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.
OK.......from the other side, I have been almost( I refuse to cry) reduced to tears being in charge with a staff of myself and 1 experienced nurse and 4 Rns with under a year experience in the ER. You may think of it as eating our young, but you all know of a nurses or two you wouldnt want to take care of your family, well try 3 in the ER! they passed the critical caare course, but have great difficulty with a real pt. I oriented one, who after 6 mo, I still refused to sign offf one some critical care aspects, you know like putting o2 on a pt who is blue without being told. Theri answer was to just take her off orientation. the other one lies about taking VS, firt time caught her, just said you forgot to take repeat signs on so and so, after the pain med, she said she did just forgot to chart. OKmabey she did. nexttime, 5 year old given Ms went in to check on kid, was in a closed room, went to do vitalsand no small BP cuff. so went hunting for one, found one in suture room went back did vitals went to chart them and saw no charting ,ends up with her saying she did do vitals just didnt chart them when asked with what she said the pedi cuff, I said there wasnt one in the pedi room just now, she sadi she put it back, she chose to hide it in the suture room? asked everyone who discharged (sorry so long but trying to make a point cont....
Some Nurses are faking charting because they are asked to do more than is humanly possible. As long as something is on that chart the hospital is covered legally, so they don't care.
If the RN would be honest and say she didnt have time, she'd get fired for having a time management problem.
If all RNs stood together and said "I didnt have time to do that" and there it was on the LEGAL document, leaving the hospital open to a lawsuit, things might change.
I am sorry to go on so........but I cant stop now. A pt who had a few more questions was at the front desk, she was like I didnt do it . welll she had the chart in her hand with her name on it, now if someone is lying about little thing, like forgeting to retake
Vs,( who has not made and error) what else is she lying about. We have had some great new staff, both new grads adn experienced but I have never seen anyone like this. luckily she quit, went to the other ER, a level one trauma center, didnt last a week, was asked to leave. So what to do? I refuse to be in charge without at least 2 other experienced nurse. I got th ebacking of the med director of ER, went to director of nursing lasted about a week or two with a better ratio, so I wont be in charge, Ido my work, and if they kill someone it wont be anyone I know
I just have to add another two cents. Ive read a few posts that imply the way around the whole problem of "nurses eating their young" is to "follow the golden rule". I asume the rule is "do on to others as you have them do to you"???
If that is the case then I would have to disagree. Differrent people have different ways they would rather be treated. For example: I perfer a direct style of communication. Honesty and straight forwardsness. Another person might perfer a more gentle approach. A more "kindly" approach.
Whereas I would perfer someone to come right out and say "look the best way to do this particular skill is this..."
or "the best way to approach this particular doctor is this...."
another person might find that sort of communication threatening.
So if I treat people the way I want to be treated myself I would commit professional suicide in nursing (at least in the ED department I work in.
Simonebar, good point, people 'hear' differently depending on their personalities and communication style. Human relations are a trip and maybe nursing schools should dedicate more time to interpersonal relationships.....
Ikimiwi, I hear you loud and clear...as a charge nurse of many years myself. I am totally burned out with all that sh*t, and if I ever go back to facility nursing it will PRN or agency ICU, NO charge thankyouverymuch....LOL!
Nancy, you are sooo right...and I miss my union hospital where short staffing and poor conditions were recorded in triplicate on 'working in protest' forms...we have to organize to effect change, IMHO. I remember as a young nurse being reamed out by my manager every time I charted ANYTHING that might point a finger at administrators or doctor's wrongdoings.....
I agree with the poster that wrote...Yes nurses eat their young...their old.....and definitely nurses eat agecny!!!
I walked onto the nite shift just over a week ago...and after a 4hr orientation...one the evening shift...I walked onto the nite shift only to be told I would receive the new admission coming to the floor NOW!
Then I continued to receive the new admission at the beginning of the shift and the worst pts...that were hand picked by the RN who had access to the pc...and would print up my assignment...that would include all the pts they didn't want!
One nite I walked in a room to find my pt at the beginning of the shift....who I had never seen before... in Resp distress after being over medicated! At the same time I'm trying to get CN to get MD on the phone...putting pt on NRB...assessing him for LOC( pupils pinpointed)...etc...etc...another RN walks up to me and tells me I'm getting the NEW admission coming up NOW for R/O CP....(later learned + for MI)!! This is the very reason...this unit...and many others ....where I have been dumped on in the past have NO staff!! EVERY nite except for one...I have been handed isolation pts(MRSA)...the q1hr checks...the Sundowners...and restraint pts...running all nite with NO break many times....and being watched by staff who has plenty of time to sit ...snack...and whatever!
Then I'm the one having to do my charrting at the end of the shift...because I never stopped running the whole nite..!
And people wonder why they have no help, are made to do MOT ...and many go to agencies to work! What's to wonder about??? Treat those who work with you, ....and are there to help out like this....and you will ALWAYS have to deal with agency staff....and will NEVER have anyone who wants to stick around!!!
