Why dont' nurses help each other?!

[scorpio24]

All I have ever wanted to do with my life since the age of 7 was to be a nurse. I accomplished this goal and took a position in the ER. The experienced nurses warned me..."ER nurses eat their young". This was a concept that I came to understand quickly. It is actually one of the biggest reasons that I have not been active as an RN for over a year now. Don't get me wrong, there were the FEW that made the biggest difference in my life because they took the time to teach.

I am sort of jaded by this experience though, I thought that nursing is supposed to be about caring and helping others...at least that's why I became a nurse. It seems that more experienced nurses do not want to take less experienced nurses under their wing. Instead, they become easily frustrated unwilling to explain or flat out tell you that basically you're an idiot for not knowing something. I am still on the fence as to whether or not I will return for a significant amount of time or just long enough to go back to school. Any thoughts or feelings on this topic?

[massrn116]

I started off as a "team player" getting other nurses lights, IV pumps, etc. Soon I realized a lot of it was a one way street or that there were some nurses that took it as a personal insult if you helped them. Then there are a couple of nurses I work with now that look at it as an insult if you have not done 80% of their work. I tend to be organized, get my work done and I have found if I get caught up in "helping" all day it wears me down. Now I wait to be asked, help if I truly feel it is needed and try to make others pull their weight. My number one thing for doing anything for my co-workers is if it benefits the patient.

[enchantmentdis, BSN, RN]

You are right; but it is good to have a sense of humor so depression about your career won't claim you. I would say, lay low, do your own work, and never, ever register anger on your face to any co-workers, ancillaries, especially management, even to your own family. You're in it for the long haul.