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?
Specializes in LTC, home health, critical care, pulmonary nursing.
I love the older nurses where I work. I think we complement each other very well. The older ones have decades of experience in various areas, and are always willing to teach me. They also respect me and don't hesitate to ask things that I may be more current on since I'm fresher out of school. I bounce things off of them all the time, and they do the same with me. Besides, I think they'd taste a bit leathery at this point.
I am as Gen Y/Millenial/whatever you want to call my generation as they come, and I can tell you that I am frustrated by my generation! I have always found myself getting along better with those older than me, and that has just been compounded since I started nursing school. It infuriates me to see how some of my classmates treat their "elderly" - and not just nurses, but also clinical instructors and professors. I hate that I get lumped into them - their sense of entitlement and holier than thou attitudes make me cringe when I'm wearing the same color scrubs at clinical in fear that I will be seen as "one of them."
I don't blame you guys for being frustrated at all - I'm frustrated and like I said, I'm one of them! And I guess the scariest thing for me is this - what happens now that my generation is having kids? If we turned out this screwed up as a whole, what is going to happen when we're put in the role of raising kids? Frightens me to no end! I often find myself thinking that I don't fit in, and frankly I don't really want to a lot of the times.
I'm sorry you're having to deal with this, I know it frustrates our professors and CIs just as much - just know that we aren't ALL like this!
I wouldn't worry about being sterotyped. While I agree that this is my general impression of Gen Y, I certainly evalute each person individually, and have met some great little whippersnappers in recent years!
I get the impression that if someone spends about 10 minutes with you they will see that you do not have the undesireable charateristics that have been described.
I am an older nurse and I have had no bad experiences with the younger nurses. I do have a problem with some of the student questions that come to AN. It is obvious that they are wanting us to do their homework and even give us word for word quest. with no effort to think through the question.
I know this is not every student and I enjoy working with the students who are trying but need some reassurance or help to think through the question.
I haven't yet met a newbie who could "eat" me up and spit me out. If a newbie has that "attitude", I feel an obligation to knock them down a peg or two - basically, bring them back to reality. Start talking about arrhythemias, ACLS, PALS and they usually back down.
Reality is, it is better to work together and get along - for if you act like a twit, you're likely to fall, because no one will have your back!
The overwhelming majority of newbies are eager to learn - although I do agree to some degree that this younger generation has an air of entitlement to them and a work ethic to match. No one wants to pay their dues anymore. No problems though, give me an afternoon with them, I can usually fix the problem! Nothing that a good discussion of pathophysiology, labs, and medications can't fix - it's amazing how little we know when we first graduate!! How much we actually learn on the job. Brings back some great memories! I got knocked down a peg or two myself when I first started, I had been a A student, thought I was "all that" - my preceptor put me in my place pronto - by asking me to explain the pathophysiology behind CHF, it causes (of which there are several), the typical medications and interventions used, etc... I wasn't totally off in left field, but she drove her point home, after that, I was a sponge!
Those were the good ole days, back when I actually thought management cared about good care, instead of the budget, when I though management "had my back", and when I thought by working hard, I could obtain the stars. Now I know better. Thoroughly jaded.
You know....I noticed this during nursing school. I'm 27(solidly genY), and feel like the class was made up of mature and older individuals. The professors said that we were the closest class they'd seen in Years!
I feel like people who come in, start copping attitude, saying "I know all"....are the FIRST ones who are called on the carpet when they jeopardize pt safety. My favorite is the BSN students, who arrive with NO clinical exp. Except for taking 1 patient during 6 hrs of clinical. Seriously. These are seniors in their 7th semester!
I overheard the CI telling them "oh, you all only have to do 1 careplan with 8 problems...." That's it? I had to fill out a database, do a FULL careplan with 2 problems under 9 catagories(all HIGH priority issues), take care of 2-3 pts, round with docs, pass meds, etc.....Whoa!
When you get to the floor, it won't matter your education or your expierence. Your attitude wil determine how often you get the benefit of the doubt.
I was raised by my mom and dad, who ALWAYS explained that when the work was done, you got paid. You had to cook, you had to do what you had to do, grades were important, and if you didn't like something, well, You knew where to complain! (better pray about it and hope!)
I just don't understand snotty people. i can be civil and polite, but you try to call me on the carpet...I WILL THROW IT BACK!
After being a CNA for 2.5 yrs before getting that RN, I know that EVERY person is one you may need someday. without my CNAs, who would hold my legs while I change dressings? Who would tell me about those high temps and signs that are happening while I'm doing my manadtory 1232 hrs of charting in a 12 hr shift?
The more professional you are, the better off you'll be.
How about a Newbie eatting another Newbie?? I have 3 yrs experience, I am fairly confident, I make mistakes, and if I find someone else's mistake I always talk to them before I go to the unit manager. I had a 1 yr nurse deside that I wanted her job & shift, (I work 3-11 and love it, she works 7-3) she was repremanded for a couple mistakes and desided it was me who turned her in. So she would look over my work when she came on shift and report everylittle thing she could find. All she found was a single drug I didn't sign due to distraction from an emergency. Out of 21 pt's and all thier meds, one drug was not signed, two med passes and treatments, she insisted I too get written up. I was able to prove the med was indeed given and that I just missed signing the MAR that one time. I spoke to my UM and requested that they let her know that I didn't turn her in and that if she insisted on trying to get me in trouble she would lose the war. My UM knows me well, told her it wasn't me and that it wasn't a good idea to make uninformed decisions like she had done. SHe leaves me alone now, and I continue to care for my people with the same love and care I always have. Good ending but very frustrating.
