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 am in the exact same boat..and it is sinking fast!! One question I have, which I think the answer to may address many of the issues of this thread is this: Why on earth are some nurses so threatened by a new nurse to go so far as to sabotage their orientation, and perhaps even their job, then at the same time complain that there is not enough help? It boggles the mind the lengths some will go to to make another's life miserable and certainly makes me wonder if they are THAT insecure and THAT cruel, how on earth are they treating their patients when no one is watching?
Joanie I know that there are ones here that think there is no such thing as bullying on the job by nurses but believe it or not it does occur it is NOT always the one that is getting bullied fault---I and 7 others took my case to the ethics committee and trust me they a were very interested in what we had to say and are going to approach my job concerning this matter--now I am not saying that some of what is said here is not true cause it is but despite what some are saying it is NOT always the new grad's fault and just as the State Board of nursing and the Ethics Board for Nursing said Bullying is very much real and happens alot in nursing--but because of the OLD set ways people refuse to believe that bullying or nursing eating their young does exist and it can be dealt with there are ethic committees that will do it for you if you can't get it done through proper channels first
And believe or not my situation has already improved tremedously bc one of the ones that was causing problems for me is no longer there :) the others well time will tell :) but I am doing 100% better and actually love going to work again
i was trying not to give too many specifics because this is a public forum, and we all know that on public forums --- you should watch what you say about your coworkers and workplace in todays day and age.
i could tell you about how i have ALSO been beaten and verbally and sexually abused by boyfriends, husband, AND many family members, i have NEVER even met my own father and don't even know who he is because it is "not my business" and a long, long, long list of other personal information which i'm sure you won't care about. oh, by the way, i was so severely bullied in school when i was younger, in addition to my family abuse, that i spent about 7.5 YEARS in counseling and it's a miracle i literally did not end up like Phoebe Prince, the girl who committed suicide from all the bullying at school. YES, i was bullied like that at school --- i was threatened by people i didn't even know (my family was dirt poor and moved a lot), i had things thrown at me, things stolen from me, i was put down, left out, made fun of constantly. the ONLY good attention and kindness i EVER received was from teachers, which is why i worked so hard to impress them.
but you don't care, i'm sure, because you think i'm only being melodramatic and who cares because lots of other people surely have it 'harder' than i have, right? please go "help" someone else, and do not reply to me again.
i am telling you what my friends and teachers in real life have told me -- people who do know me, know my real life, know what hardships i have dealt with in the past and continue to deal with today. my OWN friends and teachers and other coworkers, have told me that i am smart, hardworking, nice, and that most of the nasty people to me at work, have probably done so because they are jealous because i am shy, young, and attractive.
WOW! I'm a little disappointed I felt bad for you and responded in your other post. I kinda feel like you suckered me.
Pretty much... YES, there are others in this world who has it worse than you. That is what gets most of us through the day, knowing that there are others worse off and we should be thankful for what we have. As I see it, you have a job, and you have a child. 2 things you have that many want but don't and/or can't have. If you are unhappy with your life, then change it. There's always options.
asdjkl; Go to Workplace Bullying Institute - buy or borrow the book "The Bully at Work" immediately and read it ASAP. Ignore the people who are critical of you in this forum; who are judging you and making assumptions just as your co-workers are. They are acting just like the bullies and it will sadly reinforce the madness you feel until you finally start to question your nursing judgment and skill and start to wonder, "Am I crazy? Maybe there IS something wrong with me..."
The critical responders here are wrong; your co-workers ARE jealous of you, or, in so many words, your skill/knowledge makes them feel insecure and they have to stamp you down to feel good about themselves and their own work, right or wrong.
