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.
Specializes in med surg, geriatric, clinical, pool.
The only reason I haven't been swallowed is I give off toxic acid when bitten! Many attempts have been made. If anyone manages to swallow a piece of me, I plan to see that they get a severe case of c-diff!
Mahage
Being 57 might have something to do with that. Just meaning that when some are young, we are gullable and naive and it shows.
It took me awhile to get over this and when I did I became that witch-of-a- nurse just like the others, even my kids would ask "why are you in such a bad mood mom?" cause I used to be so nice. That does not last in nursing, sad to say.
I have been out of nursing for 10 yrs and I still can't be nice!
Being 57 might have something to do with that. Just meaning that when some are young, we are gullable and naive and it shows.
It took me awhile to get over this and when I did I became that witch-of-a- nurse just like the others, even my kids would ask "why are you in such a bad mood mom?" cause I used to be so nice. That does not last in nursing, sad to say.
I have been out of nursing for 10 yrs and I still can't be nice!
Queen, that tain't neccesary!
I have sworn I will never be a witch to those vulnerable and turning to me for help. I did snap at a girl one night who just asked me a simple question which seemed redundant. I was stressed out and she was actually trying to help me out, I don't remember what it was, but I did apoligize to her later. We are on good terms and she is a great young nurse. If I can't be who I am (and that sure isn't perfect) but a basically happy supportive person, then I couldn't stay in this profession. Even as new as I am, I have had the pleasure and privilige of precepting both new grads and students, and they were a joy and a learning experience. The new grads I precepted are great co-workers. They still turn to me because they know I am generally respectful and helpful. If I don't know the answer I will go with them to find out. They are always willing to help out in a pinch too, and I appreciate that greatly. I would not give the bwitches the satisfaction of turning me into one of them. Luckily there are some great seasoned nurses on our unit ranging from 25-76, and I want to be like them when I grow up at about 60, LOL!
Specializes in med surg, geriatric, clinical, pool.
Queen, that tain't neccesary!
I have sworn I will never be a witch to those vulnerable and turning to me for help. I did snap at a girl one night who just asked me a simple question which seemed redundant. I was stressed out and she was actually trying to help me out, I don't remember what it was, but I did apoligize to her later. We are on good terms and she is a great young nurse. If I can't be who I am (and that sure isn't perfect) but a basically happy supportive person, then I couldn't stay in this profession. Even as new as I am, I have had the pleasure and privilige of precepting both new grads and students, and they were a joy and a learning experience. The new grads I precepted are great co-workers. They still turn to me because they know I am generally respectful and helpful. If I don't know the answer I will go with them to find out. They are always willing to help out in a pinch too, and I appreciate that greatly. I would not give the bwitches the satisfaction of turning me into one of them. Luckily there are some great seasoned nurses on our unit ranging from 25-76, and I want to be like them when I grow up at about 60, LOL!
Funny that you say that because I made the same vow! But things got so bad I just had to quit. No one was doing their job before my shift, and bad, unexpectable things happened that I will never forget. Unfortunately for me things never improved even when I changed jobs.
I was working PRN, a lady was diabetic, was not admitted as one, I was giving her Jevity Plus (big NO NO), It was not on the MAR, I had to dig into her chart before I discoverd she was indeed a diabetic, I called the doc, got new order for another insulin, didn't have that insuliin, was calling him back when another LPN came up to me, took the phone out of my hand and said "cancel call"into the phone and hung it up! I wanted to slap her silly!!!! The DON was standing right there with this pt's daughter, and she basically just wanted her mother to have some insulin. Well, guess what? That DON, LPN and head nurse all left their sweet little 7-3 shift while was left with a pt of an accu check of 431!!!
Then I had to repage the doctor to tell him what happened, but couldn't I was so embarrassed over this whole incident. I had to write everyone up, doctor's orders and I was brand new working there, but had been working as a nurse for 8 yrs.
I went to another nursing home. I worked 11-7 all by myself! on TWO floors. When I got there, I called the DON, I asked her "you leaving me here like this?" Her reply was "wing it"! And a lady almost died, another story. I could keep going.
