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, too wish we could eliminate the phrases "Nurses eat their young" from the English language. All too often, the "young" who complain the loudest about being "eaten" covered themselves with butter and salt and offered themselves right up for munching.
ROFLMAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I agree with you on every count. The loudest whiners are often indeed human hemorrhoids who lack any modicum of self-awareness.
Yes, young eating does exist, but too many wolf-callers cheapen the issue.
ROFLMAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I agree with you on every count. The loudest whiners are often indeed human hemorrhoids who lack any modicum of self-awareness.
Yes, young eating does exist, but too many wolf-callers cheapen the issue.
I think it is very true. Nurses who have been in the profession for a long time I think feel somewhat nervous when new nurses enter their work place. I also think for some reason they feel the need to prove their authority. I say get over it!!!! Let's all get along, after all we're adults now so we should all start acting like it instead of pubescent teenagers.
I think it is very true. Nurses who have been in the profession for a long time I think feel somewhat nervous when new nurses enter their work place. I also think for some reason they feel the need to prove their authority. I say get over it!!!! Let's all get along, after all we're adults now so we should all start acting like it instead of pubescent teenagers.
I think you are right about the nurses who has been in the profession for a long time and their feeling of nervousness when a new nurse comes along. One of the senior nurses on my ward admitted to me that she felt nervous when I joined the group. She told me that she knew that so much changes has developed in nursing and she felt a little outdated. I admitted to her that I was nervous as a new nurse because I felt that no matter how book-smart I thought I was, I was still clueless about a lot of things because these things you learn through experience. I thanked her and the other senior nurses for allowing me to feel like one of them. But as a new nurse and the type of person I am, I never went up to anyone else and forced them to accept me. I try not to overstep my boundaries and I try to stay out of the way. You never know what personal issue another person has and I try not to purposely offend anyone. Slowly but surely, I learned everyones' personality and I kept my distance until I got a small hint of the type of person the other one was. As a new nurse, I knew that I was coming into a family that was already established and I should not force my way in hoping that everyone else would adapt to me and not the other way around.
I think it is very true. Nurses who have been in the profession for a long time I think feel somewhat nervous when new nurses enter their work place. I also think for some reason they feel the need to prove their authority. I say get over it!!!! Let's all get along, after all we're adults now so we should all start acting like it instead of pubescent teenagers.
and I think you are wrong. Ive been a nurse for, yes I am celebrating 25 years now. and I still do not see it.
Specializes in med surg, geriatric, clinical, pool.
The senior nurses I started working under at my very first job ate me big time! They were hateful, made demeaning remarks in front of others, I cried, tried not to, I just had no idea that at my age of 39 that nurses were such backstabbing people. I guess I was naive, thinking all nurses would be compassionate. I never complained so I don't know what you others mean by "coating themselves with salt and butter", you all sound a bit like those nurses I worked under who did nothing but sit at the nurses station all night and eat! Not that what you said had anything to do with eating. Once just once did one of them ever show me anything! They were useless. All they wanted to do is write me up. The other nurses I worked with noticed their inhumane feelings towards me too. I just thought their actions would get better with time, but dumb me.
I should have sued their ass, you all have no idea. Even another charge nurse from another floor "filled me in" on how they felt about me. I would turn in the vital signs and hear "what took you so long, were you fluffing their pillows?" This was 11-7 shift on post op floor. So many times I would get there and these poor pts would need to use the BR. They told me that the nurse on 3-11 was going to take them,, but she never came back. These people had IV poles and fresh surgery so it was slow going, but that was my job and I loved it.
Tell me all of you smart as***** out there, what should I have done?
Once of those ****** (and I don't even like this word, this whole thing infuriates me) wanted to write me up because I let a man get up and walk to the BR. I knew he was only supposed to use the BSC, but he got stuck in it on 3-11 and refused to use it. He was a big man and we, me and the aid, stood there the entire time to make sure he was OK going to and getting back in bed. Sometimes you have to use nursing judgement.
How is anyone to judge someone anyway?
So YES, Nurses do eat their young! It really doesn't matter how long you have been a nurse. Like Dr. Phil says,"you teach people how to treat you" That is so true because when I started acting like them instead of so nice, they all backed off for some reason and started treating me like I was one of their friends. How sad is that?
Specializes in med surg, geriatric, clinical, pool.
Well maybe it was jsut me.
Yes and I know you are wrong! Some nurses are the most hateful people I have ever met. Especially at my first job.
