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.
I've been in several professions also. Nursing is a difficult profession in part due to the non-compassionate nature of some long term nurses. Ironic considering nursing is a "caring profession." I refuse to a part of their misery or let it destroy my attitude. Also, I will not I give them the satisfaction of knowing if it did ever bother me. I consider them one of life's challenges that I face.
First time i heard this was my first clinical semester on a floor... I have to say it made me sick to my stomach actually... i never heard my grandmother talking about this kind of stuff... and I can not imagine that she ever would have allowed nurses to speak to her as i have experienced some speak to me. Sometimes all it takes is for a nurse that is new to the specific hospital environment to come on the scene and be competent, confident,willing and able to do her job and do it well... to cause other established nurses to feel threatened and start their tired process of writing up anything and complaining to the manager even if fabricated facts are relayed to make their complaints appear legitimate. I had nurses dismissing my patients in the ED while I was in a room with a other patients and the charts were pulled apart before I could find them to finish. These unfinished charts were then held up to the nurse managers as examples of poor documentation. When in self defense i started demanding no one dismiss my patients for me... then Iwas written up for being unagreeable and holding up the ED process due to my slow release times. They said things about me and in front of me and did not care if I heard it... it was humiliating. When I wrote it up... the charge nurses validated other staff nurse complaints with the manager and Iwas given the opportunity to resign or be fired... Harrassment turned to sabatage.
I think it is disgusting how the subculture of this sort of lateral violence is allowed to occur and has been happening for so long. By managers that are unwilling to deal with situations of nurses that are cruel to other nurses they allow the behavior to rock along. The bullies are enabled to maintain their environment as they wish it to be...
Nurses are licensed to care. I dont care how wonderful a nurses clinical skills are or how magnificent her bedside patient and family care is... if she can not extend that same caring attitude to her coworkers... if she can not put aside personal likes and dislikes and be a team builder and team player... how valuable is she really?
If the nurse is so great she has to know how the environment can have negative effects on a bullied coworker... and a bullied coworker that is unable to focus on her job puts patients at risk... every patient. If this great nurse is not nurse enough to put aside personal likes and dislikes and be a team builder and team player no matter of personal preferences... is she really so great?
You bet its real. I think they way to start weeding out the offenders is to start educating student nurses about this subculture and teach them how to defend themselves... and get rid of thse "good nurses" for good. Its simply unacceptable... educating the next generation and prepare them to confront it when they see it head on will be the begining of the end.
I love the job ... but sometimes I think I hate the profession.
I don't give a rat's behind why some nurses "eat their young"--these nurses think they've got their patients fooled into believing they're compassionate and caring individuals, when in reality: how can you convey these emotions when you act like a jerk on a daily basis to your fellow co-workers?
I have never been a fan of stereotypes, and this saying is yet another stereotype of nurses. Whilst I do believe that some nurses can be down right horrible to the newly arrived nurses, i don't think it is something that happens everywhere and i don't think that it is something that is done by all of the older more experienced nurses at the facilities. That being said, it is also something which occurs in many professions and workplaces and is certainly not something which is limited to the nursing field. Some nurses who have worked at a place for decades do get rather protective over the place, treating it as their own and being very bossy towards the new comers, this doesn't mean that they are horrible ruthless people, they are just a little set in their ways. We all have to start out somewhere, and even these bossy nurses were one day new to the place, all fresh faced and wide eyed, there are some horror stories out there but it is limited. I like to be overly kind to those who treat me horribly. Why? you may be wondering. Well, it's simple, the more horrible they are to you the kinder and kinder you become, the more annoying it is for them, eventually when they realise that their mean nature towards you only results in more overbearing kindness from you towards them they will leave you be because you just take all of the fun out of it. Worked on my mother in law too lol.:rotfl:
Being a new nurse myself (since May 09) I can tell you this is soooooo true I work under a new Charge nurse on my floor (who graduated with me also but she was a LPN prior to RN) she treats me with no respect she has on numerous occassions accused me of being argumentative when I disagree with her --I know I am new but I am not totally stupid either--she takes over my pt care with out consulting me first---and just recently had me called into the supervisor's office --and while there when I tried to give my side I was completely stopped or else they misinterpreted it as being defensive they totally took her side without even considering my side at all--as usual I never stood a chance--I also work under another charge nurse and we get along and work together very good with no problems and if we do have issues we work them out---I just know right now I hate going into work for fear if I say the wrong thing I am going to be fired and I hate feeling like this I believe no job has the right to put someone in this position ever---please any advice would be appreciated
Nurses do eat their young sometimes,- you just have to decide how you want to be eaten. And learn from it.