Having been through this myself - and eventually run out of my job because of it - I'll tell you that "being tough," and "sucking it up" are NOT effective. We may think they most logical thing is to ignore it; that's what we learned in school, right? I was taught, in grade school at least, that if bullies don't get a rise out of me (read: I ignore them), they eventually get bored and leave you alone. Not true in this situation. Nurse bullies will just hit you harder, and harder, and harder until you feel you are at the brink of insanity and are having diarrhea every day before work (sounds like you're darn close as it is - I myself cried every night after work for more than six months). Since it seems like a pattern has already developed thus far, it may be too late to change the status quo at this point, your situation may be irrepairable at THIS job. Don't run away from nursing altogether - though I've had the same thought - that any profession that can harbor such nasty witches as this one might not be something I want to be a part of - but do start looking for another job. And please, please, read that book - it will open your eyes and help you tremendously. Godspeed.
Hate to say it... as a male in nursing, i think things role off our back easier... Each person has a right to there opinon and practice. As long as one follows best practice and site policy for their nursing care... I always try to ensure that i have evidence based research to back up my practice at all time. When i'm confronted by other nurses, i ask them to tell me why my method is wrong and then i bring up CURRENT articles on practice. Then IN YOUR FACE LOL
Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.
An adage that I carry forward in my life is this: Once I paint myself as a victim, I have robbed myself of any power I had to change things.
It isn't anyone else's job to make my life the way I want it. Whether or not bullies exist and will make minced meat of me when I hit the floor as a new grad is not nearly as important as my mindset for the life I want to live and my own determination to have it. I may be bullied, but I won't be a victim of it, as once I am victimized, I have made myself helpless. Some people feed off the hope for sympathy. I learned that sympathy is useful for about 20 minutes of self pity. After that, it does nothing but keep me immobilized. Are people being bullied victims of bullying? Sure. Should they think of themselves that way and expect it is going to change anything? No. People feeling sorry for you is useless in the grand scheme of things. Figure out what you want from life, outline a few ways to get it, pick an option and act. You hold all the keys to your own happiness.
Specializes in telemetry, med-surg, home health, psych.
I am seeing more new grads coming in with more confidence, almost to the point of being cocky........showed one a med error and how best to avoid it happening again and she just glared at me.....??????? I was shocked......here I was trying to help her and it backfired !!!!!!!!!!
they must hear so much about nurses eating their young that they are now on the defensive and not going to take any help..........so be it.........
I will still help those that want it and keep on going.....
Seriously, though, as I posted in a discussion about precepting, I think a big part of the problem is assuming that any and all nurses are qualified to be preceptors. That's like saying that all those who drive can teaching others how to do it. Some of us are suited to the task and others are not. We should be indentifying and rewarding (and acknowledging) top-notch preceptors, and we should send all of our preceptees to them. The perception that we "eat our young" is both misleading (most of us don't) and a product of the culture we have allowed to grow where we work.
By the way, where does the time stamp come from on these posts? It's 3:13 in the afternoon where I am, but the time stamp says 10:13 P.M. What's up with that?
By the way, where does the time stamp come from on these posts? It's 3:13 in the afternoon where I am, but the time stamp says 10:13 P.M. What's up with that?
Check how the control panel for your account is set. You set it for the time zone that you are in. If it is set for a different time zone, the stamp will be off by several hours.
Check how the control panel for your account is set. You set it for the time zone that you are in. If it is set for a different time zone, the stamp will be off by several hours.
Thanks, that was helpful! I have reset my time zone. I am now no longer in Bulgaria.
LOL
Eaglelady
201 Posts
Joanie I know that there are ones here that think there is no such thing as bullying on the job by nurses but believe it or not it does occur it is NOT always the one that is getting bullied fault---I and 7 others took my case to the ethics committee and trust me they a were very interested in what we had to say and are going to approach my job concerning this matter--now I am not saying that some of what is said here is not true cause it is but despite what some are saying it is NOT always the new grad's fault and just as the State Board of nursing and the Ethics Board for Nursing said Bullying is very much real and happens alot in nursing--but because of the OLD set ways people refuse to believe that bullying or nursing eating their young does exist and it can be dealt with there are ethic committees that will do it for you if you can't get it done through proper channels first
And believe or not my situation has already improved tremedously bc one of the ones that was causing problems for me is no longer there :) the others well time will tell :) but I am doing 100% better and actually love going to work again