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 do thing nurses eat their young. And that is very sad. I saw this first hand in nursing school. I felt like they were out to fail me than pass me. I hope in the future this changes. I believe that if we come together our proffesion will be respect more. Doctors have a thight community why can't nurses?
I'll be a new grad nurse in a few weeks and have had experience in 8 different areas of my hospital, from OR to Medsurg to Oncology.
I've had many encounters with seasoned nurses, several in each area (from Medsurg, to OR, to ICU).
I had no experience working with nurses prior to nursing school.
I worked with ages ranging from 25 to 75yo.
I have worked at 2 hospitals
I'm well-educated, articulate, and admire benevolent careers such as nursing.
And I'm over 30yo.
The question from a A NEW GRAD viewpoint: "Do they eat their young?"
Statistically: YES. But not all. Why? I actually interiewed many nurses, ALL of whom were mostly nice to me during my 18 months of clinicals. But I was curious as to why they "ate" the rest of my classmates: I discovered why and here is my theory. I'd like your opinions:
The hospital food chain works in a particular way in small-middle sized towns. There is a outdated caste system from decdes ago that still prevails where doctors reigned and nurses were the soldiers yet there was a pecking order. Nurses got comfortable with seniority-based system as a way of life. When you became 60+, you got the "ear" of doctor and a military-like reverence from the troops below. New nurses went into nursing for an entirely different reason. Caste system is outdated and older nurses seem to feel that a military style boot camp of learning is what made them effective decades ago. Call it an initiation/hazing. Its unconscious. That, combined with a nursing shortage, they feel overworked.
Are they entitled to eat their young? No. But its like child abuse... those abused will grow up to abuse their own.
None will admit to eating their young, but they do. ITs a truly WONDERFUL profession to be in. But each person makes his own future. If our generation confronts the abuse, we'll be the transitional generation for future nurses who I would hope will have it easier...at least on a social level. I enjoyed all those with whom I've work with but this carnivorous appetite for new grads really should not exist.
I look forward to working with kind nurses, yet know that we have to correct bad habits in others. As a new grad, thats tough. But thru constant kindness, we can change attitudes.
I'll be a new grad nurse in a few weeks and have had experience in 8 different areas of my hospital, from OR to Medsurg to Oncology.
I've had many encounters with seasoned nurses, several in each area (from Medsurg, to OR, to ICU).
I had no experience working with nurses prior to nursing school.
I worked with ages ranging from 25 to 75yo.
I have worked at 2 hospitals
I'm well-educated, articulate, and admire benevolent careers such as nursing.
And I'm over 30yo.
The question from a A NEW GRAD viewpoint: "Do they eat their young?"
Statistically: YES. But not all. Why? I actually interiewed many nurses, ALL of whom were mostly nice to me during my 18 months of clinicals. But I was curious as to why they "ate" the rest of my classmates: I discovered why and here is my theory. I'd like your opinions:
The hospital food chain works in a particular way in small-middle sized towns. There is a outdated caste system from decdes ago that still prevails where doctors reigned and nurses were the soldiers yet there was a pecking order. Nurses got comfortable with seniority-based system as a way of life. When you became 60+, you got the "ear" of doctor and a military-like reverence from the troops below. New nurses went into nursing for an entirely different reason. Caste system is outdated and older nurses seem to feel that a military style boot camp of learning is what made them effective decades ago. Call it an initiation/hazing. Its unconscious. That, combined with a nursing shortage, they feel overworked.
Are they entitled to eat their young? No. But its like child abuse... those abused will grow up to abuse their own.
None will admit to eating their young, but they do. ITs a truly WONDERFUL profession to be in. But each person makes his own future. If our generation confronts the abuse, we'll be the transitional generation for future nurses who I would hope will have it easier...at least on a social level. I enjoyed all those with whom I've work with but this carnivorous appetite for new grads really should not exist.
I look forward to working with kind nurses, yet know that we have to correct bad habits in others. As a new grad, thats tough. But thru constant kindness, we can change attitudes.
Interesting and sad "statistics", but not fact, at least not in my experience. Maybe it is a small town thing, but here in the city it's not true that majority of us eat our young.
I'll admit the profession itself is tough on new grads, they get orientation and then a very stressful sink or swim year. Perhaps we as older nurses can be a little more mindful of this, but we're swimming and sinking ourselves, so no time to coddle the young. Sometimes this is misinterpreted.
Yes there are some evil people abusing new grads and students. I don't have my head in the sand.
Good luck to you. Remember though even if you don't find us being "kind" 100% of the time constantly doesn't mean we're going to eat you. Sometimes it's enough for me to get through the day with my own self-esteem intact, never mind having to foster "constant kindness". Isn't neutral "I'm doing my own thing, call me if you need help, otherwise you won't see me" good enough for new grads?
Had an experience today, that kinda pertains here, I heard a older nurse tell a new nurse not to help out a colleague who was have a bad day and was obviously stressed. the new nurse offered just to help with a small task, and did so with an understaning caring smile, her preceptor rebuked her and told her she was not to help, that it was not her job, to let the nurse struggle. Folks, when did we start teaching new nurses not to pitch in when they can, to alleve some stress and work for another? What is going on? If nurses do not have each others' back, who does? Administation?!!!!!
