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.
I think that a course on surviving the dining habits of the sharks on two legs should begin in middle school..and repeated at every level.....along with all the help a parent can give.....there are just too many times and places where the unwary are eaten by someone for whatever reasons...This goes through all industries I know of....some years ago I witnessed this between some executive secretaries....it was really unpleasant to watch and be around....
Agreed, but some parents just shouldn't be parents and really don't know how to foster assertiveness and self-esteem in their kids because they are too busy tearing them down. I grew up with very critical parents, nothing was good enough, but that's another thread. LOL
Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
we may not be aware of doing it but yes we are guilty to this charge. admit it or not at some point you have mistreated a fresh grad, a new nurse in the unit, or a more intelegent student than you are. it is being human. it threatens our teritory because of unfamiliarity. it is our instincs that drives us to behave that way. you cant say that you have never uttered any negative comment, feedback, to a new nurse in the unit. it is part of our interaction and process of getting to know them. havent you ever wonder why there is a fast turnover of nurses in the unit. it is not just the stress from the job but also from who is doing the job.
negative feedback is part of the orientation process. i have never met the perfect person who never makes a mistake, and pointing out mistakes is part of what we owe our new nurses. negative feedback does not constitute "eating our young." unfortunately, some new nurses seem to construe it that way.
negative feedback is part of the orientation process. i have never met the perfect person who never makes a mistake, and pointing out mistakes is part of what we owe our new nurses. negative feedback does not constitute "eating our young." unfortunately, some new nurses seem to construe it that way.
true, negative feedback is part of the learning process, but i think there is a difference between negative feedback and constructive criticism. i would rather be on the receiving end of the constructive criticism. it makes one feel that they are learning from their mistake rather than being beaten down. just my opinion. at least that's how i have experienced it in the legal arena -- the negative and the constructive!
Specializes in ICU,HOME HEALTH, HOSPICE, HEALTH ED.
Another side to this is---in a smaller team I worked with, the newer nurses--the on call pool--were treated with MORE respect my management! eg.-They were asked to visit patients in the case manager's absence to evaluate amd give feedback to things like--if the patient really needed 2 x wk visits;if the patient really still fit the criteria for services---etc. A really negative culture! I suppose they did this because they had fractured the relationship with their staff so badly that they no longer trusted the casemanagers. And they were a really smart and seasoned bunch of casemanagers too!
Specializes in telemetry, med-surg, home health, psych.
Agreed, but some parents just shouldn't be parents and really don't know how to foster assertiveness and self-esteem in their kids because they are too busy tearing them down. I grew up with very critical parents, nothing was good enough, but that's another thread. LOL
Agreed.....but you may have used this to your advantage without being aware of it.....may have caused you to work harder, thus striving for your potential....possibility???....we do not choose out parents, for sure, so we have to work with what we have and be grateful that they were caring enough to push you.....some of us had parents that were so wrapped up in themselves and their own problems that we grew up on our own....
just another prospective....:nuke: Peace......:redpinkhe
LOL. Do we eat our own? Seems we do! Should we? Of course not. Is this just seen in nursing? Oh No! But, it seems it is discussed by those with high diplomas and aides doing pt. care. It crosses all levels of care and jobs. Is it female oriented as one poster suggested? Nope! worked with male co-workers just as interested in rumor and self-help interests. How do we fix this? .....Lighten your work load, by training someone better. Know that you will not have to fix something, because you taught them the right way to do it. Know that the patient comes first, so train them to take care of the patient. And if you are so fixated on yourself......let them say you were the best mentor they ever had. Then, they can not say we eat our young....they will say we set them free.
Unfortunately, it seems to be part of the job. You have to prove that you are competent and can perform the required skills before certain nurses will give you respect. As a new nurse, my first year was spent proving myself to the other nurses in the unit. But now after 3 years, everything is much better, and I believe that I've transitioned to become "a part of the team." My advice to GNs, stick with it and believe in yourself.
In nursing school, it seemed to be that way a majority of the time. In the professional setting, it has been my experience nurses are more supportive. There is still the usual work politics, but it is much better since I finished school and during internships.
Yes. I do believe that nurses can be hostile to students and new nurses. I have personally experienced this during my clinical rotations in nursing school. As you can see, I am not a young student. I have more life experiences than a nursing school educational program. What I viewed and was involved in was experienced nurses lashing out at the stress of their jobs. I believe that these individuals felt students/new nurses were one more stress they did not want to deal with that particular day. I knew this in advance due to family advice, but I still felt angry when I was the target. At that time I felt writing a letter would be the best approach to voice my disagreement. Perhaps I can contribute to the discussion.
