This vile expression implies that experienced nurses do not treat new nurses kindly. My first problem with the statement is that it’s a generalization implying that all nurses are like that. Interestingly, whenever I hear someone utter the expression, I always say, “I don’t do that. Do you?” The person making the statement always says, “Oh no, I don’t, but many others do.” I’ve never heard even one nurse own up to doing this, although some nurses are willing to indict the entire profession. Every time that statement is repeated, it causes harm and casts a dark shadow on every nurse. Say anything enough, and it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Please note that by moderator consensus some of the "Nurses Eat Their Young" posts will be referred to this thread where there can be an ongoing discussion, rather than several threads saying the same thing.
To students and new grads that are having problems with nurses, please take a moment to read the above link. Is it really the entire profession, every single nurse, or do you need help with one or a few nurses? We will be glad to help you in dealing with those people, but let bury the phrase "Nurses Eat Their Young".
To experienced nurses who claim our profession eats it's young, please take a moment to read it as well and think about it. Also take time to teach, be friendly and nurturing to the new nurse and students on your unit.
Apparently this issue is world wide .However, it seems to be compounded where I am from.
Perhaps if Nurses concentrated more on Caring and Creativeness than Competition we would have more great nurses actually loving the career and wanting to remain.
I think perhaps maybe why experienced nurses eat their young is because they are overburdened with a huge workload and may not have the time or patience to be a good mentor and role model. Keep in mind that most facilities overwork their staff, when their staff gets burned out, attitudes change. It is amazing how chronic fatigue can bring out the worst in a person. Neverless this is still no exuse to treat students and newgrads bad. What facilities should do is, lessen the workload for nurses who are training so the focus can shift from concentrating completing tasks to focusing on teaching.
I'm not all too sure about being overworked as a reason why nurses eat their young. I think it could be a reason, but it would be a reason that is on the bottom of the totem pole. There are egos involved a lot of times. I've noticed that with certain nurses, nothing gives them more pleasure than making someone else feel foolish. Other reason are, and I know i could die for this, the competition for females to me noticed by the MDs or other male nurses. Since the field is mostly women, I can venture to say that lots of reasons why nurses eat their young are also female related reasons, and I'm not talking about PMS. Women are catty, and it carries over into everything, including work. Then we get into the RN/LPN dynamic... and that is another monster. Since most nurse managers are females, then there is only so much that can be done, especially if all the witches are the favorites of the manager, so its more than just being tired and overworked.
I've noticed other problems from being overworked; depression, alcohol and drug abuse to name a few. I personally think that the mistreatment of new nurses is a huge part of the nursing shortage... people didn't complete a program full of RNs on a power trip just to have it continued through their actual working career.
I'm not all too sure about being overworked as a reason why nurses eat their young. I think it could be a reason, but it would be a reason that is on the bottom of the totem pole. There are egos involved a lot of times. I've noticed that with certain nurses, nothing gives them more pleasure than making someone else feel foolish. Other reason are, and I know i could die for this, the competition for females to me noticed by the MDs or other male nurses. Since the field is mostly women, I can venture to say that lots of reasons why nurses eat their young are also female related reasons, and I'm not talking about PMS. Women are catty, and it carries over into everything, including work. Then we get into the RN/LPN dynamic... and that is another monster. Since most nurse managers are females, then there is only so much that can be done, especially if all the witches are the favorites of the manager, so its more than just being tired and overworked.
I've noticed other problems from being overworked; depression, alcohol and drug abuse to name a few. I personally think that the mistreatment of new nurses is a huge part of the nursing shortage... people didn't complete a program full of RNs on a power trip just to have it continued through their actual working career.
You do have a valid point. I have been working in homecare for about 3 years and have forgotten how catty women can be. I don't see all that competative stuff because I work most of the time alone, and mostly interact with other staff on the phone. Some women can be really competative. I can remember back when I was finishing school my last clinical my last semester, everyone was paired up with a preceptor except for me, the nurse that was suppose to precept me took one look at me and said "No way I'm not going to precept anyone". I had to scavage on my one and try to find someone to precept me. The nurse that did end up precepting me pulled me over and said to me, Girl you have to learn to be more aggressive, these women are really mean and competative. Don't let them make you feel bad about anything, hold your head up high and ignore those who are jealous. I think that is one of the reason's I choose to become a homecare/private duty nurse. Not as much B.S to deal with.
Specializes in telemetry, med-surg, home health, psych.
I agree 100 %....I am fairly easy going and can work with anyone but there are a few that just really remind me of "high school"....One who is always trying to outdo everyone and will put you down or bring up something you could have done better in front of everyone...(she must be insecure)
One who questions everything you are doing (that drives me nuts!!) Like she is MY boss, and I am older and have been there longer...
I have learned to just ignore them....after awhile of that they seem to lose interest and go on to some other poor soul....I know some would say I should speak up, but I have found that it is better to remain silent and thought a fool than to speak up and remove all doubt.....let them wonder about what you DIDN'T SAY....and I am sure all can see what is going on...
BUT, YES, I agree, cattiness is the most of the "nurses eat their young" phenomenon (sp??)
