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 CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
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
since you asked for it, i'm going to offer you advice: forget you ever heard the phrase "nurses eat their young." if you go looking for examples of nurses eating their young, you're going to find them. nevermind that it may just be one tired, overworked nurse snapping at a new nurse who is pestering her with questions at inappropriate times . . . you'll take that as an example of nurses eating their young. on the other hand, if you go looking for the good in others, that's what you're going to find.
with regard to your complaints about the new charge nurse and the manager taking her side -- maybe she's right. think about it. i mean, really think about it. think about what in your work, your behavior, your interpersonal communication style might be giving the wrong message and then work on that. you cannot change the other people; you can only change yourself. it's entirely possible that you are doing something wrong and you're too defensive to see it. at least consider the possibility long and hard before you dismiss it.
i don't think you're going to like my advice, so i'm preparing to be flamed . . . .
Specializes in Plastics. General Surgery. ITU. Oncology.
We have one of those on my ward. She regularly reduces the newly-qualified nurses to tears. I call that "bullying" I have been qualified many years but that is no excuse to intimidate the less experienced nurses.
The job of us experienced nurses is to teach, show by example, lead gently the newly qualified. No nurse knows everything. I sure as hell don't after 20 years. You learn all the time.
It is scary going from student to staff nurse and suddenly being responsible. All we can do is help new nurses. We were all once in their shoes.
Specializes in med surg, geriatric, clinical, pool.
I sit here and read your stories. How fresh these and other stories stay in my mind even after leaving nursing 12 years ago!
If you are someone who is as conscientious as I was these horror stories will always be with you. They keep me from returning to nursing. I could fill a book. Some are great stories, but ladies, nursing will never change because we are all women and from my experience, some of us just can't get along at all I don't care how much effort you put into that task, it doesn't work. And if this your story, go somewhere else where you are appreicated, plan and simple. You will be much happier for doing so plus you can put an end to having these awful stories branded in your mind forever.
I thought they would have left my mind a long time ago. Don't stay because you think you can overcome them, nope, no way.
It's so sad. I loved nursing, but was treated so badly, no respect at all! And I was 38 when I started.
since you asked for it, i'm going to offer you advice: forget you ever heard the phrase "nurses eat their young." if you go looking for examples of nurses eating their young, you're going to find them. nevermind that it may just be one tired, overworked nurse snapping at a new nurse who is pestering her with questions at inappropriate times . . . you'll take that as an example of nurses eating their young. on the other hand, if you go looking for the good in others, that's what you're going to find.
with regard to your complaints about the new charge nurse and the manager taking her side -- maybe she's right. think about it. i mean, really think about it. think about what in your work, your behavior, your interpersonal communication style might be giving the wrong message and then work on that. you cannot change the other people; you can only change yourself. it's entirely possible that you are doing something wrong and you're too defensive to see it. at least consider the possibility long and hard before you dismiss it.
i don't think you're going to like my advice, so i'm preparing to be flamed . . . .
i have nothing against your advice and i do except the fact that some of it could be me and you are right i can only change me not anyone else but that still does not explain that this charge nurse seems to be centering on me---and if i am the problem attacking me does not help the situation at all--and i have always been told it takes two to argue--i have found even as a new nurse its all in how you approach someone that matters when she approaches me its at a level i am under her not an equal to her as far as nurses go--- i truly do except my part but that doesn't mean it is 100% all me sorry i disagree with that part--do not worry about being flamed thats not why i am here--i am here to learn not just about me but as a nurse how to handle this type of situation---so no flaming is going to happen---thanks for you advice :)
since you asked for it, i'm going to offer you advice: forget you ever heard the phrase "nurses eat their young." if you go looking for examples of nurses eating their young, you're going to find them. nevermind that it may just be one tired, overworked nurse snapping at a new nurse who is pestering her with questions at inappropriate times . . . you'll take that as an example of nurses eating their young. on the other hand, if you go looking for the good in others, that's what you're going to find.
with regard to your complaints about the new charge nurse and the manager taking her side -- maybe she's right. think about it. i mean, really think about it. think about what in your work, your behavior, your interpersonal communication style might be giving the wrong message and then work on that. you cannot change the other people; you can only change yourself. it's entirely possible that you are doing something wrong and you're too defensive to see it. at least consider the possibility long and hard before you dismiss it.
i don't think you're going to like my advice, so i'm preparing to be flamed . . . .
i do have 1 question for you ruby after going back through each post here and seeing all your answers---geezzz the way you descibe us new nurses ,one of the words you like to use is "incompetent" my goodness what were you never a new nurse? do you not have any compassion for newer nurses i am not saying to go around and cuddle them but geezzzzzzz you literally do come across as being very crude with new nurses--no wonder you said what you said to me without even knowing me---i do not mine someone being straight with me but there is a professional way of doing it vs a crude way---its like slapping someone in the face with your words--my my my---i can say i was truly shocked and i am not flaming just stating what i have seen in all your posts
since you asked for it, i'm going to offer you advice: forget you ever heard the phrase "nurses eat their young." if you go looking for examples of nurses eating their young, you're going to find them. nevermind that it may just be one tired, overworked nurse snapping at a new nurse who is pestering her with questions at inappropriate times . . . you'll take that as an example of nurses eating their young. on the other hand, if you go looking for the good in others, that's what you're going to find.
