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.
Prime example of eating young ltc nurse: new nurse po'd that experienced RN refused to assist with unplugging a blocked jtube after hours of trying & calling DON who said ask next shift to assist prior to calling MD & sending out to replace (which would require an appt. NPO status & next day appt anyway)...experienced RN said why didn't person get tube feeding during majority of shift & why didn't I notify MD...I said I did what I was told by DON as I was not sure how to proceed considering myself and 2 others couldn't unblock tube over 3-4 hour period. Said RN was reprimanded for not assisting/refusing to assist and another RN said its my license not the DON if person did not get required feeding during shift. So...makes sense in hindsight that MD should have been notified, but it also seems that everytime another shift fails to flush a tube or refuses to do their job; and/or I discover it, I am forced to own it?? I am simply trying to do my job, and others refuse to accept accountability and responsibility and think its funny I'm stuck owning it.. ISN'T THAT BLATANT INACCOUNTABILITY?? AND HOW DO I COVER MY BUTT WHEN OTHERS FAIL TO DO THEIR JOBS?? LASTLY, am I wrong for seeking DON advice on how to proceed once I realized jtube was hopelessly clogged? I'm a recent grad, I am not always sure when to notify MD.. Or should I have called MD first?? But then again, should I have called at start of shift when I first realized it was clogged or mid shift when I called DON or prior to new shift coming on (before they had opportunity to try?) Thanks for feedback..
Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
prime example of eating young ltc nurse: new nurse po'd that experienced rn refused to assist with unplugging a blocked jtube after hours of trying & calling don who said ask next shift to assist prior to calling md & sending out to replace (which would require an appt. npo status & next day appt anyway)...experienced rn said why didn't person get tube feeding during majority of shift & why didn't i notify md...i said i did what i was told by don as i was not sure how to proceed considering myself and 2 others couldn't unblock tube over 3-4 hour period. said rn was reprimanded for not assisting/refusing to assist and another rn said its my license not the don if person did not get required feeding during shift. so...makes sense in hindsight that md should have been notified, but it also seems that everytime another shift fails to flush a tube or refuses to do their job; and/or i discover it, i am forced to own it?? i am simply trying to do my job, and others refuse to accept accountability and responsibility and think its funny i'm stuck owning it.. isn't that blatant inaccountability?? and how do i cover my butt when others fail to do their jobs?? lastly, am i wrong for seeking don advice on how to proceed once i realized jtube was hopelessly clogged? i'm a recent grad, i am not always sure when to notify md.. or should i have called md first?? but then again, should i have called at start of shift when i first realized it was clogged or mid shift when i called don or prior to new shift coming on (before they had opportunity to try?) thanks for feedback..
if i understand correctly, you've had a bad experience with a couple of rns at your facility, and from that you've concluded that nurses eat their young? i think you've just had a bad experience with a couple of nurses at your facility.
I'll agree with that as I have had the privilege of having worked with the creme de la creme of nursing professionalism during my clinical experiences..However, you have also crystalized for me what I have felt for some time.. that I work amongst unprofessionals in my current environment... but as my post reflects upon... how do I proceed and protect myself when working with those who would rather eat their young and entertain themselves at the cost of another's licensure?
I'll agree with that as I have had the privilege of having worked with the creme de la creme of nursing professionalism during my clinical experiences..However, you have also crystalized for me what I have felt for some time.. that I work amongst unprofessionals in my current environment... but as my post reflects upon... how do I proceed and protect myself when working with those who would rather eat their young and entertain themselves at the cost of another's licensure?
I don't see how your license was in jeopardy in your example. Your actions, as described, seem reasonable. But I do not work LTC so an email to explain would be most helpful.
I think one approach, would be the use of an incident report. Yeah, write yourself-up. Include your consultation with the DON and the actions/omissions of those who "eat their young." You may even consider the young eaters as consultants, and using a neutral tone quote them. I think it's important to only state facts and not opinions in an IR.
I have no clue as to whether that would protect your license. I just think it may lead to less "stuff." For advise on how to protect your license, please contact your malpractice carrier and/or a lawyer. (They are really the best source of information on that subject.)
I am more than 2/3 of the way through a three month nurse residency program, and most of the nurses have been extremely supportive, nuturing and have really seemed to enjoy the opportunity to teach and welcome a new nurse such as myself. If someone does give me a hard time, say during report, I will just simply remind them that I am learning, and they can better serve our patients by helping me with the process.
Documentation: After numerous unsuccessful attempts to obtain jtube patency via protocol this RN notified supervisor Jan Doe RN regarding this issue. This RN was instructed to ask for assistance regarding this issue with the oncoming shift, approx.~ Xhrs. Patient was placed in NPO status @ this time. Vitals signs are as follows.
What I have noticed with SOME experienced nurses at my work is that they are quite resentful of us newer nurses because they feel we had more privileges than they did when they started. They are always comparing what they did as new grads to us. For example, being able to choose what areas we wish to work in, anti-discrimination laws, the fact that I can talk back to the surgeons if they are rude etc. I have been criticised more than once for getting on with the surgeons, having a laugh with them and calling them by their first name. "Well back in my day we would never dream of being so forward with a surgeon'. Well if you don't like the fact that nurses are no longer going to grovel on the floor when a doctor walks into the room then leave the profession now. Please.
