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 did quit nursing. I miss it so much, but I didn't quit because things did not go my way. I had to take a leave to take care of my sister, she was in a bad car accident and then my dad got worse. He was diagnosed with cancer and he became confused too. So I stayed out of nursing and when I did try to go back things just weren't the same. I was terrible at it, everything. And then I had such bad experiences with 2 new jobs. Not anything I did though. But they were so bad I told my husband "someone's going to die and its not going to be because of something I did, but because of the nurses I followed from the prior shift" such as being put into dangerous positions, & having to work two floors, which is against the law. I did call the DON when I got to work, and she said "wing it". That's not good enough for me I am an LPN. I should have turned her in. I know she didn't stay there.
I read about these girls who are so happy they just passed their test. I just think, you just don't know!
I always wanted to be a nurse. After I graduated from high school I couldn't get into nursing because I have epilepsy and back then there was discrimination. But later I managed to get through it all with 2 kids and a husband which were all so proud of me. Now I help my husband in his business which is not going so well d/t the economy.
Well anyway...so it goes.
try working in nursing home. Or do Hospice care. I think it's a lot easier. Good luck
let's go straight to the tail of the well-beaten horse. they eat each other, they eat their young, and they eat the unborn (people who express even moderate interest in the profession from either the tech level or ancillary services).
When all their frustrations come beating on your door.
I know that I’m a prisoner to all my father held so dear
I wish I could have told him in the living years.
Crumpled bits of paper filled with imperfect thoughts
Stilted conversations, I’m afraid that’s all we’ve got.
You say you just don’t see it, he says it’s perfect sense
You just can’t get agreement in this perfect tense.
We all talk a different language, talking in defense
So we open up a quarrel between the present and the past
We only sacrifice the future; it’s the bitterness that lasts
*Compact Disc cover, Mike and the Mechanics. Atlantic Recording Corporation (1988)
Kupperschmidt (2006) states that "Professional nurses must learn to carefront in order to become the caring professional nurses they purport to be. Provision 1.5 of the Code of Ethics (ANA, 2001), page 9, states that the professional nurse must treat colleagues with respect and maintain a commitment to resolving conflicts with colleagues."
What are your thoughts on this article? What does this mean to you?
They eat other nurses for sure lol! We had a new grad on our floor and a patient coded. I was doing the compressions and I heard the nurse in training ask her preceptor a question. In a voice that could only be described as pure evil lol. She said "Don't try to pawn things off on me, this is your code!" It was very clear by the look on her face she was feeling very stressed and unsure of what to do next. I thought to myself geez give the girl a break. I know she has to learn but first time codes are scary for anyone. I'm a PCA when I had to do my first code the other PCA jumped in and started compressions then had me take over. I couldn't begin to say how thankful I was to her since I was scared to death. I don't know why nurses are so mean to new nurses but I do see it all the time.
Specializes in med surg, geriatric, clinical, pool.
Sorry to hear that. Are you considering coming back to nursing?
Sometimes I think "yes", but for the most part I don't want to. I expected a lot from everyone else and myself. I think they call it being "your own worst enemy". I do miss my patients. I have some very very good memories of helping my patients. I got a lot of kind compliments from them. Nursing in that light was very rewarding, there was nothing like it. It was all worth it and I would do it again. Just wish I had the nerve then that I do now! I was so surprised at how the RNs, put me down, tried to get me to do things that LPNs could not do ( like giving lasix IV Push) and then put me down for not doing it! It was just getting too crazy!
Sometimes I think "yes", but for the most part I don't want to. I expected a lot from everyone else and myself. I think they call it being "your own worst enemy". I do miss my patients. I have some very very good memories of helping my patients. I got a lot of kind compliments from them. Nursing in that light was very rewarding, there was nothing like it. It was all worth it and I would do it again. Just wish I had the nerve then that I do now! I was so surprised at how the RNs, put me down, tried to get me to do things that LPNs could not do ( like giving lasix IV Push) and then put me down for not doing it! It was just getting too crazy!
Guess that is what age and growing older does.
Sounds like similar experiences from my days as a LPN. I am a new grad but am starting to feel a bit of a burn out. So I am looking to change the type of work. I am doing med-surg right now and per diem at a neuro clinic. I am hoping to explore community health or maybe school nursing? I also find it very rewarding when you know you've made a difference in your patients whether they tell you or not. Good luck with whatever choice you decide on.:heartbeat
as a young nurse, yes, older nurses do eat us young. when i am trying to learn and an older nurse looks at me like i am stupid when i ask a question, i wish that i could tell her to remember what it was like to be a young nurse. I am not stupid. I am just trying to be the best i can be. This isn't an isolated event. I have seen in in my peds, geriatric, ER, and especially medsurg. This needs to change. It will change with me!
I think nurses eat everyone and anything, we are truly sharks …….we can be some of the meanest, bitchiest people I have ever known. This is of course a generalization…….but I think when you have a large population of women……insecurities, anxiety, and frustration can spawn pure evil at times. For people that deny it’s existence……well you are the ones doing the eating that’s why you don’t “see a problem”
OK...so I won't say the infamous saying but I will say I was treated horribly my first yr in med-surg....I left 10 mo's later and it took a good yr to gain self-respect. So now I work in ED and Tele and I use that experience to empathize and treat all new grads with respect. Jut remember these new nurses will be changing OUR diaper.... ( well maybe yours, I'll be absolutely fine in that respect) and we must keep this in mind.
Sorry to hear that. Are you considering coming back to nursing?
ari3sdog
100 Posts
try working in nursing home. Or do Hospice care. I think it's a lot easier. Good luck