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.
when I was a brand new LPN at a hospital, if I didn't know something, I would ask another nurse, rather than save face and look smarter than I actually was. A few nurses told my supervisor that I wasn't "safe" to be on the floor and my supervisor said I could resign, be terminated or go through orientation again, I was fine with being reorientated because that would make me a better nurse the down side was the 2 nurses who were rn's at the time, would be my preceptors so I could everything right but because they didn't like LPN's or me?, I would end up getting fired, so I resigned and was told that have you heard of the saying, nurses eat their young? I had never heard of that saying beofre that but I was also going to school to get my RN and after that expierence, I never wanted to work in a nursing home again.. even as an RN, sad but true story
I'm sorry, I APPLAUD you for asking questions when you weren't sure of something. I've seen tragic things happen when new nurses DON'T ask and assume that they do know. What a shame for your coworkers and superiors to think that it was a BAD trait on your part!
I still ask questions. Often I know the answer, but it's helpful to have the reinforcement of knowing someone else feels the same way. Nurses I work with who've been on my unit 20+ years do the same thing, too. That's teamwork at it's best. Don't let this experience discourage you...there ARE places out there that foster and encourage questions!
Specializes in telemetry, med-surg, home health, psych.
I think nurses are voted as being the most "honorable" profession....according to my dictionary---worthy of being honored, having a position of high rank, of good reputation, respectable, having or showing a sense of right or wrong, characterized by honesty and integrity, upright.....
I think that about sums it up for all of us....
so yes, the public is somewhat naive to the way that SOME, the minority, treat each other with disrespect.....I do believe it is the minority........we may still hold our heads up high....
there are always a few rotten apples in the bushel....
Jstewart3, I know this is a little off topic but why did you do CPR on the patient if "I knew he was deceased already,plus I remembered from the day before that he was "DNR" ? I think the next time you are faced with a situation like this you should speak up. It is unethical and unprofessional for anyone to start shocking a patient or doing CPR on them, knowing they are DNR. You were probably too streessed and scared and did not take time to think it through, but I just figured it is worth mentioning. Anyway, glad to hear you have found a better fit.
To the OP, this issue has been discussed ad nauseum. It is not okay to classify a whole group of people. Go into your new career with an open mind. It is always hard to work with different personalities. Good luck!
Jstewart3, I know this is a little off topic but why did you do CPR on the patient if "I knew he was deceased already,plus I remembered from the day before that he was "DNR" ? I think the next time you are faced with a situation like this you should speak up. It is unethical and unprofessional for anyone to start shocking a patient or doing CPR on them, knowing they are DNR. You were probably too streessed and scared and did not take time to think it through, but I just figured it is worth mentioning. Anyway, glad to hear you have found a better fit.
To the OP, this issue has been discussed ad nauseum. It is not okay to classify a whole group of people. Go into your new career with an open mind. It is always hard to work with different personalities. Good luck!
Thanks for asking because I was wondering the same thing.
Tweety, I applaud you, however, you are still part of a group that, if we are really honest with ourself, are not caring of each other and who do some awful things to each other. No, we aren't fooling the public, we are fooling ourselves and many times burying our heads in the sand by looking at the 4X4 that is our personal sphere. Sorry the trut is the truth, we are in it together and "minding our own business" is what keeps us bound. Hust my thoughts. nanacarol
Points well taken and I appreciate your input.
I agree that perhaps we aren't "caring of each other", because most of us are busy working, taking care of business and have lives of our own. I do have a problem believing that we do terrible things to each other. Not that I don't think that people do terrible things to each other, it happens when humans are gathered together.
When was the last time you did something terrible to someone?
I do not have my head in the sand. I'm a mature self-actualized person for the most part and would not tolerate "terrible things" being done to myself and everyone around me doing terrible things everyone else.
My vision might be limited because all I have are my experiences and am fortunate not to work in a toxic environment.
Taking an an inventory of those nurses around me right now - there's one that doesn't like working with new grads and students, doesn't have the patience for it. Another nurse doesn't like doing "tech work" and is fueding with the techs right now upsetting morale a bit, but I'm dealing with her. One grumpy tech that really doesn't like anyone and I'm dealing with her as well. So three out of the dozens I work for are upsetting the apple cart.
I can also say that most of us are too busy and stressed out with the workload, paperwork, demanding families, and short staffing to be "caring and nurturing" of one another. We're just trying to get through the day. But there are a few of us that go above and beyond in working as a team and orienting new grads and precepting students.
What I'm saying is there is an entire spectrum of us there......catty witches for sure and we all must learn to deal with them and we need to watch our back, the middle ground which is most of us who aren't eating each other up because we're too busy, and the few above and beyond saintly ones.
Would it be fair of me to label this group and thus my profession as one that "eats their young" and does "terrible things to one another". No it wouldn't.
Have I had nurses do unfair, gossipy and wrong things? Sure. As a charge nurse I sometimes hear some good rumors about myself
I still dont believe in it. There may be a very few unhappy people. They may account for 99 percent of the drama associated with this. Personally I love drama. Days of our lives, General Hospital. The Edge of Night.
I still dont believe in it. There may be a very few unhappy people. They may account for 99 percent of the drama associated with this. Personally I love drama. Days of our lives, General Hospital. The Edge of Night.
LOL...........
But I do agree that 99% of the drama, nurse eating, etc. is done by a smaller percentage of nurses. Most of us are good people.
Specializes in telemetry, med-surg, home health, psych.
I still dont believe in it. There may be a very few unhappy people. They may account for 99 percent of the drama associated with this. Personally I love drama. Days of our lives, General Hospital. The Edge of Night.
I don't watch soaps and don't like to live them, either....:wink2:
it is unfortunate but we/they do. Rather than have them work days and precept with an experience nurse who is also a goood teacher as well as compassionate with memories of what it was like to be a newbie, hospitals assign them to off shifts where there is often insufficient staff to orient & teach them properly.
Sorry I haven't been more active but my computer went kaput and am needing to utilize library computer at this time.
cherrybreeze, ADN, RN
1,405 Posts
I'm sorry, I APPLAUD you for asking questions when you weren't sure of something. I've seen tragic things happen when new nurses DON'T ask and assume that they do know. What a shame for your coworkers and superiors to think that it was a BAD trait on your part!
I still ask questions. Often I know the answer, but it's helpful to have the reinforcement of knowing someone else feels the same way. Nurses I work with who've been on my unit 20+ years do the same thing, too. That's teamwork at it's best. Don't let this experience discourage you...there ARE places out there that foster and encourage questions!