC, Psych, Addictions..

I graduated as an LPN in 2003 at the age of 20. I have intermittently been harassed and belittled by other nurses throughout the years. The vast majority of nurses I've worked with have been "normal" human beings, but a few have really been rude and just plain nasty to me. Management didn't care that I was being sexually harassed by an older female nurse. This was the same management that asked me to falsify records! She would scream and throw things and make fun of me (for being young and pretty) in front of other people, especially men. It was a completely hostile working environment. I almost quit nursing for good.

@joanna73- I have plenty of life experience, as I am over 40. I was on my own at an early age, 16yrs old to be exact. I have lived in places and hung around people that most people turn their back on. I can tell you the whole "nurses eat their young" not only exists but is alive and well. You might not have experienced it, but that doesn't mean that others havent! I am alittle rough around the edges myself, so trust when I say it does exist.

joanna73, BSN, RN

4,767 Posts

Specializes in geriatrics.

Just because it's researched, doesn't make it necessarily accurate or truth. Depending on your topic of interest, there are all kinds of studies one can find that would support their particular claim. Certainly, horizontal violence exists in nursing, just not nearly as often as people claim. Perception is everything, and based on various comments posted throughout AN, younger nurses can be just as guilty. Remember, when someone is not responding exactly the way you'd expect, this is not unprofessional, or "eating the young."

If you're looking for bullying, or you're someone who takes on the victim role, you will surely find it, in nursing and just about every other field there is. Keep in mind that we all work with different personalities. When I read various comments such as, "They wouldn't give me the time of day in report" or "This person was mean.."

Possibly. But I have to wonder....is that person showing up prepared to work? What kind of effort are they making to solve the problem? Conflict involves more than one person.

PatMac10,RN, RN

1 Article; 1,164 Posts

Specializes in Nursing Education, CVICU, Float Pool.
Just because it's researched, doesn't make it necessarily accurate or truth. Depending on your topic of interest, there are all kinds of studies one can find that would support their particular claim. Certainly, horizontal violence exists in nursing, just not nearly as often as people claim. Perception is everything, and based on various comments posted throughout AN, younger nurses can be just as guilty. Remember, when someone is not responding exactly the way you'd expect, this is not unprofessional, or "eating the young."

If you're looking for bullying, or you're someone who takes on the victim role, you will surely find it, in nursing and just about every other field there is. Keep in mind that we all work with different personalities. When I read various comments such as, "They wouldn't give me the time of day in report" or "This person was mean.."

Possibly. But I have to wonder....is that person showing up prepared to work? What kind of effort are they making to solve the problem? Conflict involves more than one person.

So what do you presume the abundant amount of accumulated research means if this wasn't a common problem? It actually happens more than people think, which is it is being reported and recorded and studied.

I would think that researchers would devote south literature and effort to such a thing as nurse-to-nurse/workplace bullying if its occurrence was minimal and insignificant. That seems apparent to me. If the issue is contained to be minimized and labeled as a non-issue, then it will continue to worsen until something happens that can't be denied and ignored and must be addressed.

So it is really of little value if individuals, now, view this problem as a non-issue now (no matter how apparent it may be) because people at large do view it as a developing problem and eventually it will be addressed and some people might not like the results, on both sides.

I have to wonder if the nurses on here denying the existance of bully/catty behavior, are they the ones perpetrating it? Just a thought hmmm :))))