I also can't believe the number of times the staff/NM is surprised that a traveler decides not to re-sign their contracts!!!
The NM manager now has two who are not renewing their contracts...and soon will have at least 3 others...INCLUDING ME!
And I'm sure the staff will also have no clue as to why...:chuckle:
Sounds like a no brainer to me...
What has surprised me is...agency with the same attitudes as staff !! I guess the do unto others as has been done unto you ...is alive and well here!.. Well they have only 11 more weeks to do unto to me...so they had better enjoy it while it lasts...as they will soon only have themselves to do unto..:chuckle:
You know what micro...eating the help is something I have never been able to figure out! For the life of meI just don't get it:confused: Now there on this unit there are two different crews. The nite I didn't get dumped on...I worked with the other crew...who works well together and knows the meaning of team work. Unfortunately the way my schedule is ...I have rarely been able to work with them! I also have had a few nurses mostly agency...but a few staff also...who have told me how glad they are they I'm there to take some of the load off them...:).
But it will never make up for the rest of the time when I do get dumped on...and have to deal with those who bite the hands there to help them!
Yes .."we" are a very funny bunch of ...grapes.... But I have a feeling...some folks aren't going to be :chuckle: for long...
Brownie, sounds like you have to get tough with these folks and start makin' your own rules. Get with your agency to back you up, go to the nurse manager's office and give 'em what for, or else they will dump on you every night like they have been. Don't put up with it in silence, girl, life is too short!!
I have always done per diem agency and I LOVED the end of a shift like this...because my first shift was a 'test'. They had one chance with me. If the assignment was unfair I would ask for it to be changed. If they did not, well, at the end of a 'dump' shift when the charge nurse gave me her eval and said 'hope to see you again, you're a good nurse', I would smile and say "Thank you but I won't be back." Then as her jaw hit the floor I would say "Sweetie, I wouldn't work another dump shift again with you for double the pay". Always felt sooooo good, too! LOL! I let my agency know what happened, and surprisingly, sometimes I would get a call back from a facility supervisor wanting to know what happened and how they could make it right....sometimes I would give 'em another chance .....but on MY terms.....
I'm sorry you're being treated so badly in my state, Brownie. It's just not right. I never treated agency/travelers this way. :imbar
Thank you Mattsmom..but I know I wouldn't have this trouble working with you!!! How?? I KNOW you couldn't have the kind of dark heart to this to anyone!
But as far as talking to the agency I already have...in fact I also talked to them about my being scheduled OT and not finding out about it until I worked on Saturday nite as the schedule probably didn't come out until I was off on Friday! One of the travelers stated that it probably was late being posted as the NM thought she was gong to extend...NOT! But this was NO excuse as the NM should have approached her long ago and NOT at the last min...or ASSUMED anything!
Also when I came in for the OT as I didn't want to leave the "nice" crew short...I was told I would be floated!!!! When I had the CN call the Supervisor to tell him I would rather go home than be floated ..she was told if I had a problem with being floated then I could stay there, and another nurse ...whom I liked and worked well with would be floated! NO solution as far as I was concerned and would only have made things worse!! I also discovered I am scheduled next week to work 3 12s and off one and then on for another 12...also OT...NOT!
When I saw the NM the next morning I tired to talk with her...but she stated she was on her way to a meeting....and I could wait an hour and half or call her later!! I chose neither!!!
I called the agency again to tell them I would NOT work OT at
ANYTIME...and I would work only the hours I was contracted to work. This NM has scheduled me for the last two weeks with one or two nites on and ONE day off!!! I have nothing further to say to her! This NM has NEVER even asked me how things were going....or said one word to me....since the first day I met her in person...and was sent to tak my med test. Last I saw of her until the morning I tried to stop her to talk.
As for the assignments...the pts that I know are a problem....and were being given to me on a nitely basis...I refused to take any longer!!! But they still pick and chose the pts they want! And since I'm only there for a nite at a time...and rarely there for two in a row...I don't know what to decline and what to take until I get report! So I will just deal with it for now....and look elsewhere for a better assignment.
I ran into another traveler on break and found out that I'm not the only one who has been treated this way. This nurse had the same assessment of this other "crew" as I have...and she is an RN! And since I am contracted there little I can do about the problem as far as not coming back. As per diem...they would have NEVER seen me again after the first nite!!!
But I will take this assignment as a learning exp...and as a reminder about what questions I should have asked...not taking the fact that I was there before, and that all floors are different and not all alike. The last time I was here...I NEVER had this problem...and was naive enough to not even give it a second thought. I had no scheduling problems...was never late getting off work....and we always worked as a team. So I was quite taken back when things unfolded as they have. Unfortunately for me...the unit I was on before has a full staff....and no need for travelers as they only have a PT position open.
But I will play along for now....and the next 11 weeks is on me.... After that....NO ONE better even think about asking me if I'm staying.!!! But my attitude will probably be pretty bad by then...and they won't want to keep me...:chuckle: Or maybe they will just cancel me..hummm... wouldn't that be just too much to wish for.