BEEN TREATED LIKE CRAP MYSELF, HAD A INT THROWED ON ME WITH BLOOD STILL IN THE LINE, RUINED A PERFECTLY GOOD UNIFORM, MANAGED TO BE MADE TO LOOK AT LIKE I WAS THE FOOL, HAD TO SCRUB AND THE WHOLE NINE YARDS, DON'T KNOW MAYBE IT WAS SOME KIND OF INITIATION!:offtopic: BY A MORE MATURE NURSE THAN MYSELF, FIRST DAY OF TRAINING TO BE EXACT AND THE VERY REASON I HAVE NOT AT THIS TIME EVER WORKED IN A HOSPITAL SETTING.
BEEN TREATED LIKE CRAP MYSELF, HAD A INT THROWED ON ME WITH BLOOD STILL IN THE LINE, RUINED A PERFECTLY GOOD UNIFORM, MANAGED TO BE MADE TO LOOK AT LIKE I WAS THE FOOL, HAD TO SCRUB AND THE WHOLE NINE YARDS, DON'T KNOW MAYBE IT WAS SOME KIND OF INITIATION!:offtopic: BY A MORE MATURE NURSE THAN MYSELF, FIRST DAY OF TRAINING TO BE EXACT AND THE VERY REASON I HAVE NOT AT THIS TIME EVER WORKED IN A HOSPITAL SETTING.:stone:stone:stone
Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
other reason are, and i know i could die for this, the competition for females to me noticed by the mds or other male nurses. since the field is mostly women, i can venture to say that lots of reasons why nurses eat their young are also female related reasons, and i'm not talking about pms. women are catty, and it carries over into everything, including work. then we get into the rn/lpn dynamic... and that is another monster. since most nurse managers are females, then there is only so much that can be done, especially if all the witches are the favorites of the manager, so its more than just being tired and overworked.
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i find this post pretty danged offensive. nurses eat their young because of "female related reasons"? first, you assume that nurses do eat their young. then you say it's because they're female, and that women are catty. so basically, you're bashing not only an entire profession, but an entire gender as well. nice.
Sorry, but i'm going by observation. One nurse told me she was told by a male nurse this advice as a new grad out of school "Cheri you are very pretty. Don't wear make-up and make sure your uniforms are a little baggy, because if the other nurses even get a hint that you are attractive, you're dead meat."
I felt that was pretty bad that that was the only advice he had to offer her. I don't mean to bash females, but oh man, when there's a group, this is what happens. Plus nurses do eat their young, because if they didn't, this thread wouldn't exist. Nurses have a very high turnover rate, all over. I have friends that are nurses in different states and countries, and the story is always the same. One of the reasons for high turnover at hospitals, other than being overworked is the treatment of new nurses. During my orientation we spent an entire day on "One the job violence: nurses eating their young". People can be in denial about it, but this phenomenon does exist, whether there are nurses that want to believe it or not. I'm even willing to bet that there are some right now reading these post and not caring at all in any shape or form how they treat their co-workers.
No i'm not saying every nurse is like this, just like not every female is like this, but its more than a fair share... will this stop, probably not... that would be too much like right... and there are people out there that don't like right. And some of those people are in the nursing profession.
Interestingly enough, I can take being overworked, dealing with patients and their PIA family members... i just can't handle nasty acting nurses... we're on the same team and when a few sow discord and are not stopped, it ruins everything for everyone. Its a two sided sword. This exists, but at the same time, these nurses are permitted to behave like this. If they weren't, then this wouldn't be such a hot topic peaking out at over 1000 replies.
i find this post pretty danged offensive. nurses eat their young because of "female related reasons"? first, you assume that nurses do eat their young. then you say it's because they're female, and that women are catty. so basically, you're bashing not only an entire profession, but an entire gender as well. nice.
that kind of behavior is uncalled for. some one who throws lines at you should be enrolled in anger management. this is a case of abuse. you cannot treat others badly under any circumstances no matter how expereinced of a nurse you are. i am truly sorry you had to go through this.
Specializes in telemetry, med-surg, home health, psych.
michaelrose- You are correct....now if everyone would admit it, they would agree that they have either been on the receiving end of this treatment, or have seen it, or are the ones dishing it out. But, no, not all females behave this way, obviously, or there wouldn't be any on the receiving end !!!
I have been in the nursing profession for a while now, and have worked in two countries as a nurse. I have seen this kind of behavior in every facility I have worked in (U.S and in Canada). Not all nurses are behave in this mannor but some do. It has nothing to do with sexism, women and the whole nursing profession being bashed. These are similar attitudes people have in regards to their nursing experiences. I think these people are voicing their concerns to hopefully send out a message that this kind of behavior is not okay. Many people agree from new grads, students to even experienced nurses, nurses do eat their young and it happens everywhere. If this wasn't such a big issue then why have so many people responded to this thread, the majority of them supporting nurses eating their young. You are taking this to a whole different level. It has nothing to do with gender, more to do with the expereinces people have gone through, it just happens that the nursing field is full of WOMEN.
sereneclouds
1 Post
Apparently this issue is world wide .However, it seems to be compounded where I am from.
Perhaps if Nurses concentrated more on Caring and Creativeness than Competition we would have more great nurses actually loving the career and wanting to remain.