with regard to your complaints about the new charge nurse and the manager taking her side -- maybe she's right. think about it. i mean, really think about it. think about what in your work, your behavior, your interpersonal communication style might be giving the wrong message and then work on that. you cannot change the other people; you can only change yourself. it's entirely possible that you are doing something wrong and you're too defensive to see it. at least consider the possibility long and hard before you dismiss it.
i don't think you're going to like my advice, so i'm preparing to be flamed . . . .
it is always entirely possible that any of us are doing something wrong including the charge nurse and the manager and of course the newby is always likely to be doing something less than perfect. the charge nurse being over worked might be a little unusual unless she is working very hard at giving back up to all the nurses on the floor particularly the new ones. i have found that there are two kinds of charge nurses, those who have your back and those who have a hand on the knife! i don't care what phrase is used to describe abusive behavior, that is what it is when a charge nurse will not answer a new nurses questions or answers them in a derogatory way.
It is always entirely possible that any of us are doing something wrong including the charge nurse and the manager and of course the newby is always likely to be doing something less than perfect. The charge nurse being over worked might be a little unusual unless she is working very hard at giving back up to all the nurses on the floor particularly the new ones. I have found that there are two kinds of charge nurses, those who have your back and those who have a hand on the knife! I don't care what phrase is used to describe abusive behavior, that is what it is when a charge nurse will not answer a new nurses questions or answers them in a derogatory way.
Nursing is a female dominated industry. I believe that we compete and cut each other so deep because society in general doesn't treat women well. Therefore, we are forced to 'snuff out' the newbies and look out for ourselves first.
I also believe that we bring alot of our own culture and personal beliefs to the hospital (I know I'll take heat for that), i.e. "if I can do it then there's no reason you shouldn't be able to." For example, two nights ago i was given 4 patient with the following:
pt2:AKA with NG SBO needing 2 soap sud enemas on my shift. turn q2 hrs
pt3: 1:1 munchausim patient (thats tells alot)
pt4: bedridden dementia patient pulling out his femoral line turn incontinent, q2 hrs
Our facility is whats called primary care. We don't have CNAs or aids, we don't have secretaries at night so if you happen to be at the nurses station you HAVE to answer the call light. All of our patients call lights are connected to our pagers so you will get paged for water, pillow, blanket, paper, pen, tv, i'm too hot, i'm too cold, EVERYTHING!! When I mentioned to the off going nurse that this was a bad assignment her response was "why, I had these patients and so did the previous nurse." Of course she had only given 1of2 soap suds, forgot to hang a K+, didn't call in a critical low K+ on another patient, never helped stroke patient with his constipation. There were alot of orders that didn't get completed. I know that nursing is 24 hours so I don't mind completing orders from a previous shift but when assignments are so obviously unbalanced its just retarded.
My point is yes we do eat each other, we rat on each other, we stab each other on the back, we gossip about each other we're chics and for a lot putting each other down is a way of making them feel better about themselves, wheather that be being critical of each others clinical skill, personality or haircolor. It will probrably never change. No matter how nice i've been at my job or nonconfrontational I was just told that 'someone' has said that i 'rub some people the wrong way'. Instead of coming to me they went to a supervisor. (talk about cut throat).
no matter how much we hate it it will continue to happen. just do you're job, thats what it is. most of us only have to be there 2-3 days a week then we get to go home to our babies and hubbies.
Nursing is a female dominated industry. I believe that we compete and cut each other so deep because society in general doesn't treat women well. Therefore, we are forced to 'snuff out' the newbies and look out for ourselves first.
I also believe that we bring alot of our own culture and personal beliefs to the hospital (I know I'll take heat for that), i.e. "if I can do it then there's no reason you shouldn't be able to." For example, two nights ago i was given 4 patient with the following:
pt2:AKA with NG SBO needing 2 soap sud enemas on my shift. turn q2 hrs
pt3: 1:1 munchausim patient (thats tells alot)
pt4: bedridden dementia patient pulling out his femoral line turn incontinent, q2 hrs
Our facility is whats called primary care. We don't have CNAs or aids, we don't have secretaries at night so if you happen to be at the nurses station you HAVE to answer the call light. All of our patients call lights are connected to our pagers so you will get paged for water, pillow, blanket, paper, pen, tv, i'm too hot, i'm too cold, EVERYTHING!! When I mentioned to the off going nurse that this was a bad assignment her response was "why, I had these patients and so did the previous nurse." Of course she had only given 1of2 soap suds, forgot to hang a K+, didn't call in a critical low K+ on another patient, never helped stroke patient with his constipation. There were alot of orders that didn't get completed. I know that nursing is 24 hours so I don't mind completing orders from a previous shift but when assignments are so obviously unbalanced its just retarded.