I have always been this easy going person. Well they ate me in a heart beat! Even their looks toward me said it all. I should have gotten a clue like the other charge nurse said and transfered or left. Yep, another charge nurse from another floor called me onto the elevator one night and filled me in "that if I did not leave or transfer to another floor Virginia would stay on my back until I did!" I asked why when these women had 25 and 30 years each. Why on earth were they like that? She told me "it could be just the way you look or dress that they don't like, they have done other new nurses that way too."
I was so blown away.
They wanted me to be fast and quick, I wanted to be thorough. Which kind of nurse would you rather have?
By the way, I did work up to charge nurse being an LPN on a subacute floor. I didn'n even want the job, but my supervisor said I better than most of his RNs!
Specializes in telemetry, med-surg, home health, psych.
The senior nurses I started working under at my very first job ate me big time! They were hateful, made demeaning remarks in front of others, I cried, tried not to, I just had no idea that at my age of 39 that nurses were such backstabbing people. I guess I was naive, thinking all nurses would be compassionate. I never complained so I don't know what you others mean by "coating themselves with salt and butter", you all sound a bit like those nurses I worked under who did nothing but sit at the nurses station all night and eat! Not that what you said had anything to do with eating. Once just once did one of them ever show me anything! They were useless. All they wanted to do is write me up. The other nurses I worked with noticed their inhumane feelings towards me too. I just thought their actions would get better with time, but dumb me.
I should have sued their ass, you all have no idea. Even another charge nurse from another floor "filled me in" on how they felt about me. I would turn in the vital signs and hear "what took you so long, were you fluffing their pillows?" This was 11-7 shift on post op floor. So many times I would get there and these poor pts would need to use the BR. They told me that the nurse on 3-11 was going to take them,, but she never came back. These people had IV poles and fresh surgery so it was slow going, but that was my job and I loved it.
Tell me all of you smart as***** out there, what should I have done?
Once of those ****** (and I don't even like this word, this whole thing infuriates me) wanted to write me up because I let a man get up and walk to the BR. I knew he was only supposed to use the BSC, but he got stuck in it on 3-11 and refused to use it. He was a big man and we, me and the aid, stood there the entire time to make sure he was OK going to and getting back in bed. Sometimes you have to use nursing judgement.
How is anyone to judge someone anyway?
So YES, Nurses do eat their young! It really doesn't matter how long you have been a nurse. Like Dr. Phil says,"you teach people how to treat you" That is so true because when I started acting like them instead of so nice, they all backed off for some reason and started treating me like I was one of their friends. How sad is that?
Please note that by moderator concensus 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 lilnk. 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 nuturing to the new nurse and students on your unit.
End of sermon. LOL
You know in my experience as a male nurse whohas ben in the profession for 3 years and has worked 3 different jobs i havent seen much of older of more seasoned nurses eat their young. i have heard of some but not really seen much. so im kinda up in the air about this subject. every nurse that i have worked with has been really helpful and understanding when i have needed help or clarification. so maybe it is a female to female feasting going on the i dont see.
I think nurses do "eat their young"-sometimes. Not all nurses,and certainly not all the time. It's rediculous to imply that this is always the case. If you run into one nurse who is less than encouraging and supportive, it's not okay to adopt the mantra "nurses eat their young." If we all keep this in mind, however, it might just help us to become better teachers and role models for those who are new to the profession.
:argue: First of all I don't agree with the all nurses eat their young. Maybe some nurses eat their elders.:chuckle I think all nurses should remember that they were all new once. As for the nurse that is responsible for training a new nurse he/she will most likely be the one to set the tone for this idea that nurses eat their young, so I suppose if you don't agree with the statement maybe you should look at how you treat the new nurse, take the time, even though its hard:banghead:, because the new nurse is wanting the knowledge you might have. If you love what you do and you're good at it pass it on because its hard enough to keep good staff around and if you treat people good you will get the same in return (hopefully).
I think it is very true. Nurses who have been in the profession for a long time I think feel somewhat nervous when new nurses enter their work place. I also think for some reason they feel the need to prove their authority. I say get over it!!!! Let's all get along, after all we're adults now so we should all start acting like it instead of pubescent teenagers.
PeachPie
515 Posts
ROFLMAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I agree with you on every count. The loudest whiners are often indeed human hemorrhoids who lack any modicum of self-awareness.
Yes, young eating does exist, but too many wolf-callers cheapen the issue.