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.
[color=#556b2f]as a new lpn, i hope to stay positive about being eaten occasionally.
[color=#556b2f]there are times when i deserve it, but i know that i have learned more [color=#556b2f]from the nurses who give big hugs and laugh! the colorfullness of this [color=#556b2f]phrase about nurses eating their young shows that american nurses know how to critique their own, with [color=#556b2f]a sense of humor. mary ann anderson states in her nursing leadership text [color=#556b2f]that early american nursing environments established a precedent for nurses to devalue one another. being a student nurse meant working long hours in a hospital school without pay and studying on the side. i don't think we intentionally [color=#556b2f]keep up this supposedly american precedent. we just can't help being human. when conditions are poor in the work environment, more pecking [color=#556b2f]and eating occurs. people are all from different backgrounds and have different experiences that affect their sensitivity levels. i would say that [color=#556b2f]most nurses are more observant than your average person. they have the [color=#556b2f]ability to see when they have crushed the sensitive, and hopefully the time [color=#556b2f]to back up and undo the mess if they care. and nurses do care generally. i hope to put some of the ideas gleaned from this forum into practice in the years ahead. :heartbeatnew lpn going for rn in helena, mt
O.K. Last word here.......We old cranky nurses Are the YOUNG NURSES! who got ate by the elders LOL. AND LIVED TO TELL! We don't eat our young, we just push thier butts out of the nest! The school you went to told you that you knew what you were doing, so the graduated you!!!! The state you took your test in said you knew what you were doing, so they passed you!!!! Now do what you were taught!
The rules have not changed, you just need practice. Who do you have around you to let you know what you need practice in? HELLO, Us older nurses who have been the younger nurses before. This world of nursing does not often give us "practice" time, you have had your "practice time". You may have mentors or preceptors, but in in end it is all about you and you abilities to do you job. If your fear of the job is so great that you can't do it? Then pick another job.
Thank you for posting this article!! I belive that this is a common occurrence in our field. It's nice to know that someone has taken the time to provide thoughtful tips for dealing with these situations. :)
As a student RN who had not heard this expression before it was brought up in one of our classes, I feel it is pretty sad that this generalization is linked to my future profession. It seems there are going to be helpful and hurtful people in all occupations. Part of life is learning to deal with all types of people, both positive and negative. I would hope that if this is going on in our places of work and people are aware of it, someone makes an effort to confront the situation and deal with it. Isn't this why we take these leadership courses and learn communication and problem solving skills? I am thankful that in all of my clinical experiences, I have had extremely helpful nurses to show me the way.
I understand Catlady's point of view. The idea that nurses "eat their young" is unfounded. Nursing professionals encompass many personalities just as any profession. Some nurses are perceptive of NEW/INEXPERIENCED nurses while some are not. Change professions and you will encounter the same circumstances, just different faces. "Eating their young" is associated with females and animals. It is understandable why Catlady believes this is a sexist tag considering nursing is a female dominated profession and our workforce is "aging".
Well Brian, this has not been my experiance, I do occassionally have a problem with a PCT/Unit clerk who tends to think that she know everythig since she had been on that unit for 30+ years, but not my coworkers.
BUT HERE IS THE CATCH...I actually transfered out of a nursing program in which I felt that the INSTRUCTORS at their young!
I actually walked at 8 weeks to graduation. I felt that I was not properly prepaired, and that I would be unable to get properly prepaired because I was so busy doing what the rest of the class was doing-keeping our head down and hiding from our instructors.
I transfered to another school and redid my last 2 semesters and I think it was the right choice.
Specializes in Geri, Pedi, Trauma, OR, Rehab, MH, OP.
I guess I was lucky enough to have some really supportive staff to work with. I started working and automatically started being drug around to do and watch EVERYTHING that was going on. Inside input, advice they wish they had known as a new nurse, and encouragement beyond belief. Of course, there were a few that wouldn't even make eye contact or return a hello. Those few I continued to not treat any differently and became some of my closest friends. It's a very small facility though and most working there grew up in this town. I am going to start working for an agency in the next month or so and go full time this coming summer. The jobs are in a MUCH larger town and of course so are the facilities, full of people I don't know. Im terrified of what kind of response I may get or treatment. I don't want to say that all are difficult to work with, but I do understand having an inner circle and how that all works. I also have heard that agency nurses are not welcomed with open arms, and that I can understand too with possible resentment on pay and scheduling. I'm sure I would feel the same way if it were the other way around, but I wouldn't treat anyone any less than I would want to be treated. I am going this route because it is what my family needs to better our lives. Im not a newbie, but Im not a verteran nurse either......but I'm absolutely nauseated at the thought of starting the job. I can deal with a screaming doctor, but it bothers me more if I feel my fellow nurses think/treat me in a degrading way.