My point is yes we do eat each other, we rat on each other, we stab each other on the back, we gossip about each other we're chics and for a lot putting each other down is a way of making them feel better about themselves, wheather that be being critical of each others clinical skill, personality or haircolor. It will probrably never change. No matter how nice i've been at my job or nonconfrontational I was just told that 'someone' has said that i 'rub some people the wrong way'. Instead of coming to me they went to a supervisor. (talk about cut throat).
no matter how much we hate it it will continue to happen. just do you're job, thats what it is. most of us only have to be there 2-3 days a week then we get to go home to our babies and hubbies.
I totally 100% agree and thats what I intend to do pull my 36 hrs and then forget about the place
Specializes in Emergency Dept. Trauma. Pediatrics.
No I do not believe this is true. At least not in my limited experience doing clinicals at the hospital. Out of all of the nurses I have encountered on many different floors, I can say I have seen only a handful of rude nurses. Not even "eat their young" type of rude, but they did seem to have an obvious biased against the nursing students, just right off from the introduction they were rude. But again, I have worked with a good number or nurses because I work evenings and am usually on during 1 and some times 2 to 3 shift changes (start at 1:45 to 11:30) so have seen nurses swap at 3, 7 and 11. So in comparison, the % of rude nurses has been minimal, only had a run in with 2 aides as well out of all the ones I worked with, it was also obvious they had some sort of superiority complex towards the students, that they didn't have with anyone else. But again, most of them were wonderful.
I didn't always learn as much from one nurse to the next, but as a whole, it's been a good experience.
Then again, I have also seen a lot more good CI then bad, yet reading these boards you would swear their was an evil instructor club that sat next to the evil nurse club LOL
I think this forum is also bitter sweet for students. We read so much negativity here, about the nurses and instructors, I think it's easy to go into the program looking to solidify all the negativity and are more out to seek all the negative things instead of embrace all the positive and learning opportunities. I mean, it's human nature and goes along with the power of persuasion and stuff. At the same time, this board is extremely helpful as well.
No I do not believe this is true. At least not in my limited experience doing clinicals at the hospital. Out of all of the nurses I have encountered on many different floors, I can say I have seen only a handful of rude nurses. Not even "eat their young" type of rude, but they did seem to have an obvious biased against the nursing students, just right off from the introduction they were rude. But again, I have worked with a good number or nurses because I work evenings and am usually on during 1 and some times 2 to 3 shift changes (start at 1:45 to 11:30) so have seen nurses swap at 3, 7 and 11. So in comparison, the % of rude nurses has been minimal, only had a run in with 2 aides as well out of all the ones I worked with, it was also obvious they had some sort of superiority complex towards the students, that they didn't have with anyone else. But again, most of them were wonderful.
I didn't always learn as much from one nurse to the next, but as a whole, it's been a good experience.
Then again, I have also seen a lot more good CI then bad, yet reading these boards you would swear their was an evil instructor club that sat next to the evil nurse club LOL
I think this forum is also bitter sweet for students. We read so much negativity here, about the nurses and instructors, I think it's easy to go into the program looking to solidify all the negativity and are more out to seek all the negative things instead of embrace all the positive and learning opportunities. I mean, it's human nature and goes along with the power of persuasion and stuff. At the same time, this board is extremely helpful as well.
I can't tell for sure but sounds like you are still a student. Just be aware that the world looks very different from the somewhat protected position of being student than it does from the stand point of a new nurse. I hope you continue to work with a large majority of positive nurses. Unfortunately it is the few bad eggs that can cause you excess stress in a already stressful work environment.
Good luck to you, and keep the positive attitude, just don't avoid facing reality.
and i am not flaming just stating what i have seen in all your posts.thumb.jpg.5aa4d55557c0228e31b94de19666bbbb.jpg){kind=small}
Ruby Vee, BSN
17 Articles; 14,051 Posts
since you asked for it, i'm going to offer you advice: forget you ever heard the phrase "nurses eat their young." if you go looking for examples of nurses eating their young, you're going to find them. nevermind that it may just be one tired, overworked nurse snapping at a new nurse who is pestering her with questions at inappropriate times . . . you'll take that as an example of nurses eating their young. on the other hand, if you go looking for the good in others, that's what you're going to find.
with regard to your complaints about the new charge nurse and the manager taking her side -- maybe she's right. think about it. i mean, really think about it. think about what in your work, your behavior, your interpersonal communication style might be giving the wrong message and then work on that. you cannot change the other people; you can only change yourself. it's entirely possible that you are doing something wrong and you're too defensive to see it. at least consider the possibility long and hard before you dismiss it.
i don't think you're going to like my advice, so i'm preparing to be flamed . . . .