Funny that you say that because I made the same vow! But things got so bad I just had to quit. No one was doing their job before my shift, and bad, unexpectable things happened that I will never forget. Unfortunately for me things never improved even when I changed jobs.
I was working PRN, a lady was diabetic, was not admitted as one, I was giving her Jevity Plus (big NO NO), It was not on the MAR, I had to dig into her chart before I discoverd she was indeed a diabetic, I called the doc, got new order for another insulin, didn't have that insuliin, was calling him back when another LPN came up to me, took the phone out of my hand and said "cancel call"into the phone and hung it up! I wanted to slap her silly!!!! The DON was standing right there with this pt's daughter, and she basically just wanted her mother to have some insulin. Well, guess what? That DON, LPN and head nurse all left their sweet little 7-3 shift while was left with a pt of an accu check of 431!!!
Then I had to repage the doctor to tell him what happened, but couldn't I was so embarrassed over this whole incident. I had to write everyone up, doctor's orders and I was brand new working there, but had been working as a nurse for 8 yrs.
I went to another nursing home. I worked 11-7 all by myself! on TWO floors. When I got there, I called the DON, I asked her "you leaving me here like this?" Her reply was "wing it"! And a lady almost died, another story. I could keep going.
After that I never looked back.
I don't really understand why anyone would stop you from getting a new insulin order. That bordered on assault on your person also. Standing your ground and biting back is neccessary. I would definately have called the MD back, explained the patients condition and got orders if the existing order wasn't appropriate and they could have rotted for my part, I would take care of the patient to the best of my ability. Moving out of an unsafe toxic environment is also neccessary while making a lot of noise about it hopefully to the right people as you go. I have never worked a nursing home, but my daughter did for the majority of her career as an LPN. She is on disability now and doesn't work, but she loved nursing home work. But I don't plan on ever letting anyones rotten attitude ruin my outlook or life. It won't happen, at our age we have the ability to stop that from happening Queen. If you have other things going on in your life that make you angry and unhappy that is not neccesarily about nursing or even mean rotten coworkers. You said it had been 10 years since you got out, you should congratulate yourself about getting out of a bad situation and find somethings to be happy about in your life. Don't you think 10 years is too long to be angry about something that is long separated from your everyday life.
I had a job one time, where I made a ton of money but my boss was a real buzzard! He treated me like crap. I hung on, became the fastest case manager he had, (it was all about productivity) then the darn company closed down our office, but before the doors closed, he started being respectful and appropriate. I confronted him with his behavior before we parted ways but he said he didn't realize or intend to treat me badly. I think it was just another case of the old jerk chewing on the young or in my case the NEW staffer. This was the only Social Work job I have ever been treated badly in but the interesting thing was that everyone there hated their jobs. It was case management for a behavioral health company and I think everyone was just there for the money, Lot like Nursing, but we should be making more. The nurse case managers there hated the Social Workers and Counselors who were outpatient case managers and we didn't give a rip because for once we were making as much money as they were. But I absolutely hated the first few months I worked there because of my jerk of a boss. It did not have to be a bad place to work but he made it that way.
If things had not have gotten better, would I have stayed had it not closed down.....NO WAY. I would have left but not before making sure the powers that be knew exactly why I was leaving. Life is too short to be miserable. If for some reason today I find that I am miserable and the bad starts outweighing the good, I am out of there. If I leave I will leave my misery there on the floor, I will not carry it with me.
Specializes in med surg, geriatric, clinical, pool.
I don't really understand why anyone would stop you from getting a new insulin order. That bordered on assault on your person also. Standing your ground and biting back is neccessary. I would definately have called the MD back, explained the patients condition and got orders if the existing order wasn't appropriate and they could have rotted for my part, I would take care of the patient to the best of my ability. Moving out of an unsafe toxic environment is also neccessary while making a lot of noise about it hopefully to the right people as you go. I have never worked a nursing home, but my daughter did for the majority of her career as an LPN. She is on disability now and doesn't work, but she loved nursing home work. But I don't plan on ever letting anyones rotten attitude ruin my outlook or life. It won't happen, at our age we have the ability to stop that from happening Queen. If you have other things going on in your life that make you angry and unhappy that is not neccesarily about nursing or even mean rotten coworkers. You said it had been 10 years since you got out, you should congratulate yourself about getting out of a bad situation and find somethings to be happy about in your life. Don't you think 10 years is too long to be angry about something that is long separated from your everyday life.