I'm learing/refreshing up on as much as I can, because where I have been is not the leading hi-tech place. I dont want to have to bug anybody on questions that they will consider a waste of their time. Im one of those that asks a ton of questions and I hesistate if Im not sure of something. So, it will be interesting how it will pan out. Hopefully, I can prove myself....quickly.
I absolutely HATE when someone walks up to me and says "smile!" with a silly grin. Sorry but I'm going to eat you if you say "smile" to me.
Oh boy do I ever agree with you!!! I've been working as a waitress since I was 15 and I've been a bartender for the past three years. Usually, I am upbeat, fun, and smiling. But some days, I just don't want to smile!
I just think it's so rude for someone to say, "Smile!" How do you know, god forbid, that my father didn't die last week? Or something else bad happened?
Once I had this man who was being excessively annoying and rude to me about SMILING! The conversation went something like this.
Man: Why don't you smile?
Me: Do you smile all the time when you're working?
Man: No. But you're a girl and girls can mutli-task.
Me: Well, you're a man so you can go shove your **** up your ***. Being a girl, I can't do that.
Now, I would never act like that in a professional setting. I'm lucky enough to work at a place that is extremely laid back and basically run by the employees. I hate chauvinistic remarks because I was always told growing up that I couldn't do this or that because I was a girl by my own darned father.
After that comment, the guy loosened up and we had a real good laugh together. So he actually got me smiling.
This is the thread that refuses to die - that, in itself ought to tell you something! I've been watching it for years! Let's face it, there are the nice and the nasty in this world. The world of nursing reveals people, I think, even more than a presidential debate. You have to be an amazing person to be a nurse - smarts AND people skills. But there are a few in the profession that are there because, who knows, maybe they didn't think they had any options? A particular environment can also have an effect on an otherwise delightful person. Nobody is at his or her best when frustrated and unsupported. Humor, to be sure, can be a good remedy for the stress. But we all know those people with no know sense of humor, don't we? It's hard, eh?
"Eating their young" is associated with females and animals.
Wait a min! Male lions are cub eaters. Gorillas can eat babies, birds, lots of critters.
But I could start a real flamer if I pointed out that male nurses so seem to be a lot more mellow than a lot of females. Kick me! Even so, I had some real grouchy male nursing student colleagues. One would even say nasty stuff like saying "Age before beauty," as he stepped back to let me walk through a door. Turns out this one had been a prison guard. Then there was the student from Russia (definitely NOT with love!) who thought it was really funny to crack menopause jokes around me. They're out there, eh? I've met lots of really nice folks, but had some real jerks for teachers. Is it really okay to scream at students in front of patients, families and doctors? In my personal universe, I say it's important to be nice until it's time to not be nice. In nursing, one is often too damned busy to take on a jerk. Why on earth do some people enjoy making other people miserable? I guess misery loves company. Don't let 'em! There is probably nothing more frustrating to a bully than a person whose feathers are unruffleable.
"A particular environment can also have an effect on an otherwise delightful person"
I can't tell is its the work environment or just nursing itself that is bringing me down lately. Policies, patient acuity, management, "customer-service", legalities, backstabbing/gossipy co-workers. Why cant it just be simple.
Holly1
1 Post
[color=#556b2f]as a new lpn, i hope to stay positive about being eaten occasionally.
[color=#556b2f]there are times when i deserve it, but i know that i have learned more [color=#556b2f]from the nurses who give big hugs and laugh! the colorfullness of this [color=#556b2f]phrase about nurses eating their young shows that american nurses know how to critique their own, with [color=#556b2f]a sense of humor. mary ann anderson states in her nursing leadership text [color=#556b2f]that early american nursing environments established a precedent for nurses to devalue one another. being a student nurse meant working long hours in a hospital school without pay and studying on the side. i don't think we intentionally [color=#556b2f]keep up this supposedly american precedent. we just can't help being human. when conditions are poor in the work environment, more pecking [color=#556b2f]and eating occurs. people are all from different backgrounds and have different experiences that affect their sensitivity levels. i would say that [color=#556b2f]most nurses are more observant than your average person. they have the [color=#556b2f]ability to see when they have crushed the sensitive, and hopefully the time [color=#556b2f]to back up and undo the mess if they care. and nurses do care generally. i hope to put some of the ideas gleaned from this forum into practice in the years ahead. :heartbeatnew lpn going for rn in helena, mt