Experienced nurses may want to think about these when assigned students or new nurses.
1. They may have more life experience than nursing. That experience may aid and assist you in your job.
2. They may have other degree(s) that they do not tell you about. For some reason, I much more respected when I tell them my past educational history.
3. Mentoring is not exclusively a one-way flow of information and education--it goes both ways. You can learn new information from these folks! Think of students and new nurses from a "points plus" point of view. They certainly do not have the depth of experience you have, but they can contribute and help you too! Instead of seeing what is deficient, look for the good and reinforce that. Unless it is a grievous error, refrain from making a value judgment about the individual. Believe me, they will try harder the next time and strive to get it right under your supervision.
4. Remember how you felt when you were in their position. What would you have wanted for yourself? How did you want to feel at the end of the shift? Think about that with your new fledgling.
5. Invite questions. If you can ask, "What questions do you have for me?" This always gets the ball rolling and then I usually hear, "How can I help you?" These folks want to feel valued no matter what level of experience they have. Hence, that is the reason they are there and new to the position. Use them to their utmost to help them feel that way.
Sorry this is so long. When working with new nurses/students, you just do not know the depth or extent of their experiences. It may turn out that you can learn something new from them. You never know how it will turn out.
Specializes in OR, ICU, Tele, Psych, LTC, Palliative.
Hi Cariboujenny!
That was a great letter! I wish I had the chance to work with you; I think we'd have fun!
I always felt privileged to have a student or a new orientee assigned to me. It always gave me a feeling that I was giving back and helping another nurse. Plus the bonus of having an extra pair of hands with attached brain to help with the work load!
Specializes in CVICU, Burns, Trauma, BMT, Infection control.
Stressed out insecure people who are in over their heads lash out at people whom they perceive to be weaker whether by age(young or older),knowledge level(too much or too little) or any perceived physical weakness.
They don't bother or can't think about the big picture of how helping new nurses into the fold will certainly help in the long run but lash out indiscriminately because they are so stressed and overworked.That doesn't excuse their behavior.
Acuity is up and staffing is way down and the economy is in a downturn and people need to start working together 'cause it's not going to get easier for a while.
Like Mark Twain said"Either we can hang together or we can all hang separately"
I am new in CCU and in the critical care setting. I have >10 yrs acute care experience mainly tele and MedSurg. A pt. who has leukocytosis, abdl distention, afebrile for days (1-3 days),mild decreased in LOC and started getting CVVHD too went downhill on me the 2nd night. He has been eating prior to this, abdl distention went down a little on 2nd night I had him, (+) Cdiff and putting out liquid stool on the rectal tube, BP up so Am RN hang nicardipine gtt w/c I weaned off that night. Pt 's BP starts falling down in AM of my shift and stat CT abd done to r/o bowel ischemia then pt went to OR for stat surgery. Back to floor and died that night. I was blamed for everything when I thought the only thing I have not done is delay in reporting abnormal ABG (the RT run the ABG and did not tell me the abnormal results, I was putting 2 patients back to bed at this time). The MD and NP are well aware of abdl distention, leukocystosis for days and have not ordered anything else for this but a consult which was a missed order I later learned. IF the am RN told me this has been going on for days and all MD and NP knows about this, what else am I expected to do? His VS stable the whole night until 0700. After this, I feel like the NP started nitpicking on me since then and instead of educating me and telling me as she is in the leadership position, she goes straight to my manager to complain and my manager , being new to her position, seemed to enable her to do these and I am new so I am an easy target. I have no bad record in my name and I feel like my reputation is being ruined in my stint to the critical care nursing and not to mention the gossip going around . I think this case is being investigated and both NP and Manager is in the middle with me and I feel like I am being harrased and bullied by the NP and it all stemmed from this case . (PS I actually talked to the NP days after this incident because of the way she questioned me , like she's blaming me for everything, I asked her why the BP went up and it was not explored why, instead a nicardipine gtt was hanged, why pt is on CVVHD and yet they are pulling out more fluid w/c further compromised the gut? , why if an ileus is suspected, no order for NPO, or reglan or NGT etc? At this point, I am at a lost and I feel like I am all alone with these giants hovering over me. What can I do as a new ICU nurse in the bottom of the hill?
Tweety, BSN, RN
36,398 Posts
Agreed, but some parents just shouldn't be parents and really don't know how to foster assertiveness and self-esteem in their kids because they are too busy tearing them down. I grew up with very critical parents, nothing was good enough, but that's another thread. LOL