I found out the traveler who just left used to call in on a regular basis. They said he used to leave them short freguently...:chuckle:...seems to me....this was his way go getting a little pay back. Rarely do contract nurses call in...as most want to work as many hrs as possible. I might have to resort to the same measures...:chuckle: since I'm getting OT on a daily basis when I have to stay over to chart. I thnk I will wait until I get short....and have met my quota hrs and then call in when I have to work with this other crew....:chuckle:
Is it not stipulated in your contract that you will not be forced to float or work different hours than agreed upon by you?
I know several critical care NM's in this area who approached me to contract ....then the staff found out. They threw a hissy fit when they found out I would only take a contract IF I could choose my hours, not float, and take turns being canceled in low census with the regular staff. They pitched a fit, I shrugged and backed out, and stayed per diem. Who needs that BS? LOL!
Don't let them manipulate you, girlfriend, stand firm and don't let 'em push you around! Good luck! :)
Is it not stipulated in your contract that you will not be forced to float or work different hours than agreed upon by you?
I know several critical care NM's in this area who approached me to contract ....then the staff found out. They threw a hissy fit when they found out I would only take a contract IF I could choose my hours, not float, and take turns being canceled in low census with the regular staff. They pitched a fit, I shrugged and backed out, and stayed per diem. Who needs that BS? LOL!
Don't let them manipulate you, girlfriend, stand firm and don't let 'em push you around! Good luck! :)
Not in contract about floating...but contracts stats hrs are 7p to 7a....but I verbally agreed to do 2 12s and 2 8s...only because I wanted to stay here for at least 6 mos....and didn't want to appear inflexible. I don't mind floating...as I probably would get a better assigment on another unit...but when I was here before I was NEVER floated...and for a unit that has more contract then staff sometimes on duty...I see no reason why anyone should be floated....EXCEPT....for the fact that maybe this hospital has been playing games with per diem agency staff and cancelling at the last min and such...and NOW can't get per diem to answer the calls for help! The nite I was floated...I also went to the other unit as my unit had no AIDE and routinely almost everyone was a daily wt and on FS BS either q6 or AC & HS....so I probably got the better deal!!!
Beleive me....it is rare that I let anyone push me anywhere! I'm just as vocal offliine as I am online...and anyone who knows me...knows I can be a real B when I get rubbed the wrong way too often! :0. Thanks for the encouragement mattsmom....right now I'm on a mission to help my duaghter finish her education....and for me to finish mine:)! So this position is a means to an end! If I can do this contract and one more ..ALL bills will be paid off....and I and she will be in the clear with no debt!!! So yes...I will play along for now...as long as I can...and just hope to God I can keep my emotions in check.
If NOT there is always per diem....and there is plenty of work in the area..:)
At the same time I'm trying to get CN to get MD on the phone...putting pt on NRB...assessing him for LOC( pupils pinpointed)...etc...etc...another RN walks up to me and tells me I'm getting the NEW admission coming up NOW for R/O CP....(later learned + for MI)!! This is the very reason...this unit...and many others ....where I have been dumped on in the past have NO staff!! EVERY nite except for one...I have been handed isolation pts(MRSA)...the q1hr checks...the Sundowners...and restraint pts...running all nite with NO break many times....and being watched by staff who has plenty of time to sit ...snack...and whatever!
For the life of meI just don't get it:confused: Now there on this unit there are two different crews. The nite I didn't get dumped on...I worked with the other crew...who works well together and knows the meaning of team work. Unfortunately the way my schedule is ...I have rarely been able to work with them! I also have had a few nurses mostly agency...but a few staff also...who have told me how glad they are they I'm there to take some of the load off them...:). 
. But I have a feeling...some folks aren't going to be :chuckle: for long...
ikimiwi
58 Posts
OK.......from the other side, I have been almost( I refuse to cry) reduced to tears being in charge with a staff of myself and 1 experienced nurse and 4 Rns with under a year experience in the ER. You may think of it as eating our young, but you all know of a nurses or two you wouldnt want to take care of your family, well try 3 in the ER! they passed the critical caare course, but have great difficulty with a real pt. I oriented one, who after 6 mo, I still refused to sign offf one some critical care aspects, you know like putting o2 on a pt who is blue without being told. Theri answer was to just take her off orientation. the other one lies about taking VS, firt time caught her, just said you forgot to take repeat signs on so and so, after the pain med, she said she did just forgot to chart. OKmabey she did. nexttime, 5 year old given Ms went in to check on kid, was in a closed room, went to do vitalsand no small BP cuff. so went hunting for one, found one in suture room went back did vitals went to chart them and saw no charting ,ends up with her saying she did do vitals just didnt chart them when asked with what she said the pedi cuff, I said there wasnt one in the pedi room just now, she sadi she put it back, she chose to hide it in the suture room? asked everyone who discharged (sorry so long but trying to make a point cont....