I understand--but it is the hardest thing I believe I have ever had to learn no matter how nice I try to be to this nurse she just misinterprets everything I say or do its as if she is bound and determined to have me fired---I guess I am not use to working around people like this--I have asked to be transfer off the floor to another and my supervisor turned me down refused to let me transfer so I guess it is sink or swim I really have no choice do I
The only thing their is to learn from an old, bitter nurses "eating their young" is to stay away from those nurses, and never become like them if you can help it!
This happens is EVERY profession almost, you'll have some elders who are there to nurture and help you grow, and others that feel threatened and unsure of your presence, so they try to hold you down and clip your wings. These people, in every job, 9 times out of 10 have been working for a company forever and probably should have gotten further in their job at this point (management, pay raises, whatever...), but for whatever reason, they didn't. When younger, brighter, and fresher versions of them come in, they feel threatened, and feel this unnecessary need to prove their worth. We KNOW that they have years more experience, and they know we know.....so it all boils down to insecurity!
I will always treat my elders with respect, but if something nasty or personal is said, out of line or not, I'm going to react, I'm not made of stone. Usually my reaction would be to stop talking, walk away, and never speak to that nurse again unless absolutely necessary.
And another thing, when someone is an a$$, and you call them out on it BUT in a respectful, calm manner, they usually realize (whether it's right then or three days later) that they were being a total jerk, and they'll usually leave you alone, or apologize even. However, if someone DOESN'T leave you alone, and continues to give you a hard time every time you have to come into contact with them- that's bullying.
i am very impressed by this site because it helps me a lot. i can have all the information without be a license nurse leighann757 what you say it is very rude to do so. anyways thank you for the information.
I agree Lala27 in my case I am an older nurse (54 yrs old) plus a new nurse and the charge nurse I am talking about is a very very young nurse :) but I do agree with the bullying she was that way when we were in school also
The only thing their is to learn from an old, bitter nurses "eating their young" is to stay away from those nurses, and never become like them if you can help it!
This happens is EVERY profession almost, you'll have some elders who are there to nurture and help you grow, and others that feel threatened and unsure of your presence, so they try to hold you down and clip your wings. These people, in every job, 9 times out of 10 have been working for a company forever and probably should have gotten further in their job at this point (management, pay raises, whatever...), but for whatever reason, they didn't. When younger, brighter, and fresher versions of them come in, they feel threatened, and feel this unnecessary need to prove their worth. We KNOW that they have years more experience, and they know we know.....so it all boils down to insecurity!
I will always treat my elders with respect, but if something nasty or personal is said, out of line or not, I'm going to react, I'm not made of stone. Usually my reaction would be to stop talking, walk away, and never speak to that nurse again unless absolutely necessary.
And another thing, when someone is an a$$, and you call them out on it BUT in a respectful, calm manner, they usually realize (whether it's right then or three days later) that they were being a total jerk, and they'll usually leave you alone, or apologize even. However, if someone DOESN'T leave you alone, and continues to give you a hard time every time you have to come into contact with them- that's bullying.
Well I agree with a lot of your comments but you should consider removing the connection between old and bitter. :clown:I am a fairly new nurse age 58 and am a long way from bitter! Some of the most bitter folks I have met on the floor are the late twenty somethings to thirty somethings who feel that they have done it all and seen it all, they have their competency down and sure as heck aren't gonna share it with some new upstart, especially if they are old as or older than their mama! I have also caught some garbage from a few my age, but, by and large it is not the really seasoned nurses who act like jerks, it is the half done pickles. Believe it or not I have also had a really bad experience with a young chick less than a year out of nursing school who was really teed off about having to help turn a patient. I have worked in several other fields and have never found one where there was so much throat cutting and back stabbing as in nursing. It amazes me. I try to be helpful and supportive, but have learned if someone treats me badly, not to go out of my way for them. When I do help someone who has treated me badly, I do not waste the opportunity to point out the value of team work. Yep, mama lectures sometimes!
cariboujenny
27 Posts
I've been in several professions also. Nursing is a difficult profession in part due to the non-compassionate nature of some long term nurses. Ironic considering nursing is a "caring profession." I refuse to a part of their misery or let it destroy my attitude. Also, I will not I give them the satisfaction of knowing if it did ever bother me. I consider them one of life's challenges that I face.