Being called a baby nurse

Nurses General Nursing

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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?

Specializes in Psychiatry, Community, Nurse Manager, hospice.
How about if I called you "youngster", "tadpole", or "grasshopper"? :D

I'm 41, but you can call me youngster! I like grasshopper too. No way on tadpole.

You got any more? :-p

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Specializes in Cardiac (adult), CC, Peds, MH/Substance.

"Baby nurses work in the NICU. I've been an adult nurse for 7 years."

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Specializes in Psychiatric / Forensic Nursing.

Every July 1st at Medical School-affiliated hospitals across the nation, the newly hatched interns and residents flock to their first hospital assignment. They are so cute in their crisp, white, short lab coats with hospital-monogrammed name. The big "M.D." prominently displayed after their names. We, the staff already in the trenches, fondly called them "Baby Doctors", especially the interns with their Washington Manual firmly stuck in their coat pocket. The interns were more than ready to whip out their script pads with their shiny new DEA numbers and write for whatever the staff asked for (for personal use!!!!) until Nursing Staff informed them of the error of their ways. The 'terns and res's that were truly interested in their learning experience were really attentive to, and actively sought the advice and direction of the Registered Nurses, LPN/LVN's, Technicians and staff docs. I have been a Registered Nurse for 42 years, all over the nursing experience page, seen almost everything and really find great comradery in working with Baby Nurses. To me, the Term "Baby Nurse" is a sort of right of passage, a "Welcome to the family" thing. We old war horses have to remember something though. After the Baby Nurse has:

- run her first code solo

- inserted his first PICC line

- cleaned up a GI bleed (top and bottom)

- managed an aggressive psychotic patient for 12 hours

- delivered his first baby

- spoken to her community health forum

- volunteered at an outreach clinic

- held the hand of a patient as they took their dying breath

- reversed an opiate O.D.

- held a grieving single mother in the Trauma ICU as her 16-year-old son was pronounced brain dead

- stood up to stop a doctor or nurse from making matters worse

- led a staff of 300-400 + professionals as their Nurse Executive

- testified and fought for improved Healthcare

and any of the thousands of other hard-earned identifiers of nurses.

After they are there, here, part of the Profession, doing the job with confidence and calm assuredness, we MUST be sure to tell them that their "Baby Nurse" days are over, how well they show their practice and how happy we are with their work. Welcome to one of the finest families on earth, NURSES. I do not "work as a nurse", as the newspaper says. I AM A NURSE.

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Specializes in Med-Tele; ED; ICU.
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.

Ever since I first came to AN as a student, I've had occasions where people would make dismissive comments based on their perceptions of my lack of knowledge or inexperience. I've always blown it off as a reflection of their ignorance rather than of my wisdom.

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Yeah, I would definitely feel offended if someone called me a baby nurse, and it very well could happen since I am a new grad and am 24 and look like I am 16....

Just wait ...I have always looked very young for my age, but am finally starting to "show" in my forties. When my manager was talking to me about being the original nurse on my unit, she told me she thought of me as "the grandmother of the unit" ...ouch! I'd much rather be a baby nurse.:dummy1:

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Just wait ...I have always looked very young for my age, but am finally starting to "show" in my forties. When my manager was talking to me about being the original nurse on my unit, she told me she thought of me as "the grandmother of the unit" ...ouch! I'd much rather be a baby nurse.:dummy1:

Haha oh no! Everyone tells me to enjoy it while it lasts....I already have white hairs ;)

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Sounds like she just doesn't know your background. If you're new to the facility and a new registered nurse she might've assumed you're completely new to nursing.

Don't let little things offend you. Your days will be much better...and your life. Let things roll off your back; a lot of people don't mean things in a rude way anyway.

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As someone else mentioned, maybe she was venting, and then your statement rubbed her the wrong way, so she pushed back a little...

I can see how it could happen; telling someone that *you* don't mind taking someone to the toilet, to someone who's "had it" after a long shift. It might have been a little bit of a "La-di-Frickin-Da" moment. ;)

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I am often called the baby nurse or the baby of the office (community nursing) and I think it's gorgeous!!! I love it, and I am super pleased that they recognize me as being new, innocent and just getting a feel of the world (I've been an RN for.... not quite 3 months!). Ill happily tell everyone I'm a brand new baby nurse!! I am..!! (And I work with bubs/kids!) 😊

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Specializes in ED, med-surg, peri op.

I think it's a common term, you are a new RN, new to the icu which yes make you a "baby nurse". She would of just said without having any real meaning behind it. I don't think it was to put you down or make her feel better. It's just a saying she probably didn't even think about. She had just finished a long shift with a pt that she probably had to help toilet to many times and was ready to go home. Every nurse has at least one thing they hate, personally I don't like toileting, but then I have a friend who hates needles or another friend who doesn't like dealing with false teeth. We all have that something. But at the end of the day words only have the meaning you give them, it's up to you how you perceive this. You can chose to take as a meaningless saying and move on or turn it into a big deal.

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The "Granny Nurse" who called you that will undoubtably enjoy being ignored and marginalized when it becomes clear to others that she is about 10 years beyond burn out.

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This really upsets me, I graduated h.s. having taken allied health, with my nurses aide license, went to community college and received my LPN. I worked on a med/surgery floor and was one of few if any other LPN's. The RN's on the floor treated me horribly. I know there was a few things I was unable to do without an RN license and they hated me for it. I was in school getting my RN at the time. I swore right then and there I would orient and welcome any new nurse with open arms.

I left went into homecare as a new RN graduate, where I was always appreciated and valued. I left after having children and am currently working as a school nurse and enrolled in RN-BSN program. We are a profession that is constantly growing and changing. We need to support and uplift new graduates no matter what licensure they have.

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