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 TOTALLY AGREE...as women, especially in the western world, we have long been taught that we are in competition with each other. I have been a nurse for 13 years and have this phenomenon most intensely in the Intensive Care Unit. I have seen a significant improvement r/t the "eat our young" mode of operation in the last few years. Perhaps we are growing and maturing as a profession. I graduated in 1995 and I remember one of my TEACHERS quoting "nurses eat their young" as a "fact of life". I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM ALL RN's, ESPECIALLY THOSE IN MICHIGAN AND OHIO.
hang in there honey....and look for "friendlier" ICU....AND REMEMBER, there is a HUGE nursing shortage, take advantage. It stinks, but sometimes, people are just plain mean.
I can say that after two years of being an RN i feel chewed up and spit out. When I first oriented in L&D straight out of nursing school i was fortunate enough to have a good preceptor. However after orientation things went down hill. The staff complained that new grads had no place in L&D and that It took more work to orient new nurses on top of an already demanding work load. I really do understand that but how else would new people be oriented? As far as being a new grad I told them I didnt hire myself and prehaps they should take that up with admin. about new grads in L&D. I've worked with the "clicks" (SP), and the old battle axes. The most rewarding part so far has been the one on one with the pt's that thank me at the end of the delivery and take my picture with their new baby. I love the pt care....hate the politics!
You didn't know? You're supposed to be BORN with the skills to walk into the department and pick right up with everyone else that was born with the skills.
Personally, I love precepting and teaching, so I do not eat our young - with that said, I believe it does happen with way too much frequency.
It's starts with administration. When you go to them with a problem and they give you the hand job "I will look into this and get back to you..." and you never hear from them again - no matter how many e-mails you send. That is a way of eating our young/old by saying "your concern is not important to me, therefore, you are not important to me - it hurts and it is humiliating. SAme for going to your nurse manager.
We all have staff that we work with who are always running to the boss with every little tidbit that they know- if the boss had any self respect, she'd tell them to grow up and stop bothering her with such nonsense - but that doesn't usually happen, those bottom kissers usually end up the bosses favorites and end up with special privileges - which in turn eats up others by making them feel less important. Breaks down moral.
I've been full time at my place of employment for 13 years. For the past three I took a part time position to get our of the ER. During my interview, it was implied that "we are growing, we have more surgeons coming on board, we will be expanding..." I took it to mean I would have a full time position within no time. WRONG I'm still part time, as is another nurse waiting for full time. Our boss thinks nothing of giving us full time when she needs us, for illness or filling in for vacations, etc... - then she just recently hired two more part timers - goes back to hospitals being a business - it cheaper to keep part timers, less benefits. This make us feel unimportant, and eats away at our self esteem.
These are all ways "nurses eat their young". Doesn't always mean OUTWARD nastiness, but beauracratic bull poop too.
So yes, I definately believe, nurses eat their young, and it is encouraged from the top down.
I went to school, I earned my title, nothing more. I work with R.N's ,BSN's and many other's. Unit Managers and DCD's. Unit Co-ordinater's and LPN Suoervisor's. The longer you work in this situation, the more you know that, a name tag means less and work means more.
The majority of my nursing experience has been in critical care (20 years out of 33). When I started my initial training in ICU/CCU, I was berated for not wanting to inject air into a central catheter. I did not know it was a Swan Ganz catheter (or what it was...I just received a handout). The instructor asked if I was too stupid to understand what she was saying in front of 5 other "new" nurses being trained. I was appalled and swore I would NEVER treat anyone in the same manner. In the age of identifying the novice and the expert, we have forgotten experience is the best teacher and we CAN NOT berate someone for something they have never been taught. Some new hires as graduate nurses state the older nurses are more vicious at the change of shift than md's.
As a result of the above, I always volunteer to precept new hires to nuture them and instruct according to their skill levels. It is not a popular approach in the current culture of providing "cost effective" care. Long term, the benefits result in nurses that are self assured, knowing they have someone they can express concerns and not be berated for not understanding new concepts. I don't know how to change attitudes of nurses who berate others form not having their knowledge base. In my opinion, they are trying to maintain their own control over the work being done and are very limited in their thinking.
I have definitely seen a generational difference in the way nurses treat students. More often then not, nurses who were trained 20+ years ago seem to view students as an annoyance. The nurses trained within the last 5-10 years are more often then not helpful.
Sadly, it is true... some nurses do indeed eat their young. I do, however, agree that this happens in most other professions as well. Many people who are seasoned in their craft feel superior to those of us who are still "cutting our teeth".
I experienced this in nursing school while most of my clinicals were at a nationally well respected hospital, where the nurses think very highly of themselves; so it was not a big shock to me.
