Big bad bullies

[ljrn135]

I am on a committee to discuss, deal and eradicate nurses eating their young. Hard and impossible task I know; However, something must be done! We recently had a few issues with very experienced nurses belittling our new nurses. Yes, the new nurse may have over sold themselves in their interview, but who doesn't? Now the experienced nurses are very quick to pass judgement and to talk down to the new nurses like they are stupid for not being the best at NG tubes or a pediatric Foley cath.

I am trying to come up with a catchy, possibly somewhat silly/dumb phrase to get people attention that we need to educate and not belittle.

Does anyone have any ideas on this they can share or what they may have done in their own ER?

Thanks!!!

[LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN]

how is the newbie going to disrespect the older, experienced nurse? that's a suicide move. i never have seen young nurses diss a experienced nurse (sure there are some, but those get cut off by everyone)

Then you need to come to my job; I'm sure they may scream NETY behind my back since I put them in their place directly and respectfully, especially when they have no idea what they are doing and I am trying to help and they bristle; I have no qualms practicing what I preach, and if that modifies their behavior for the benefit of the pts, then so be it...but it happens.

[ljrn135, ASN]

Scottaprn, I have done an abundance of research into peer reviewed literature and I was looking for other nurses perspectives as well. Thank you for your suggestion!

[SoldierNurse22, BSN, RN]

Haven't seen it before myself. Every new grad I encountered didn't act cocky or condescending. it's much common for new nurses to get bullied by older ones than vice versa. I was "bullied" by experienced nurses when I was pretty new, but as long as I didn't do wrong and they were just staff rn, I politely ignored them.

You sound pretty angry with new grads. Guess you had couple foolish younguns act over their heads?

Well, consider yourself fortunate.

I'm not sure how you believe you can so completely assess my attitude off of one post, but as a preceptor, I have no beef with new grads as a whole. However, that's not to say that I've never seen one come in and offend an entire ward with their condescension and "knowledge". My sole point here is that old nurses get a bad reputation while new nurses are rarely admonished for their attitudes when they get out of line. If anything is unfair, I think that ought to top the list.

[SionainnRN]

I personally find the idea of a cutesy phrase juvenile and disrespectful. Talk and treat me like an adult, not a kindergartner. Just my two cents.

[ljrn135, ASN]

I thank you for your two cents. To hear other nurses two cents is why I started this thread. Do you have any suggestions besides for that it's juvenile I would live to hear them!

[SionainnRN]

I think just addressing the problem straight on with examples and ways things could have been handled better is much more effective than rhyming slogans. We are adults, treat us like it.

[zmansc, ASN, RN]

Personally, I don't think you can have a program for this. It is something that you have to deal with on an individual basis. Not all Senior Nurses eat their young, at least in my facility it is very rare and we deal with individual cases on an as needed basis. Of course, if you come up with a program that actually gets results, then great, ignore everything I said lol

[Beautiful Mind RN]

My slogan would be "Lead by example".

That. ^ This can apply to both experienced nurses and new grads.

[Guttercat, ASN, RN]

Nurses don't eat just their young, they eat each other.

I'm not sure I've ever encountered a "group" of people so willing to jump on each other. Sadly, I'll admit that I've been not only a receiver, but a giver of such nonsense myself.

This profession can be intolerable, and we should be each others' biggest fans and supporters. Lord knows the Suits aren't.

^^^There's your "slogan" for (yet another) workplace rah-rah poster.

[Purple_roses]

Honestly, what do you expect the experienced nurses to say to over-confident newbies? And why is it that only the older nurses are being corrected on this issue? It would appear that this is a two-way street when it comes to disrespect.

Perhaps newbies wouldn't feel the need to oversell themselves if nursing weren't a profession known for "eating their young."

[psu_213, BSN, RN]

I think as part of this campaign, you should also make a point to teach new nurses, that when the are corrected by more experienced RNs, that does not necessary mean the experience RN is eating them…that experienced RN may actually be trying to make the new nurse a better nurse.

[LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN]

Perhaps newbies wouldn't feel the need to oversell themselves if nursing weren't a profession known for "eating their young."

They should over sell themselves AT ALL for the benefit of their practice; see my siggy line.

In my travels, "eating" of said nurses rarely happens; being put in ones place after overselling ones self is NOT NETY; that's saving said nurse from endangering their practice to their benefit.

Now unprofessional behavior, that can occur; but I'm not talking about that; it is far more dangerous to oversell skills when one doesn't have them-is kind of fraudulent, hence discrediting veracity as a cornerstone in ones practice-and can land that person into more trouble or out of a job.