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.
We're talking about nurses eating their young, not patients abusing nurses. Some of us, for whatever reason, are able to work and survive nursing without being eaten by other nurses. I'm going on 17 years myself. :)
I meant that maybe older nurses bully younger nurses to prepare them for being abused by patients, or at least thats how they rationalize their behavior.
- just realized this topic is 2 weeks old and lost interest. Anything that could be said probably has been said somewhere in the 183 previous pages. -
I meant that maybe older nurses bully younger nurses to prepare them for being abused by patients, or at least thats how they rationalize their behavior.
- just realized this topic is 2 weeks old and lost interest. Anything that could be said probably has been said somewhere in the 183 previous pages. -
I agree, there probably isn't nothing to more to say.
Wouldn't it be more true to say "There are some older nurses that bully younger nurses...........". I'm not trying to get all politically correct but when you say what you did "older nurses bully younger nurses........." it bothers me as an older nurse since I don't do that.
I haven't been eaten yet -- been chewed on, and it hurt, but I managed to swat them off and avoid them from that point on. I have one left on my unit who likes a bite of me once in a while -- I've learned that she's a miserable and nasty individual, and just about everybody on the unit despises her.
There are nasty people in every profession -- but I think nursing lends itself to this type of treatment -- as there are a million policies and details one can claim expertise to -- and it it to lord themselves over others.
Never heard the phrase before, though Im not surprised considering how many sob stories I read on this site. Still, its human nature to abuse those in your power if you have been abused yourself. So I dont think its unique to nurses or around simply for the sake of tradition.
On the other hand, they could just do it to weed out the weak. If you cant take a little abuse, why are you in nursing?
Question? Are you through nursing school yet? Started your clinicals yet?
I agree, there probably isn't nothing to more to say.
Wouldn't it be more true to say "There are some older nurses that bully younger nurses...........". I'm not trying to get all politically correct but when you say what you did "older nurses bully younger nurses........." it bothers me as an older nurse since I don't do that.
Tweety, I think it is a great big mistake to inject the word "All" into the statement about "Nurses eat their young" just as it would to say "All older nurses bully younger nurses." That is not a true statement either, but the writer didn't put "ALL" in either statement. I know from your posts that you are not a jerk and do not condone abusive behaviour from experienced nurses. That said.............
Well I am definately an older nurse but also a fairly new nurse. Nurses who have been around 2, 3 or 4 years can be some of the worse culprits when you are very new and they think they smell an opportunity to make themselves look good, and who knows maybe some unresolved issues with mama, LOL! But did I say that it seems to be some sort of self destructive right of passage? Most are fairly easy to work with now adays and part of that is they have figured out I am not going anywhere and the other part is they have fresher meat to gnaw on.
I have never worked in a firehall, but spent my time in a several sewing factories and I can tell you it can be tough there, but nothing like nursing. Part of it may have been that I didn't care about what they thought in a factory because I didn't plan to be there for ever and I also wasn't as dependent on co-workers as nurses are early on, but they were rough. The thing that has helped me the most getting through my first year of nursing besides having the natural "stubborn individulalist personality" that I have is always wanting to know more and learn to do things better. I have learned the ones who will help you succeed and the ones who are just passing time themselves. Those aren't important to me, the others are.
This is a topic that I personally hope stays active because the recipeints of this behavior needs validation that "yes it is happening" and "no, they did nothing to deserve it." :typingThe folks who are not on the receiving end need to be concious of it and do what they can to change it. For my part, I know I will never, ever treat anyone the way some have treated me. I have intervened on one occasion when I felt my intervention would be effective and it worked. Those who are doing it should be flogged! Seriously, people need to be concious of their interaction with others and stop the caca from rolling down hill!
Patients are patients, we are not dependent on them to have our back, or to offer support. We have a whole different way of dealing with patients who are jerks. Co workers are a whole different story. How much general work experience do you have? I would be interested in your thoughts a few months into your first nursing job.
I do agree that abusing power it's part of human nature. Don't agree that all people use their power to humiliate those who are considered weak. It's a shame but it's true for nurses too, and I personaly think it's related to a poor spirit and poor sense of group of a person.
I was hurt by many nurses in the past and I think the trick it's not passing it on.
For those who are struggling now, learn from the situation and please, don't let it define your future.
Specializes in trauma, ortho, burns, plastic surgery.
I could not stay and don't speak out at this topic, loooool.
YES in american hospitals and LTCs are AND nurses who eat their young. Is not about old or young is about PERSONALITY.
Are totally awesome old nurses, a pleasure to work with, to be trained and learn from them a really model of life style and totally creapy ones, loool. The worst ever in a facility where you work like nurse is to be an outsider to the "clique" formed by old nurses. They could develop an hostyle work environment for many nurses came from outside. In a correct way managemnt calm down all these crepy staff and take mesure before to extend it and to make nurses to run away...but in a real world not all the time is happen like that. Why? Because people know each other from years, they have much more than professional relations...is human nature....
Finally is a managerial problem there...
Old nurses eat their youngs because ARE TOLERATED to do that.
You need just to find your own spot, and if somenthing told you that is wrong you could be sure THAT IS!
Yes OLD NURSES EAT THEIR YOUNG... for pleasure, loooool!
Specializes in cardiac rehab, medical/tele, psychiatric.
I have been a Registered Nurse for approximately 4 months. And I am sorry to say that overall I think that Nurses do eat their young. Perhaps it is unintentional, but in acute care situations where everyone is very busy, the arrival of a nurse, fresh from School is not greeted with huge enthusiasm. In the case of our ward, we have 6 new graduates. I have gone from being a student to being a new graduate!! I really thought that this year, finally, i would be part of the team! I can see it both ways. I can see that the staff are stressed and having to take someone new under their wing and help them to get started is not easy. It just adds to the workload for the nurses. But arriving in your first nursing job isnt that easy either. I know that I know lots of things, but I dont know where we keep tape or how to page the right doctor or .. hundreds of other things and somedays I come home so aware of my shortcomings and completely lacking confidenc in my ability to be a competent nurse.
I was listening to some of the hospital aides talking the other day, and i think that they correctly identified the problem. The tendency is for us to feedback to people when they screw up. On the days that you manage your patient load well, have all the dressings done before lunch and manage to have all your notes finished by 3pm, no one says "well done", but you will generally get feedback on the days that you arent keeping up.
That is one concept that i want to incorporate into my practice. I think we all need positive feedback a lot more often. Just bear in mind that the average experienced nurse can handle the odd bit of criticism, because she knows that she can keep up/do the job. The average new graduate isnt quite certain they can keep up/do the job, so negative criticism can be very hard on their self esteem.
Linz
Have to say I agree with this sentiment. I am also a new nurse and have noticed the same. It seems as though this is a profession where you are expected to "know it all"..I was spoken to for asking a colleague a question and was referred to our 200 page policy manual...give me a break. There is never positive feedback, only negative feedback. I have also noticed that these more experienced nurses don't have the courtesy to tell you where you could improve, they'd rather run to the NM, waiting to take the knife and stab you in the back. I don't get it:confused:
Even though I'm not a new nurse, I must say that I was practically eaten alive this weekend. Charge nurse did every thing possible to ensure a miserable shift for 2 days. Gotta love it! Still recovering with swollen hands.
Tweety, BSN, RN
36,352 Posts
We're talking about nurses eating their young, not patients abusing nurses. Some of us, for whatever reason, are able to work and survive nursing without being eaten by other nurses. I'm going on 17 years myself. :)