the "do nurses eat their young?" thread has become incredibly long -- and, for the most part, repetitive. but someone recently posed a question -- and proposed a topic -- that bears some discussion. do newbies eat their elders?
as an "elder", i know i've seen cases where newbies have been "out to get" the more seasoned nurses in their area, where newbies have been difficult or demanding or impossible to get along with, and where elders have interpreted some genuine misunderstandings as a newbie being "out to get them." (probably the same range of realities that exist in the "nurses eat their young" universe.) but which reality predominates?
come on, seasoned nurses! do newbies eat their elders, or is any "eating" that occurs unidirectional?
There's a lot of material about Generation Y regarding work ethic/values. I even came across a book at Barnes and Noble all about this topic. At the time the book was written (within the last 2 years), as I thumbed through it, companies were having to accomodate. I wonder if now, with the economy/job market, maybe this group of people will get a reality shock. As, the rest of the world isn't going to give credit for nothing, overlook rudeness, and generally, isn't going to think the world revolves around them.
I think this topic is very interesting. I'm 31, and am more of Gen X I think, but I'm thankful to have had an upbringing that expected a lot of me.
So, just so you know, a lot of us in the same cohort as those who fit into the "entitled" generation are just as disgusted and affected by their behavior. Maybe time will change the group...wisdom or something. I certainly hope so!
Even if older nurses are distant or difficult with students or younger nurses, it shouldn't change the attitude of the younger nurse. It's called respect. We have something to learn from the experienced nurses, and that is enough! If they treat us with the kindness of a friend, wonderful! But, in the business of nursing, and in just about every other business, respect should be given no matter what to those in the positions/with the knowledge they've earned.
The difference in work ethic among generations isn't completely that generations fault. After all that generation didn't raise themselves. As soooo many already have, and soooo many already will say it goes both ways.
While I'm not a nurse (yet), I will say that I have had trouble working with older people in the past. It is not and attitude or lack of respect on my part. I just get frustrated when older people treat me as though I'm 5 years old.
Older co-workers harp on me and order me around like I'm their child. Just because I'm the same age as their children doesn't mean they get to treat me like their child. That causes me to treat them coldly. :stone
I'm also a student, and it takes humility to learn. The "meanest" nurses, I've found, have become my most valuable and treasured teachers. They don't care about what people think of them, as it's all about the patient. Of course, there are exceptions. My point, you might be long rid of your clinical experience before you learn to appreciate an instructor or nurse. You'll only get to this point, though, if you respect these nurses for what they have to teach. If you act "coldly", you'll not learn a thing, and they'll seem to make it their business to make sure of it. This is any profession. Try law (law clerks), medicine (med students),...they get treated like you know what. It's almost accepted as part of the learning process, though.
I'm also a student, and it takes humility to learn. The "meanest" nurses, I've found, have become my most valuable and treasured teachers. They don't care about what people think of them, as it's all about the patient. Of course, there are exceptions. My point, you might be long rid of your clinical experience before you learn to appreciate an instructor or nurse. You'll only get to this point, though, if you respect these nurses for what they have to teach. If you act "coldly", you'll not learn a thing, and they'll seem to make it their business to make sure of it. This is any profession. Try law (law clerks), medicine (med students),...they get treated like you know what. It's almost accepted as part of the learning process, though.
While I do agree with essentially everything you posted there was just one thing. The very last couple of sentences. I know what you say is true, but that doesn't make it right. As long as people not necessarily new or old in their chosen profession are allowed and rewarded for their actions it won't change, and it will continue to be accepted. I do though agree and find a lot of wisdom and fantastic points in what you said.
While I do agree with essentially everything you posted there was just one thing. The very last couple of sentences. I know what you say is true, but that doesn't make it right. As long as people not necessarily new or old in their chosen profession are allowed and rewarded for their actions it won't change, and it will continue to be accepted. I do though agree and find a lot of wisdom and fantastic points in what you said.
Yeah, I wish it were different. When I'm in a position that I could be an instructor or help younger nurses, I hope to be "nice" and "tough" at the same time. It just seems that "tough" gets the results, in my experience. But, you're right, each of us doing our part can lead to change.