My first job was in L&D at an inner city hospital. I was not welcomed and whats worse, my preceptor was terrible. They were of a "sink or swim" mentality, which IMHO, is not a safe way to practice. I was OTD in 6 weeks. Now I'm in a birthing center at a little, small town hospital. Vast improvement. Not to say that everone has been nurturing, or even nice for that matter, but for the most part I have been welcomed with open arms.
Because of being over worked and the stress that comes along with it, all areas of the medical profession are rude (IMO). It's rare that I make a phone call to another unit, the lab, admitting, ultrasound, etc. without being greeted with a sour attitude. I think we are always expecting a fight, putting us on the defensive.
I continue to do my best, try to learn as much as I can, help my coworkers and be an asset to the team. I go out of my way to be nice to even those who've been nasty to me, I answer the phone with a smile in my voice even when it's met with venom... we'll see how long it takes before I'm as jaded and hardened as the rest.
From a (mature) student's point of view, yes, it's true, some nurses do eat/feast on their youngs. I actually found this the hardest part of my course. Just didn't expect it, although I could see it coming, did nothing about it and landed me with some headaches.I polished my stiff upper lip and firmly plastered it on.Made a joke of it, when the senior sister told me I have no brain, that I'm stupid, I gazed over her (bless her, she really lost the plot and was shouting at everybody, calling them idiots, no brainers, waste of space, they were used to it and were just ignoring her). She asked me what I'm doing. I replied:there's a niggling thing in my skull, probably the last standing neuron, who's telling me this is verbal abuse and I don't really have to take it.
I was asked, on another ocasion, to do an ECG on a patient. I said I don't know how to do one, could I watch someone do it and have it explained to me? All I saw was this big 12 lead ECG coming towards me and a histerical RN shouting:there's a ******* picture on the top, you figure it out. Cheers, mate, yes, you're right. Nope, she wasn't busy, and I wasn't a stupid little kid willing to have her pants pulled up and nose wiped, she went to her mates and continued her little chat while I was trying to untangle the leads (that gave me this little pet hate, wrapped leads on an ECG:banghead:).
That's just two examples. I've been in school for 2 years, I've got more, but you get the picture.
True, not all nurses eat their young, that would be a crass generalisation. I also had great mentors. I've learnt from both 'species', how I don't want to be, and how I want to be. I suppose in the end it comes down to me. Critical thinking and all that. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. A glass of something. Or a good cry in the car park. They all work for me.
From a (mature) student's point of view, yes, it's true, some nurses do eat/feast on their youngs. I actually found this the hardest part of my course. Just didn't expect it, although I could see it coming, did nothing about it and landed me with some headaches.I polished my stiff upper lip and firmly plastered it on.Made a joke of it, when the senior sister told me I have no brain, that I'm stupid, I gazed over her (bless her, she really lost the plot and was shouting at everybody, calling them idiots, no brainers, waste of space, they were used to it and were just ignoring her). She asked me what I'm doing. I replied:there's a niggling thing in my skull, probably the last standing neuron, who's telling me this is verbal abuse and I don't really have to take it.
I was asked, on another ocasion, to do an ECG on a patient. I said I don't know how to do one, could I watch someone do it and have it explained to me? All I saw was this big 12 lead ECG coming towards me and a histerical RN shouting:there's a ******* picture on the top, you figure it out. Cheers, mate, yes, you're right. Nope, she wasn't busy, and I wasn't a stupid little kid willing to have her pants pulled up and nose wiped, she went to her mates and continued her little chat while I was trying to untangle the leads (that gave me this little pet hate, wrapped leads on an ECG:banghead:).
That's just two examples. I've been in school for 2 years, I've got more, but you get the picture.
True, not all nurses eat their young, that would be a crass generalisation. I also had great mentors. I've learnt from both 'species', how I don't want to be, and how I want to be. I suppose in the end it comes down to me. Critical thinking and all that. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. A glass of something. Or a good cry in the car park. They all work for me.
In America those instructors would have been reported and even perhaps fired. We put up with a lot and have thick skin, but we also have our limits.
rnnursesandy
9 Posts
I TOTALLY AGREE...as women, especially in the western world, we have long been taught that we are in competition with each other. I have been a nurse for 13 years and have this phenomenon most intensely in the Intensive Care Unit. I have seen a significant improvement r/t the "eat our young" mode of operation in the last few years. Perhaps we are growing and maturing as a profession. I graduated in 1995 and I remember one of my TEACHERS quoting "nurses eat their young" as a "fact of life". I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM ALL RN's, ESPECIALLY THOSE IN MICHIGAN AND OHIO.