And I also find these same nurses complain about generation X and Y and how we are the 'me' generation. Well pardon me for being born but but as we are the 'whingy' and 'selfish' generation at least we won't be putting up with the same crap that they did. Maybe our generation of people may just help nursing advance more as a we aren't afraid to say "NO!", instead of 'yes doctor, three bags full doctor'.
What I have noticed with SOME experienced nurses at my work is that they are quite resentful of us newer nurses because they feel we had more privileges than they did when they started. They are always comparing what they did as new grads to us. For example, being able to choose what areas we wish to work in, anti-discrimination laws, the fact that I can talk back to the surgeons if they are rude etc. I have been criticised more than once for getting on with the surgeons, having a laugh with them and calling them by their first name. "Well back in my day we would never dream of being so forward with a surgeon'. Well if you don't like the fact that nurses are no longer going to grovel on the floor when a doctor walks into the room then leave the profession now. Please.
And I also find these same nurses complain about generation X and Y and how we are the 'me' generation. Well pardon me for being born but but as we are the 'whingy' and 'selfish' generation at least we won't be putting up with the same crap that they did. Maybe our generation of people may just help nursing advance more as a we aren't afraid to say "NO!", instead of 'yes doctor, three bags full doctor'.
Actually the 80's were the real "me" generation. The baby boomers decided they'd better get with it and make a living and money and thus "Yuppies" were born. Designer clothes became mainstream and it was all about status. Donald Trump become a celebrity based soley on his wealth, greed and power.
Actually the generation before you paved the road for you have such freedoms, you didn't invent it. Too bad they don't respect you and I hate when my generation disrespects the younger generation because my generation wasn't perfect either.
But generational respect does work both ways, and I'm not feeling the love from your post either.
if i understand correctly, you've had a bad experience with a couple of rns at your facility, and from that you've concluded that nurses eat their young? i think you've just had a bad experience with a couple of nurses at your facility.
Documentation: After numerous unsuccessful attempts to obtain jtube patency via protocol this RN notified supervisor Jan Doe RN regarding this issue. This RN was instructed to ask for assistance regarding this issue with the oncoming shift, approx.~ Xhrs. Patient was placed in NPO status @ this time. Vitals signs are as follows.
Do many here honestly believe that the reason "nursing is the only profession that eats its own." is that it is a female dominated profession?
That would imply, that for safety and nurse retention, a major goal for nursing should be to increase the number of male nurses. A goal we need to meet before the BSN/ADN ratio goals. (Since lateral violence is a more severe problem.)
First, I'm going to validate that "nurses eat their young".
Horizontal violence is a fact of nursing life.
Not all nurses engage in eating young nurse, but enough do.
That statement should not be a problem if you don't happen to be a nurse who eats young nurses.
I don't believe that nursing is the only profession that "eats its young" by any means.
I can definitely tell you that, there are a lot of things that happen in the nursing profession that would never permitted to continue in a male dominated profession,
as I and a few other second career nurses and new male nurses have observed.
Nurses are worked way too hard, and men would never put up with half the crap that we do.
We all need to band together and move legislation to preserve Med/Surg nurses, and patient safety.
Actually the 80's were the real "me" generation. The baby boomers decided they'd better get with it and make a living and money and thus "Yuppies" were born. Designer clothes became mainstream and it was all about status. Donald Trump become a celebrity based soley on his wealth, greed and power.
Actually the generation before you paved the road for you have such freedoms, you didn't invent it. Too bad they don't respect you and I hate when my generation disrespects the younger generation because my generation wasn't perfect either.
But generational respect does work both ways, and I'm not feeling the love from your post either.
As I said in my previous post it's SOME nurses who I feel don't respect us, not all of them. I get along really well with a lot of senior nurses who don't have chips on their shoulders . Why should I respect them when they have such bad attitudes towards younger nurses?
And some of the comments I hear daily about how much worse nursing is because the training is done at university not at the hospital like they did. Why can't they voice their concerns to the appropriate authorities such as the nurses board if they have such a huge problem with it? Why take it out on us? It's not as though we have choice on how we train to be nurses.
shouldhavebeenanunRN
25 Posts
Prime example of eating young ltc nurse: new nurse po'd that experienced RN refused to assist with unplugging a blocked jtube after hours of trying & calling DON who said ask next shift to assist prior to calling MD & sending out to replace (which would require an appt. NPO status & next day appt anyway)...experienced RN said why didn't person get tube feeding during majority of shift & why didn't I notify MD...I said I did what I was told by DON as I was not sure how to proceed considering myself and 2 others couldn't unblock tube over 3-4 hour period. Said RN was reprimanded for not assisting/refusing to assist and another RN said its my license not the DON if person did not get required feeding during shift. So...makes sense in hindsight that MD should have been notified, but it also seems that everytime another shift fails to flush a tube or refuses to do their job; and/or I discover it, I am forced to own it?? I am simply trying to do my job, and others refuse to accept accountability and responsibility and think its funny I'm stuck owning it.. ISN'T THAT BLATANT INACCOUNTABILITY?? AND HOW DO I COVER MY BUTT WHEN OTHERS FAIL TO DO THEIR JOBS?? LASTLY, am I wrong for seeking DON advice on how to proceed once I realized jtube was hopelessly clogged? I'm a recent grad, I am not always sure when to notify MD.. Or should I have called MD first?? But then again, should I have called at start of shift when I first realized it was clogged or mid shift when I called DON or prior to new shift coming on (before they had opportunity to try?) Thanks for feedback..