I had a job one time, where I made a ton of money but my boss was a real buzzard! He treated me like crap. I hung on, became the fastest case manager he had, (it was all about productivity) then the darn company closed down our office, but before the doors closed, he started being respectful and appropriate. I confronted him with his behavior before we parted ways but he said he didn't realize or intend to treat me badly. I think it was just another case of the old jerk chewing on the young or in my case the NEW staffer. This was the only Social Work job I have ever been treated badly in but the interesting thing was that everyone there hated their jobs. It was case management for a behavioral health company and I think everyone was just there for the money, Lot like Nursing, but we should be making more. The nurse case managers there hated the Social Workers and Counselors who were outpatient case managers and we didn't give a rip because for once we were making as much money as they were. But I absolutely hated the first few months I worked there because of my jerk of a boss. It did not have to be a bad place to work but he made it that way.
If things had not have gotten better, would I have stayed had it not closed down.....NO WAY. I would have left but not before making sure the powers that be knew exactly why I was leaving. Life is too short to be miserable. If for some reason today I find that I am miserable and the bad starts outweighing the good, I am out of there. If I leave I will leave my misery there on the floor, I will not carry it with me.
For me being a nurse was everything and I guess it should not have been like that. I always wanted to be a nurse, but was discriminated against after high school graduation. Later at the age of 31 the laws changed making me able to be that nurse. I am epileptic and deaf in one ear (inner so hearing aid won't help). But to overcome those obstacles was like being on a cloud. I took it so seriously, and had so much trouble with the instructors (have awful stories there too). I seem to get singled out. Once I started working I would hear things like "she's a rich *****", or "you're just working for mad money". Please! I would not have become a nurse for either reason....I wanted to help people.
But, I got tired of feeling like I was going to war and having to stand up to whomever for whatever reason it might be instead of just going to work. I loved nursing, but all of the other stuff just made it unbearable. I feel other nurses, who are supposed to be compassionate, ruined it, not all, but the bad ones sure more than made up for the good.
I would try to talk anyone out of being a nurse! I work with my hubby now (love it), when we get work. Things are very slow. I have simply too much time to think! When I was working I never looked back at all of this. A lot of what I am saying is to hopefully help those who have "not been there yet", but will be ready to handle the situations should it arise. So many of these situations happened that just seemed unreal. Sure its easy to say what you would, but in the spur of the moment, you really have no idea because you are so blown away at such uncaring, disrespect, awful, unprofessional attitude and down right unlawfulness. I later called the DON and told her I could not work in such an environment that she either trusted me to do what was right for my pts or I couldn't work there. I never met so many backstabbing women than when I was in nursing. It was a constant battle.
I think the only reason why I was slammed on when I was a new nurse was probably because I went straight to critical care after I was done with school. I have heard many times that new grads had no place in critical care. I could understand why they would tend to think that, but I didnt let it bother me, I stuck it out and I am still working critical care.
For me being a nurse was everything and I guess it should not have been like that. I always wanted to be a nurse, but was discriminated against after high school graduation. Later at the age of 31 the laws changed making me able to be that nurse. I am epileptic and deaf in one ear (inner so hearing aid won't help). But to overcome those obstacles was like being on a cloud. I took it so seriously, and had so much trouble with the instructors (have awful stories there too). I seem to get singled out. Once I started working I would hear things like "she's a rich *****", or "you're just working for mad money". Please! I would not have become a nurse for either reason....I wanted to help people.
But, I got tired of feeling like I was going to war and having to stand up to whomever for whatever reason it might be instead of just going to work. I loved nursing, but all of the other stuff just made it unbearable. I feel other nurses, who are supposed to be compassionate, ruined it, not all, but the bad ones sure more than made up for the good.
