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.
it is something far else, about the negativity and outright war of personalities out there in this "caring" profession...........the majority of us are caring, open and nurturing individuals, thank goodness, but it only takes a few with much informal power to ruin the teamwork and comaraderie(chk spelling)
group negativity is a silent "animal" sucks the positive professionalism out of a unit, etc.
why?????
No easy answer there. I do think it is a level of perception of oneself. If you don't feel good about yourself, it makes it easy to berate others, therefore increasing ones self esteem.. Others just like to get people riled up. A strong group is one that sticks together, and most management groups would rather have you busy putting out the little fires in your backyard than the forest fire looming in the distance. In other words, you won't be paying attention to the bigger problems when you are too busy worrying about all the small sh*&!!!
We are mostly a caring, nurturing, and open group of people. We are reduced by the few who choose to explore their lack of self esteem by belittling others. It takes alot to overcome this as once you are seen as "better than that" by choosing to ignore or fight it, you may become a victim as well. Then your self esteem drops and you may find yourself belittling the belittler and back to square one.
Just be strong. Know who you are and your strengths and weaknesses. Stand up against it and remain standing after the dust has settled. Words cannot kill you.
Statistically, a large percentage of caregivers have come from abusive homes. Just as an abused child often grows up to abuse her own children, might it be possible that some nurses are reacting to stress by becoming abusive to each other?
I so believe that nurses eat their young. I have been eaten up and spit out for "asking too many questions". I understand that there are "jerks" in every profession and arena but I have to say that I have experienced, witnessed and heard of far more cases of abuse to "new" nurses than any other "new kids on the block". I am the first to admit that I don't know all there is to know but I am willing, eager and wanting to learn all I can to be a better nurse. It is such a shame because most nurses have so much information to offer, so many tips or helping suggestions. I think of it this way...........I am going to be the person looking after your mother, grandmother or even you. I vow to embrace new graduates and let them in on everything I know because one day that grad might be MY NURSE. Please just treat others as you wish to be treated.......if someone doesn't know something, enlighten them.....how can they correct something if they see no error????
Read most of these posts. Been there done that so on etc. Worked with some real b****es both male and female. Been in nursing long enuff to see that usually the worst ones "get theirs" in the end. Currently work in an environment that thrives on threat of "write-ups",informing on your co-workers, etc. But, everyone is so Nice to your face. Usually, if I have a problem with someone, I just show them my tattoos, offer a little 1 to 1 in the med room or some other closed area or my all time fav., offer to take them fishing, cause I might run low on bait. They ususally get the message. LOL
Since I posted last, I've returned to nursing ,and yes...nurses eat nurses....young, old, new, seasoned, returning nurses, and the list is endless of how much nurses can truly ingest of the people they work with and for........from staff to Admin. :chuckle
Since I posted last, I've returned to nursing ,and yes...nurses eat nurses....young, old, new, seasoned, returning nurses, and the list is endless of how much nurses can truly ingest of the people they work with and for........from staff to Admin. :chuckle
Totally agree with you Cheerfuldoer! Would love to be able to buy a magic wand...and stop the munching!
As someone who graduated one year ago and was just recently "eaten" let me give a brief view of how I was treated. As a new nurse I had my fair share of questions, had never worked in a hospital setting so EVERYTHING was new to me. Had a lot to learn but was doing the job. There were the usual cliques, friends helping friends and not others, that I can deal with. But the character assassination did me in. Later, I was told by someone this group "just needs someone to hate, and your it". I took that piece of news with a grain of salt thinking "I'm bigger than this, I shall overcome!"
man, was I wrong.
I made a mistake, and the sharks circled in for the kill. I did screw up (no one died, or anything like that, policy violation). I willing to admit my mistake and take the heat for it, but they seemed to enjoy the outcome.
This same unit had 7 new grads last year, 3 left. no me, I'm outthere
I am sorry to hear how you were treated jetsetter. I think many of us have experienced this. I guess for the life of me...why in the world do nurses/women continue to dog fellow co-workers?!? It doesn't do any good...what do these nurses get out of this by treating people so crappy?! Grrrrrrr...it really ticks me off how some people treat others. Don't they have a conscience..how do these people sleep at night?
Catlady is SO RIGHT and says it very well. Individuals do things, not the profession. In my role, which includes assimilating all new nurses into our environment, I find some excellent teachers/mentors/preceptors and some who are just poison. Some of these poison people are that way to everyone, not just new nurses, but the new nurse has not learned that yet.
I hate to hear that conscientious young nurses just out of school are being chewed up and spit out by those of us who have been here for decades. I try very hard to be extra kind to my young coworkers, and remember what it felt like out there as a brand new nurse. I definitely needed a supportive mentor when I started ICU, and sought one out quickly. :).
Regarding the complaint 'you ask too many questions'...that is probably code for 'I don't have time for your questions right now'. We must all find a good mentor who WILL answer our questions. :)
I recently returned to my ICU after several years away, and am feeling the pain. I don't know the doctors' newest and latest pet peeves, or the new manager's idiosyncrasies. I'm pretty much back at the lowest rung of the totem pole again...new nurse . I notice I always get the admit, the worst patient, and always am the one having to call the jerkiest docs on call. (Although I specifically asked for any changes to be aware of, I was NOT told ...so it felt like a bit of a setup to be honest. Nurses can be verrrry passive aggresssive if not outright nasty.
I know what fuels the young eating: it comes from nurses' feelings of loss of control and frustrations over out workplace and profession, and the abuses we suffer just trying to do our jobs the way our nurse practice act outlines. One would think a caring profession could be less nasty to one another, but no, guess we can't.
rnoflabor2000
111 Posts
No easy answer there. I do think it is a level of perception of oneself. If you don't feel good about yourself, it makes it easy to berate others, therefore increasing ones self esteem.. Others just like to get people riled up. A strong group is one that sticks together, and most management groups would rather have you busy putting out the little fires in your backyard than the forest fire looming in the distance. In other words, you won't be paying attention to the bigger problems when you are too busy worrying about all the small sh*&!!!
We are mostly a caring, nurturing, and open group of people. We are reduced by the few who choose to explore their lack of self esteem by belittling others. It takes alot to overcome this as once you are seen as "better than that" by choosing to ignore or fight it, you may become a victim as well. Then your self esteem drops and you may find yourself belittling the belittler and back to square one.
Just be strong. Know who you are and your strengths and weaknesses. Stand up against it and remain standing after the dust has settled. Words cannot kill you.