Folks, when did we start teaching new nurses not to pitch in when they can, to alleve some stress and work for another? What is going on? If nurses do not have each others' back, who does? Administation?!!!!!
According to the new people it must have been taught years ago because they are being warned about us in the classroom. "BEWARE the evil nurses out there because Nurses Eat Their Young!!!"
There might be another piece to the puzzle here. The busy nurse might be a slow, disorganized person they are trying to teach a little independence to. Or the nurse might be lazy, getting behind and then expecting someone to rescure her. Sometimes it's best to not help these people in order to teach organization and time management. I work with a nurse that dilly dallys all day then as the shift is ending is running around playing catch up and I'm not really inclined to reward this behavior by rescuing her.
Or the preceptor could be just catty and not helping because she doesn't like the nurse.
According to the new people it must have been taught years ago because they are being warned about us in the classroom. "BEWARE the evil nurses out there because Nurses Eat Their Young!!!"
There might be another piece to the puzzle here. The busy nurse might be a slow, disorganized person they are trying to teach a little independence to. Or the nurse might be lazy, getting behind and then expecting someone to rescure her. Sometimes it's best to not help these people in order to teach organization and time management. I work with a nurse that dilly dallys all day then as the shift is ending is running around playing catch up and I'm not really inclined to reward this behavior by rescuing her.
Or the preceptor could be just catty and not helping because she doesn't like the nurse.
Thats a good theory, Tweety... regarding the teaching of independence as an explanation for the lack of social support for new nurses. I pondered that too, however, I cant help but think that most new grads would still become independent in the same amount of time with some positive reinforcement and an upbeat tone. Trial by fire works but has a domino effect on quality of life, both in and out of the hospital. We teach new grads in most all other career fields with patience and compassion regarding the steep learning curves and the only distinction regarding nursing is the cattyness conveyed by the teachers of new grads. And in the one career field that is the epitomy of benevolence, most nurses tend to stifle the innate kind posture of new grads. I truly think that a kind tone and faith in a new grad requires no more effort, and makes for a longterm happy employee who will do the same for a future new grad. I also realized this is probalby why nurses move around so much, and explains some of the appeal of traveling nursing.
One day we'll look back and say "gone are those Nurse Rachet days"...
The hospital food chain works in a particular way in small-middle sized towns. There is a outdated caste system from decdes ago that still prevails
I'd have to say you are absolutely right about the hospital food chain in small-middle sized towns. I don't even work in nursing yet. I am in admissions and I see some of the worst eating of young co-workers that could possibly happen. And it happens in other departments too...radiology, etc. I have some of the cattiest co-workers and it really is sad and immature. I want to be a nurse and will pursue that avenue, but I know from experience that there are definitely hospital "politics" for lack of a better word, in just about every dept of the hospital that I work for. If you're not in with the "clique" crowd, you will not be treated very nice, sometimes downright nasty. Reminds me of a bad episode of that movie Mean Girls.
Specializes in med surg, geriatric, clinical, pool.
"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.
Oh wow you summed up nursing rather well and these reasons plus more are why I quit. When I first started nursing I really enjoyed it, but only because I went to agency nursing. It was wonderful. If I didn't like the other nurses I would give them one more chance to see if it was just a bad day for them, if not, I didn't have to go back. I worked in clinics, hospitals, nursing homes, subacute floors so I didn't lose any nursing skills, if anything I learned just what was out there for me as a nurse instead of staying in one place all of the time.
Try it you might just like it! Just give yourself a chance. Most places are basically ran the same with little differences, but they are nothing.
Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
had an experience today, that kinda pertains here, i heard a older nurse tell a new nurse not to help out a colleague who was have a bad day and was obviously stressed. the new nurse offered just to help with a small task, and did so with an understaning caring smile, her preceptor rebuked her and told her she was not to help, that it was not her job, to let the nurse struggle. folks, when did we start teaching new nurses not to pitch in when they can, to alleve some stress and work for another? what is going on? if nurses do not have each others' back, who does? administation?!!!!!
i cannot help but wonder if we know the whole story here. perhaps the colleague who was having a "bad day" has a "bad day" every time she works and hasn't yet learned the time management skills she needs to cope with her work load. in this case, having a newbie jump in and help her out not only detracts from the time the newbie could be spending organizing her own time, looking up meds, reading over procedures, etc. but enables the colleague to continue to go without learning independence or time management skills.
on the other hand, i work with a lot of folks who spend their whole day socializing, then scramble to get all their work done in the last hour before the end of the shift. i'm disinclined to help them out during that last hour . . . especially if i've been busting my butt all day long to keep my own head above water.
in the interest of supporting our colleagues, i propose we assume the best of everyone, including that preceptor.
I napplaud your efforts and say, "if each nurse did what you imply you do, we could change the work environment" Of course we are all busy but I work with a group of nurses who insist that each of is helped with the workload so that when shift ends we are all on our way out of the door, I call that team work and a demonstration of caring for each other. Nanacarol
If you're not in with the "clique" crowd, you will not be treated very nice, sometimes downright nasty. Reminds me of a bad episode of that movie Mean Girls.
tonio123
24 Posts
I do thing nurses eat their young. And that is very sad. I saw this first hand in nursing school. I felt like they were out to fail me than pass me. I hope in the future this changes. I believe that if we come together our proffesion will be respect more. Doctors have a thight community why can't nurses?