:typingI am seeing more and more of this type of behaviour from young nurses towards the older, more seasoned nurse. But then there is an occasional old crab that goes after the younger or older...doesn't seem to matter to them who they get, they are just out to "get" someone. I suspect that there is a feeling of inferiority that they are trying to cover up by appearing superior. The sad part is that we are all out there for the "greater good" and that is our patients. They are the ones who suffer when nurses act like this. We should all be willing to help one another out and to foster an atmosphere of kindness and helpfulness. Shame on those of us who do not.
I don't think it really has anything to do with age, or experience. I have noticed that nurses in general are one uppers, type A personalities who have a hard time admitting fault, difficulty or lack of knowledge. CYA being the most important thing to most, so if they can deflect blame or make someone else look more incompetent or at fault, that is their game plan.
I am a new hire in a LTC center where all of the nurses are older (50-64) and the 50 yr old has been a nurse for fewer years than me, but was an LPN before that. All of them recently missed the increasing distress that a so-called anxiety ridden patient who was typically labelled as "drama queen" was not due to anxiety but in fact due to acute CHF which went undiagnosed for several days, including by the Respiratory staff. Oxygen saturations of 72% did not clue them in that this was not just behavioral.... finally, on a day shift that I picked up, I called the doctor and he ordered chest xray, pt had bilateral pleural effusion and cardiomegaly, and died 2 days later. Of course all the "seasoned" nurses are now saying she was not demonstrating those symptoms on their shift..... CYA
I just did my job, and I wish other people would do the same, instead of worrying about work ethic, responsibility, sense of entitlement and so on....
We are nurses to do the best by our patients, not to compete with eachother on whose smarter, righter, harder working, more of a martyr etc.
It goes both ways. Young ones tend to think they know it all whereas older nurses do know it all they just don't want to part with that wisdom.
While I agree that this might happen, it's really very "small" of both parties. I mean, can't we try to evolve? If this is how it is, no wonder health care is stuck in many ways. Not to mention, the patient,..uh, how is this any possible good for the PATIENT?
I just had an awesome surgical clinical day, btw. The nurses renewed my passion for nursing. They sought to share every little thing they could think of re pertainable knowledge, and I soaked it up. I feel so happy and appreciative. So thankful for each and every one of those nurses,...just when I was feeling so down about nursing from school/clinical/work/some from this site...
I just had an awesome surgical clinical day, btw. The nurses renewed my passion for nursing. They sought to share every little thing they could think of re pertainable knowledge, and I soaked it up. I feel so happy and appreciative. So thankful for each and every one of those nurses,...just when I was feeling so down about nursing from school/clinical/work/some from this site...
That's wonderful that you had a good day. If you really love nursing, that's great. Don't let this site get you down. Nursing is hard work, and many of us come here to vent our frustrations, because nobody but other nurses seems to understand. My friends don't want to hear it, my family doesn't want to hear it, and my spouse is a great listener, but I know that listening to me vent isn't always easy for him.
Just because nurses vent their frustrations here does not mean that they are not doing their best for their patients while at work. In fact, much of the frustrations comes from working so hard for the patients, at the expense of our own physical and mental well being. Last night, I worked straight through with no potty break, no meal break, drank no water, and did not even have time to change my maxi pad all night. By the end of the shift, my mouth was dry and my lips cracked from dehydration, I was starving and hypoglycemic, and I wasn't feeling as "fresh" as I'd have liked, if you know what I mean. And I did it for the patients. Because yes, I could have stopped working to take my breaks and tend to my own needs, but then the patients would not have gotten what they needed, and their safety would have been jeopardized. This is not right, and yet it is not the exception, but rather, seems to be the rule.
I would love to have students to teach, with their enthusiasm and thirst for knowledge. I was one not so long ago, and my attitude was much, much different back then.
Don't let the negativity get you down, but just be forewarned that nursing is challenging on many levels, and that some day, it may be you coming here to vent.
Nothing that a good discussion of pathophysiology, labs, and medications can't fix - it's amazing how little we know when we first graduate!! How much we actually learn on the job. Brings back some great memories! I got knocked down a peg or two myself when I first started, I had been a A student, thought I was "all that" - my preceptor put me in my place pronto - by asking me to explain the pathophysiology behind CHF, it causes (of which there are several), the typical medications and interventions used, etc... I wasn't totally off in left field, but she drove her point home, after that, I was a sponge!
lovingtheunloved, ASN, RN
940 Posts
I love the older nurses where I work. I think we complement each other very well. The older ones have decades of experience in various areas, and are always willing to teach me. They also respect me and don't hesitate to ask things that I may be more current on since I'm fresher out of school. I bounce things off of them all the time, and they do the same with me. Besides, I think they'd taste a bit leathery at this point.