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.
Specializes in Med/Surg/Ortho/HH/Radiology-Now Retired.
It kind of saddens me that this kind of nonsense still prevails in today's nursing workforce.
I must say though, the number of times, before I retired, whereby I endeavoured to help new nurses, offer advice, suggest ways, demonstrate something, only to be basically told where to go! I met some very rude, arrogant and egotisitcal newcomers.
Then again, when we're young, we (think!) we know it all!
It's only as we get older that we learn we'll NEVER know it ALL!
Nurses eating their young? I have heard the saying many times, and always thought "wow, that is just horrible. Why would they do that?". Just disgusting. I mean, I get it, some people need to toughen up, but I'd rather not be devoured like the runt of the litter in some unspoken, pseudo-Darwinesque nursing program while learning a profession that presumably embraces compassion. Some nurses do eat their young, I have experienced it first hand…
I have been a model student for the past 13 months in this 15 month program. I Never failed an exam, never absent, never late. Clinically sound with administering medications etc. I had to take a end of level test and didn't pass by 4.5 points....They kicked me out of the program for 4.5 points! You had to have an 85%. The director of nursing said it would not be "educationally sound" if she let me remain in the program. Nevermind my flawless history as a student....How is it "educationally sound" to base my ability to be a nurse on one test? I have had a horrible experience with this school and would strongly discourage ANYONE from going there!
How is it "educationally sound" to base my ability to be a nurse on one test?
Unfortunately many (if not all) nursing schools have a certain grade/class average that you need to maintain in order to pass. No ifs, ands or buts, if you don't get that average you are dismissed from the program. My class lost serveral classmates because they didn't end up with that minimum score. Actually a few of them were tenths of a point away from the minimum. Its sad to see them go, but they knew the rules when we all started. We were told from day one you have to end up with X as an average in order to move on to the next mod. And that we had to pass an Exit exam with a certain percentage or we didn't graduate with our class.
Every Board of Nursing in the United States bases their belief of your ability to be a nurse on one test, THE mother of all tests, the NCLEX. It doesn't matter if you were #1 in your class, graduated witha 4.0 gpa, never missed one single minute of classes or clinicals, were the best student nurse to walk the halls, if you fail the NCLEX, "they" decide you don't have the ability to be a nurse (at THAT particular time). Then there are those who went through school just barely getting the minimum average needed, skipped classes, blew off clinicals, were mediocre students and take the NCLEX and pass.
It doesn't seem fair but it is the way it is. I'm sorry you were dismissed. Can you gain readmittance for the next class going into the semester/mod you were removed from?
I hope I don't sound harsh but every school has their rules and regulations on grades. It may not seem fair but there is really nothing you can do to change the outcome.
Nurses eating their young? I have heard the saying many times, and always thought "wow, that is just horrible. Why would they do that?". Just disgusting. I mean, I get it, some people need to toughen up, but I'd rather not be devoured like the runt of the litter in some unspoken, pseudo-Darwinesque nursing program while learning a profession that presumably embraces compassion. Some nurses do eat their young, I have experienced it first hand…
I have been a model student for the past 13 months in this 15 month program. I Never failed an exam, never absent, never late. Clinically sound with administering medications etc. I had to take a end of level test and didn't pass by 4.5 points....They kicked me out of the program for 4.5 points! You had to have an 85%. The director of nursing said it would not be "educationally sound" if she let me remain in the program. Nevermind my flawless history as a student....How is it "educationally sound" to base my ability to be a nurse on one test? I have had a horrible experience with this school and would strongly discourage ANYONE from going there!
That really must seriously hurt to be kicked out based on one test and I'm sorry to hear you failed.
I'm not sure that's "nurses eating their young" because you are licensed based on one test NCLEX.
Rules are rules and tests have a cutoff on what is passing and what is failing. A student doing her BSN clinicals on my floor failed HESI by one point and has to face the repercussions of that, which is to repeat 120 hours of clinicals. Frustrating, but there has to be a line drawn somewhere.
I agree that there should be standards in place but equating school with NCLEX is taking it a step too far in my opinion. School is the arena for preparation, each student is an individual with strengths and weaknesses as such, the school by way of its instructors should have been aware prior to the "last test" that the student was falling short of the expected and that the other contributions of this student warranted an intervention. We promote ourselves as care givers, we say we are in the helping profession but we fail to be supportive or helpful to those trying to enter the profession. Intervening early would not water done the schools standards in my opinion. Education is costly and both the school and the student bear responsibility for the outcome. nanacarol
It kind of saddens me that this kind of nonsense still prevails in today's nursing workforce.