I would try to talk anyone out of being a nurse! I work with my hubby now (love it), when we get work. Things are very slow. I have simply too much time to think! When I was working I never looked back at all of this. A lot of what I am saying is to hopefully help those who have "not been there yet", but will be ready to handle the situations should it arise. So many of these situations happened that just seemed unreal. Sure its easy to say what you would, but in the spur of the moment, you really have no idea because you are so blown away at such uncaring, disrespect, awful, unprofessional attitude and down right unlawfulness. I later called the DON and told her I could not work in such an environment that she either trusted me to do what was right for my pts or I couldn't work there. I never met so many backstabbing women than when I was in nursing. It was a constant battle.
That is all.
That is definately true about the worst of them, but I have worked with some really good ones too! I found that I worked with 6 real jerks and more than twice that number of really good considerate mentor types and about twenty that were just fine. We have a large unit so fortunately I had more contact with the great ones and the regular ones than the jerks. Sure 15 minutes with a jerk can ruin the entire shift, but I try not to give them so much power. I am so sorry you had such a horrible time. It is too bad that you couldn't have found a position that worked for you. I agree that there are a lot of backstabbers. I am glad your work with your husband is good.
Specializes in med surg, geriatric, clinical, pool.
That is definately true about the worst of them, but I have worked with some really good ones too! I found that I worked with 6 real jerks and more than twice that number of really good considerate mentor types and about twenty that were just fine. We have a large unit so fortunately I had more contact with the great ones and the regular ones than the jerks. Sure 15 minutes with a jerk can ruin the entire shift, but I try not to give them so much power. I am so sorry you had such a horrible time. It is too bad that you couldn't have found a position that worked for you. I agree that there are a lot of backstabbers. I am glad your work with your husband is good.
Mahage
I am happy working with/for my husband. This is time together has been very very special and he is great to work with too, unlike some of the nurses, which they were not all bad either, but maybe this was meant to be....he takes good care of me and I enjoy this time we have together. So many women say they could not work with their husbands, but you do what you gotta do! We are a lot alike and have been married for 35 yrs. I met him at the tender age of 14 and he was 17, & married him at 19.
Nursing helped supplement our income which allowed us to help our two children through college (I am so proud of them). And built a new house too, so things are good and I thank God for that.
Nursing was an experience. In fact the first mean nurse to me dropped dead
After I was fired a girl I worked with called me to tell me the news and I really felt sorry for her...I would never wish anything so bad on anyone. I don't remember my reaction, but it wasn't what she thought it would be and said so. I guess she thought I would be jumping up and down.
People are people and the best thing to do was to leave that job. Don't hang around thinking people are going to change. Even the girl who did talk to me thought somehow I would react differently than she expected.
Specializes in telemetry, med-surg, home health, psych.
Queen...I agree that there are some horrid nurses out there..I have worked in such places, but luckily I got out and have found places that did not even compare with them...Of course there is always going to be one or two "supernurses" that look down and talk down to everyone else but I can just ignore them and do my work....that is the only way to survive...I believe that what goes around, comes around and they will get theirs..it is not my place to create more bad blood by being nasty myself.....I am the "nice nurse" and always will be.....
Specializes in Pediatric Intensive Care, Long Term care.
Right now im a PCA (CNA) in a Childrens hospital and about to start ns this august. From just my observations id say this quote is true for about 40% of the nurses I encounter...it sometimes scares me because it seems like they must REALLy hate their jobs...and I would hate to have someobody like that taking care of my child. I will also say that I work with far more "good" nurses than the ones that "eat their own young"...its just that the bad ALWAYS stand out more than the good...and the bad rub you in a way that can be hard to shake sometimes...many a time i have went home near tears because of the way i was treated by a nurse...
Specializes in telemetry, medsurg, homecare, psychiatry.
Your probably right. It is the mean ones that stand out. They aren't worth crying over though. I suggest you just smile, and tell them to be nice. They probably wouldn't even know what to say to that lol.
queen777
208 Posts
Being 57 might have something to do with that. Just meaning that when some are young, we are gullable and naive and it shows.
It took me awhile to get over this and when I did I became that witch-of-a- nurse just like the others, even my kids would ask "why are you in such a bad mood mom?" cause I used to be so nice. That does not last in nursing, sad to say.
I have been out of nursing for 10 yrs and I still can't be nice!