The difference in work ethic among generations isn't completely that generations fault. After all that generation didn't raise themselves. As soooo many already have, and soooo many already will say it goes both ways.
So true! I get such a kick when the parents of GenY and younger complain about the kids' entitlement and worth ethic. Um, hello? Who raised them??
what really gets my feathers ruffled is to watch a new RN with the I'm RN and you're not attitude with a seasoned LPN, I've met some LPN's I'd love to work with because I know I'd be learning alot, so far I haven't had any issues with the older ones trying to "eat" me, altho I am kinda bony so probably not real tasty
I'm not saying I don't give respect to older co-workers (and like I said, I'm not a nurse yet. I start the LPN program in Jan.). I treat people as they are to be treated.
And just because someone is older doesn't necessarily mean they know more. I really don't appreciate someone assuming I don't know anything just because I'm young. Age does not = experience. I was more referring to people who treat younger people like children just because they are younger.
More experienced people should still treat newbies with rescpect though.
And yes, anyone who does not give me respect will get the cold shoulder. I will be civil and courteous, but I will not go out of my way to help them.
The thing I can't figure out is why nursing seems to so LOVE the "us vs them" mentality in various forms....whether it be day-shift/ night-shift, ER/floors, ADN/BSN, experience/new, etc.. There seems to be a tendency to immediately slap a group label on every annoying person one deals with rather that just realize that no matter what department, what age, what career you are in, there are going to be some people that drive you BONKERS:bugeyes:
hmmmm as to the comment " I don't like them, I won't help them" to me that attitude will never be of any help to your patients. We help each other not as I like you and you like me. We help each other as sometimes it takes all of us to do what is best for the patient.
Personally, I get along with most all of the people on my unit. But that has nothing do with how I might or might not feel about them personally. It is called rising above and developing a professional relationship with all.
At the risk of getting yelled at, here's my two cents worth of personal experience:
I'm 32, and can't believe the attitudes of MANY of the new grads that we are getting who are only ten years younger than me. Honestly, I feel like I have more in common with the nurses who are twenty years older than I am as far as work ethic goes. There seems to be little respect for the knowledge and experiences of the more seasoned nurses, especially from the BSN grads who do not have any experience outside of school. Personally I suspect it has something to do with the school that they are all coming from and the culture there. And it's not just me, this is a topic which has been discussed on many breaks at work, since it does eventually impact patient care and needs to be remedied.
And the fact that many of the new BSN grads seem to think that since I'm a LPN means I don't know snot is starting to really grate, although they also look down on the ADN nurses (some of whom got their license before they were born). I've been doing this tele thing for longer than they were in school for, so it would be nice if every once in a while they trusted me when I point out something going wrong with one of their patients. I'm so sick of putting a smile on my face as I explain to some of them why I'm doing what I'm doing to avoid coding their patient when all I get is attitude in return. I keep trying though b/c 95% of our staff are awesome and I really think we have alot of wisdom and knowledge to share with these new grads, and would like to be able to impart some of that.
Again, this is all based on personal observation at my workplace, just wanted to get some of that off of my chest!
amjowens
486 Posts
There's a lot of material about Generation Y regarding work ethic/values. I even came across a book at Barnes and Noble all about this topic. At the time the book was written (within the last 2 years), as I thumbed through it, companies were having to accomodate. I wonder if now, with the economy/job market, maybe this group of people will get a reality shock. As, the rest of the world isn't going to give credit for nothing, overlook rudeness, and generally, isn't going to think the world revolves around them.
I think this topic is very interesting. I'm 31, and am more of Gen X I think, but I'm thankful to have had an upbringing that expected a lot of me.
So, just so you know, a lot of us in the same cohort as those who fit into the "entitled" generation are just as disgusted and affected by their behavior. Maybe time will change the group...wisdom or something. I certainly hope so!
Even if older nurses are distant or difficult with students or younger nurses, it shouldn't change the attitude of the younger nurse. It's called respect. We have something to learn from the experienced nurses, and that is enough! If they treat us with the kindness of a friend, wonderful! But, in the business of nursing, and in just about every other business, respect should be given no matter what to those in the positions/with the knowledge they've earned.