Being called a baby nurse

[NurseA1987]

Just wondering, what do you all think constitutes someone being a "baby nurse"? I get offended when I am called this and don't really care for the term.

I was an LPN for 6 years and have been an RN now for almost a year, for a total of about 7 years as a nurse. When speaking with other RNs at work, I got referred to as a baby nurse yesterday and found it offensive. I was getting report from a nurse who has been an RN for 5 years who was complaining about a patient. I said that the patient didn't bother me and I didn't mind that she called often to be toilette. The other nurse said "that's because you're still a baby nurse. Give it time and you will."

Anyway, just wondering if you would find this offensive. Also wondering if RNs in general overlook the years of experience of an LPN? Would you consider me a baby nurse still?

[Lev, MSN, RN, NP]

She probably did not know about your years of LPN experience.

[WKShadowNP, DNP, APRN]

I have referred to my own nursing career infancy as when I was a baby nurse.

Meh. Doesn't bother me to hear the term but her use of it in that manner was uncalled for would have prickled.

But in the scheme of things, let it go.

I have gotten to the point that if people underestimate me, so what. I don't have to prove myself to them. I'll do my job and take care of patients as well as I can. Life is too short for such other nonsense.

[Emergent, RN]

Thanks so much for the kind words! I agree that a lot of LPNs do have great experience and are wonderful nurses. I guess I found it most offensive because I felt as though those years of experience were overlooked because I was an LPN. I'm probably reading too much into it, but that's how I am haha.

I work in a small 6 bed ICU and have been working here for 7 months. The nurse that made this comment is an agency nurse who has been at our facility for 3 days.

There is a certain type of agency nurse who is so burnt out that she has incinerated every bridge behind her, but still has to make a living caring for people she loathes, in an occupation she despises.

[FolksBtrippin, BSN, RN]

Just wondering, what do you all think constitutes someone being a "baby nurse"? I get offended when I am called this and don't really care for the term.

I was an LPN for 6 years and have been an RN now for almost a year, for a total of about 7 years as a nurse. When speaking with other RNs at work, I got referred to as a baby nurse yesterday and found it offensive. I was getting report from a nurse who has been an RN for 5 years who was complaining about a patient. I said that the patient didn't bother me and I didn't mind that she called often to be toilette. The other nurse said "that's because you're still a baby nurse. Give it time and you will."

Anyway, just wondering if you would find this offensive. Also wondering if RNs in general overlook the years of experience of an LPN? Would you consider me a baby nurse still?

I would also be offended at being called a "baby nurse", unless my patients were babies. It's extremely offensive, no matter how long you've been a nurse.

Gross.

This is an example of why people complain about NETY.

[Emergent, RN]

I would also be offended at being called a "baby nurse", unless my patients were babies. It's extremely offensive, no matter how long you've been a nurse.

Gross.

This is an example of why people complain about NETY.

Are you serious??? Do you actually equate a flippant remark with bullying?

[FolksBtrippin, BSN, RN]

Are you serious??? Do you actually equate a flippant remark with bullying?

I didn't say anything at all about bullying. Where did you get that idea? I said that I find the term "baby nurse" extremely offensive and disgusting. No one has ever called me that. But if someone did, I would tell that person to never call me that again.

I also said that this is why people complain about NETY. The term "baby nurse" is a good example of how an older and more experienced nurse might humiliate a younger, less experienced nurse. It could be part of bullying, but I wouldn't equate it with bullying.

[Emergent, RN]

How about if I called you "youngster", "tadpole", or "grasshopper"?

[ArtClassRN, ADN, RN]

Baby nurses are in orientation or just off orientation.

I was a baby nurse when I was 44 years old

[evastone, BSN, RN]

I've been called a baby nurse on several occasions (still am called baby after close to 2 years working on Tele and 1 year in the ER). When I was pregnant people joked that "The baby is having a baby." It was all said in jest though and I never really minded that my coworkers called me that. I mostly don't mind when my patients say it either. Makes me feel young.

It all depends on the tone and the meaning behind the words. If it had been used to indicate anything insulting, you bet I would have been really peeved.

[EdieBrous, BSN, MSN]

Her comments that reflect the compassion fatigue she is experiencing say much more about her than you. Also, 5 years of practice does not make her so very experienced herself. It isn't the term "baby nurse" itself that is offensive. It is her lack of respect for patients and bullying of co-workers that is offensive. Call her on it.

[dec2007]

Baby nurses work with babies....in NICU.

[SouthpawRN]

Baby nurses work with babies....in NICU.

That was my firstthought too when I saw the title of the thread.