Do Nurses Eat Their Young?

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We have all heard the saying "Nurses eat their young". Do you feel this is true?

Please feel free to read and post any comments that you have right here in this discussion

Thanks.

This article sums it up for me... ?

http://www.dcardillo.com/articles/eatyoung.html

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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 LTC, case mgmt, agency.

Ok, just got home from work and feel like I am getting dumped on in the " name of getting experience". Yeah, I was a med-surg LPN for 5 years. Anyhow, Patient #1 - CHF worsening/ fluid volume overload, brittle diabetic with a demanding but nice family

Patient #2 - post-op day 1 ORIF of left ankle pain issues, but overall ok

Patient #3- brain tumor, seizures, meds crushed, diabetic

Patient #4- right sided weakness r/t CVA, diabetic, crush meds, also has pneumothorax/chest tube, and had ORIF right hip

Patient #5- Stable but the other nurses refered to her as " the witch from hell " she's supposed to be d/c'd but suddenly has " unresolved pain issues when told she is cleared to go, so MD says she can stay, yet she refuses any pain meds and holy cow she was nit picky and demanding.

This is only my 3rd week of training! :eek: Sure I can take 5, but when the others nurses all have way easier assignments I feel it is not fair. I am up for a good challenge but this sets up the patients to not get what is in their best intrest. Aren't we supposed to divide up the " harder patients "?

Or am I just showing how new I am?:confused:

Specializes in ER, long term, psych, Day Surgery.

Unfortunately, stuff happens. On days like these, take a deep breath, and count down the hours until the end of shift. If it keeps happening consistently, talk to the nurse manager. You might not be the only one getting dumped on. (but be sure of your facts, or you may be seen as whiny)

Hang in there!

Specializes in LTC, case mgmt, agency.

Dizzier80, sign0092.gif I know this sounds stupid, but I feel better just getting it off my chest. I like what you said about going to the manager with the facts. There is another new hire who started 2 -3 weeks before me that I've spoken with. This web site is full of so many people with wonderful support & advise, thank you.

I told my preceptor, who I've known for years that if I get 1 or 2 more complex patients with a reduced assignment I would like that so I could focus on skills. ( at the end of todays shift ) I also mentioned I don't learn when I am overwhelmed. I know that as a nurse I am going to have days where I am dumped on. I am prepared for that, I just did not expect it while I am orienting.:eek:

What doesn't kill us makes us stronger. sign0020.gif

Specializes in ICU, Telemetry.

Just my 2 cents, but I do think the newbies tend to get hard mixes; the other nurses are making sure you can cut it. The one nurse who will give me the worst mix possible to this day is my old preceptor; I'll look at her and go, "what did I ever do to you!?!" I've never seen them deliberately jepardize a pt but I've also seen them give a nurse with a reputation of not liking, say, trach care, every trach on the floor. It's like they practice aversion therapy -- don't like people in DT's? You'll get every one that hits the floor on your shift. Colostomies make you wanna puke -- you just got signed up for them.

You know you're not "new" anymore when you see you don't have as many of the type of pts that make you cringe -- but you'll also have the confidence to know that you can handle the goober laden trach pt that would have had you green and barfng on your first day.

Specializes in Med/Surg,OR.

Unfortunately...yes. Not only the young, but agency nurses, travel nurses also. But in our case, we call it "setting us up" to fail. I work as an agency nurse and I go to over 30 facilities here and yes, I have been "set up" by a few. I am very much against withholding information from others on the basis of "paying your dues". That is not the way to promote nursing or to encourage nurses to stay in the profession.

Specializes in telemetry, med-surg, home health, psych.
Unfortunately...yes. Not only the young, but agency nurses, travel nurses also. But in our case, we call it "setting us up" to fail. I work as an agency nurse and I go to over 30 facilities here and yes, I have been "set up" by a few. I am very much against withholding information from others on the basis of "paying your dues". That is not the way to promote nursing or to encourage nurses to stay in the profession.