I must say though, the number of times, before I retired, whereby I endeavoured to help new nurses, offer advice, suggest ways, demonstrate something, only to be basically told where to go! I met some very rude, arrogant and egotisitcal newcomers.
Then again, when we're young, we (think!) we know it all!
It's only as we get older that we learn we'll NEVER know it ALL!
Personally when I first started out, I was too scared not to listen to the experienced nurses. I just didn't want to hurt anyone. The first time I had to fill out an incident report, I couldn't keep my hands from shaking! My patient had fallen in the bathroom and I just want felt like I was a total reject. I remember one of my preceptors telling me that falls happen, there's nothing you can do about. It was nice having her and a few other around when things got rough.
There is a nurse that is a know-it-all on my unit now, and believe me it takes a lot not to strangle her, but unfortunately, I'm sure she will run into the wrong nurse with her attitude... I just don't want to be there when it happens.
Yes, as a grad nurse it is true. I have some bery caring great preceptors but the majority have not been helpful and in fact mean. That will not be me.
Specializes in telemetry, med-surg, home health, psych.
I brought this subject up at work yesterday...out of the 4 of us there when I mentioned this 2 of them reacted with "no, they eat each other!!" and the other one agreed and started on her past experiences with "not so helpful nurses"......this is a tragic shame....I am almost ashamed for the entire profession....BUT I do think that it is not only in nursing but in a vast majority of trades, businesses, what have you. I wonder what the percentages are of those of us that are helpful and don't like to see others belittled???? People tend to remember the bad ones more than the good ones, I would hope....
I brought this subject up at work yesterday...out of the 4 of us there when I mentioned this 2 of them reacted with "no, they eat each other!!" and the other one agreed and started on her past experiences with "not so helpful nurses"......this is a tragic shame....I am almost ashamed for the entire profession....BUT I do think that it is not only in nursing but in a vast majority of trades, businesses, what have you. I wonder what the percentages are of those of us that are helpful and don't like to see others belittled???? People tend to remember the bad ones more than the good ones, I would hope....
I'm willing to bet its a small group in comparison to the entire profession, but still... some of the things that can be done to harass a nurse can be downright nasty. I remember once where I live a group of day nurses at a certain facility felt that since night shift nurses didn't do anything, they would make sure they stayed busy... so what did they do? They gave all the patients laxatives right before shift change. Word got out, and it was actually on the news... so embarrassing. needless to say all the nurse from that day shift group lost their licenses.
Specializes in Developmental Disability, Telemetry.
This is an old thread but it is important to me! We are under so much stress on the job that nurse veterans and nurse newbies all fall into the abusive pattern.
I have always tried to bend over backwards for the new nurses in every setting I have worked. And I would be delighted at how it helped them face the professional challenges. Lately though I have found a new breed of nurses that come to us right after graduation knowing they have all the answers and have very little regard for the value of our experience. Kind of a turn off. I'm thinking about returning to home care. I can be my own agent there with the political drama and attitudes out of the picture.
I love nurturing the newbies along and many have been inspired to be their own personal best but I need a break from that intensity for a while. Call it burn out if you will. I'm tired.
I have to admit that all of these comments about nurses eating their young is scaring me to death. I will be a brand new nursing student in the fall. Nursing school is intense I hear and then thinking that once you get into clinicals and as a new grad you get beaten black and blue just because you are new and inexperienced -- well it makes a newbie feel even more insecure. How does this get resolved? I want to be the best nurse I can be.
Specializes in telemetry, med-surg, home health, psych.
From what I have seen and read in these posts the main thing a new nurse can do is "not come in with the attitude of "knowing it all"...seems that most of these posts that say anything about new nurses admit that their attitude sets the stage....just begin ready to learn, absorb all you can, be pleasant and you will be OK....of course if you do run in to the "mean ole nurse" stereotype, don't let it get you frustrated....grin, and continue on you journey....Good Luck....remember do not let one bad apple spoil the entire bushel !!!
I'm tired.
Grace Oz
1,294 Posts
It kind of saddens me that this kind of nonsense still prevails in today's nursing workforce.
I must say though, the number of times, before I retired, whereby I endeavoured to help new nurses, offer advice, suggest ways, demonstrate something, only to be basically told where to go! I met some very rude, arrogant and egotisitcal newcomers.
Then again, when we're young, we (think!) we know it all!
It's only as we get older that we learn we'll NEVER know it ALL!