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 Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
A really THICK skin takes a lot of the bite out, ya know.This "eating our young" phenomenon exists in almost ANY career and trust me, after being a waitress, hostess, and in military, I can say with conviction, it is NOT unique to nursing. Grow a thick skin, hunker down and mean business. You will prevail.:kiss
Deb, I have to say I agree with you. Definately not unique to nursing.
Definately takes some thick skin to survive those early days and make it with confidence in the end. Kind of a survival of the fittest so to say. Only the strong survive.
I think it depends on the facility and the unit. Maybe in general, this happens...I don't know since I am a new nurse. Last week was a terrible week for me. I had the preceptor from hell and seemed to work with the b*tchiest nurses on that unit for that week. This week is going so much better with nicer preceptors who don't make me feel stupid.
I first heard the phrase "nurses eat their young" my sophomore year in nursing school. It was a phrase used to describe those instances when nurses took advantage of junior personnel (students, new nurses, new employees, etc.) in various settings by exploiting differences in knowledge or seniority. I could site many examples but I think you get the point.
I would agree that health care delivery in our country has its problems. Before I became a nurse I worked in the proverbial trenches first as an Emergency Medical Technician and then a Surgical Technician. I have been in health care for 23 years (I now work in Radiology as a PACS engineer). No job is perfect but some of us find those things that reward us emotionally or financially and pursue those opportunities as best we can.
I came to nursing with tremendous enthusiasm but left with great frustration. I won't bore you with the details but I did tire so of the negative stereotypes and poor working conditions I was subjected to for almost 12 years of my nursing career. I kept hoping for change that never came so I took action and pursued employment that offered me greater personal satisfaction. I am still in health care but not in nursing.
Team work. Getting along with others. How does one do this? One can start by setting small goals. During your 8 or 12 hour shift, do one random act of kindness and set a goal to say three positive things about your coworkers or job. By doing these two things, your attitude about your coworkers and your job will change. It will foster a team work mentality and in the end, we can all get along!
I should have caught on when I got my first job as a new grad RN. I kept asking for feedback, and being told, "Don't worry, you'll hear about it if you do something WRONG..."
HBScott, thanks for sharing your story. There are so many nurses who are looking for that way out, and good for you for pursuing it. :)
Sadly, I have always been the type who does that little bit extra for others, but too often it just ends up being me doing the lion's share of the work....it is NOT reciprocated. I enjoy working with those who are likeminded, but we can't always choose our coworkers...LOL!
I'm new and orienting to my unit. I won't subscribe to the eat their young theory. I do get the cold shoulder from some, warm embraces from others, but in the end, everyone's helpful. It's a matter of keeping egos in check, I think. Some are bigger than others. In any job, any field, anywhere, there will be those who stalk the new blood and those who think the old blood's ideas are antiquated. I've heard that statement before, but until today, I haven't thought of it. Those who aren't there for me today, will be tomorrow. I'm a woman, so I feel free in saying that working with women is difficult. We can be strange beasts. But understanding that fact (at least for me) makes dealing with egos, and women and work, all that much easier.
We've lost too many great new nurses because of this kind of stuff. They come and last about two weeks, then **poof** they're gone. I've stuck up for them only to be bullied myself, but I don't stand for it. I tell them right out, "Don't even try to go there; it doesn't work with me!" They back off and leave me alone. You got to let them know you're not playing their games.
~~ Nursing is stressful, maybe the young are comfort food~~
KIDDING!
I believe a good preceptorship helps new nurses to feel accepted and be prepared to handle the job & personalities.
A strong, kind, perceptive preceptor takes the newbie under her wing.
By the time the orientee is on her own, she's already got a handle on who's who and how to handle a lot of the personality conflicts and she feels like she has "back-up", not hanging in the wind.
I agee that new nurses can be too sensitive and seasoned nurses can come across too harsh (after you told them the same thing 10 times and they still don't get it! aaargh!)
Patience everybody!!!! "Can't we all just get along?"
SmilingBluEyes
20,964 Posts
A really THICK skin takes a lot of the bite out, ya know.This "eating our young" phenomenon exists in almost ANY career and trust me, after being a waitress, hostess, and in military, I can say with conviction, it is NOT unique to nursing. Grow a thick skin, hunker down and mean business. You will prevail.:kiss