That is very detrimental to patient care, also. !!!!!!!!:no:

Shame on those nurses behaving that way....:down:

Specializes in psych. rehab nursing, float pool.

This might be the dumbest remark to date I have made ,but here goes.

It is all of our responsible to see that a patient's room is neat and tidy. If that means taking the trash bag out so be it. If we all did this then it would be no big deal. Change a depends ,put it in the trash, take it out of the room then rather than having the smell permeate through the room and into the hallway. Change a very dirty drsg. same things. Just one small example ,hopefully you can see this also as a benefit to the patient and others.

Specializes in LTC, case mgmt, agency.
This might be the dumbest remark to date I have made ,but here goes.

It is all of our responsible to see that a patient's room is neat and tidy. If that means taking the trash bag out so be it. If we all did this then it would be no big deal. Change a depends ,put it in the trash, take it out of the room then rather than having the smell permeate through the room and into the hallway. Change a very dirty drsg. same things. Just one small example ,hopefully you can see this also as a benefit to the patient and others.

Not at all a " dumb remark ", I agree 100%. However, some mercy should be given to new nurses. It was not like there was a depends in the trash or even that it was full for me. I certainly would have changed it. My day consisted of 2 pts in respiratory distress and some family issues. Time was against me and please correct me if I am wrong, but I put priority on the respiratory distress over how clean those 2 rooms were. Bear in mind, I was really " scolded " about those 2 rooms. The same nurse has reminded me of that 1 time repeatedly since then and it has not happened again. The comment though is very well put, and very much valid. You are so right that changing a soiled dressing makes a big difference and definitely a depends left in a room is not a good thing. Excellent points:yeah:.

Specializes in psych. rehab nursing, float pool.

I agree prioritizing is what our jobs are all about. I think it was wrong they jumped on you about the trash. One of the ways I do my last rounds on patient's is I try to walk in every patients room towards the end of the shift, while I am emptying the trash cans I am also asking questions of the patient , observing how they are doing. To me I am accomplishing several things at once. Now somedays end of the shift emergency happens and I am not able to do it. I do try though on the usual days. It is not just myself, I see many of my co-workers doing the same things no matter what their title is.

Specializes in LTC, case mgmt, agency.

I usually do the same thing at the end of my shifts. I was an LPN at the same hospital for 5 years before and before that I was a CNA there for 4-5 years. I sort of expected that this one nurse would remember that that day was not my " usual ". There are some people who think they are " perfect " and like to " be judgemental and degrading of everyone else". Same nurse does this to others. I was feeling a bit shocked that she would be as harsh about it as she was.:eek: She kinda scolded me in front of everybody. Very unproffessional. Kinda thought since I'd been working with these same nurses for years I would not get the " nurses eat their young " thing. I was wrong. Maybe it is just par for the course? :no: Maybe some nurses feel that since it happened to them, they should pass it on? :confused: Or maybe it is a little jealousy? Whatever the reason, think of it as a learning experience. :D

Fellow participants, I am living first hand the "does nursing eat her own", I am 6 weeks into a new job and honestly it is so discouraging to see how nurses (even good ones) withhold information, give half information, wait until the unit manager is around and point out some missed piece in a process (all placing the newbie in a poor light). I finally said to a barracuda on Thursday, "I am new to your environment, I only know what you and your cohorts have shared with me, if I have made a faux pau or missed some critical step, please look to how you and yours have presented or failed to presented informatio because, we newbies DO NOT KNOW WHAT WE DON"T KNOW because this is YOUR HOUSE!! I then ended the conversation with, if you will be open and honest in sharing information we are more than capable of follow thru, if you and yours choose to with hold information the responsibilityis in your court. nanacarol.

Specializes in telemetry, med-surg, home health, psych.

thank heavens we have housekeepers to take care of the trash!!!!

we have enough to worry about with our pts. and other co-workers...I work with one nurse that waits until we are in report to question and degrade other nurses in front of everyone...she has a problem and I just ignore her...I figure the smart ones can see right through her and if not, so what??? There is always one that likes to "be superior" and belittle others....just a fact of life, unfortunately...

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