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.
Sadly, what I am about to say may really rub some people the wrong way. Hell, it even rubs ME the wrong way, but I'm going to say it.
Nursing is a profession dominated by women. If it is to EVER improve, it should probably be dominated by MEN.
Women are catty, vindictive, overly emotional and unforgiving martyrs. Men see the problem, attack it, fix it, and forget about it. Men do not suffer guilt, do not take responsibility for what isn't theirs.
I don't know that I would go quite that far but as a male nurse I noticed a difference in how I was treated compared to 4 females that started at the same time. We were all brand new nurses with basically the same level of experience. I was treated great and when my preceptors had questions or suggestions they were very upfront about it. My new coworkers on the other hand would become very distressed because nurses were talking about them behind their backs the first week. Everyone was nice to their face, but would go to others saying how they did something wrong or questioning what they were thinking when they did things or said things.
Being a guy I don't really understand why some females do this, but they do. For most new nurses the sudden transition from clinicals to being a REAL nurse and the realization that you are now responsible for others lives and well being is very stressful. When you add to this just 1 or 2 people that act this way and you have the recipie for a complete meltdown. Suddenly they seem to think all of the female nurses are just well B**chs.
At 1st I thought this was just on my unit, but my residency cohort was 105 people with maybe 12 guys, all the guys were talking about how great everyone has been and the majority of the females were talking about leaving work in tears. One unit actually has a group of nurses nicknamed the "mean girls" apparently 4-5 of them will try to make life hell on a new nurse if they don't like them, not really bullying them but talking bad about them just far enough away that the person can hear bits and pieces of it.
A study about 4 years back said that the average length of time a nurses stays in the profession from graduation is 3 years, the number one reason for leaving was workplace environment and interpersonal issues in the workplace. I wish I had answers to the problem, all I can say is ladies don't act this way and if you see or hear others doing it tell them to cut the crap.
"Thats what I'm talking about," unfortunately. I have however seen a situation and intervened when a group of young nurses with 3-4 years experience were giving one particular new male grad a really rough time. He was from a conservative religious background and terminally shy in addition to being extremely handsome. Well you can guess the rest. He would not go to any of them for advise or help due to fear of harrassment. I made it a point to tell him to come to me whenever he needed help or back up and he did. I was reallly surprised that he lasted as long as he did and wasn't surprised at all when I heard he had taken a job at another hospital. It was our loss. We lost a good guy who was always willing to help and a good nurse in the making because of idiotic behavior on the part of coworkers in my opinion.
For every 1 nurse that has "eaten" me, 5 have embraced me, encouraged me, mentored me.
Sadly, what I am about to say may really rub some people the wrong way. Hell, it even rubs ME the wrong way, but I'm going to say it.
Nursing is a profession dominated by women. If it is to EVER improve, it should probably be dominated by MEN.
Women are catty, vindictive, overly emotional and unforgiving martyrs. Men see the problem, attack it, fix it, and forget about it. Men do not suffer guilt, do not take responsibility for what isn't theirs.
I've worked for men outside of nursing, and you just didn't have these problems and dilemmas. Under women in nursing, I am appalled at the lack of insight and unprofessionalism. Women just seem to go on and on, taking on more than they should, allowing themselves to be continuously spent and abused by whatever power in charge and even by those underneath them. Men wouldn't put up with it for a New York minute.
And I'm probably one of the biggest Uber Feminists I know.
I could just see it if most managers were men and most new grads were men -- they'd be protecting and propping up their "sons" like you've never seen. They'd pump them FULL of confidence and sit back proudly while their boys would hit the mark everytime. They'd band together to form strong teams ... the atmosphere would be highly competitive, but confidence building .. .not destructive in nature. There would be "atta-boys" given on the spot, continously. That's how men operate. That's how women operate, even outside of nursing. But nursing? Forget it. It's a whole different operating system.
And you are the lone exception?
Careful - women that make such assertions about other women often have histrionic personality traits, if not the full-blown personality disorder. I'm not saying you do, just something to be aware of.
Trashing other women is trendy and will get you virtual high-fives. But be mindful that by doing so you are being the "catty, gossipy" type that you are speaking against.
And back to the topic..some nurses certainly do eat their young. But for every 1 nurse that has "eaten" me, 5 have nurtured me, encouraged me, mentored me.
And back to the topic..some nurses certainly do eat their young. But for every 1 nurse that has "eaten" me, 5 have nurtured me, encouraged me, mentored me.
17% is a very large percentage! I also think, you're one of the lucky ones.
I'm a new nurse, and while there are nurses I meet who like to treat you like an idiot, MANY MORE are supportive and helpful cuz they remember what it was like to be new.
Every workplace has its share of jerks, and I bet you're not the only one who thinks they are. ;-)
Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
for every 1 nurse that has "eaten" me, 5 have embraced me, encouraged me, mentored me.
and you are the lone exception?
careful - women that make such assertions about other women often have histrionic personality traits, if not the full-blown personality disorder. i'm not saying you do, just something to be aware of.
trashing other women is trendy and will get you virtual high-fives. but be mindful that by doing so you are being the "catty, gossipy" type that you are speaking against.
thank you! i'm glad i'm not the only exception . . . i'm getting danged tired of women trashing other women on the internet without seeing that their behavior is the exact "catty, gossipy, backstabbing" behavior they're railing against. the only issue i have with your post is that i can only give it one "kudos"!
"One unit actually has a group of nurses nicknamed the "mean girls" apparently 4-5 of them will try to make life hell on a new nurse if they don't like them, not really bullying them but talking bad about them just far enough away that the person can hear bits and pieces of it."
I have been employed as... a junior high school teacher, teaching assistant, research assistant, athletic coach, athletic referee, waiter, bartender, administrative assistant, house painter, custodial staff, etc., etc.
Never have I been treated with such contempt and abject hostility as I have been in nursing. And I work at a three time magnet hospital.
Nurses eat their young...but you and I can change this. Realize everyone was new once, take personal responsibility not to perpetuate the cycle of hate. Mentor formally or informally, be there for each other. Stop this mindless insecure hatred.
But - I'm a pre-nursing student, I'll start NA1 clinicals next semester, but I'm wondering - is this really a concern? This phrase seems to be used to describe older nurses who use experience to intimidate and manipulate younger/newer nurses so that a solid pecking order is established.
What I'm wondering is - is it really seen more often in nursing than many other proffessions, or isn't this just the way people are?
I've worked plenty of low wage jobs and this has gone on in some fashion in most of them. My current job, a vet tech, this very thing happened where my co-worker, who is due to experience essentially a lead tech without the title, has given me advice or steered me in a direction that has gotten me in trouble with my direct boss, more than once.
I fully expect to deal with people like this all my life, and the bottom line is - I just learn who these people are, and know what boundaries to set. In this case, I don't confront her unless she gives me advice I solidly question, but instead if I have questions or need further training on something, I go directly to my boss. Problem solved, and me and her manage to get along.
But with that phrase being used over and over again on these threads, should I really prepare for a culture of backstabbing, intimidation, and manipulation? I've worked in environments like that, it sucks...
Throughout school, and now at my job as a staff nurse in a hospital, I have yet to encounter one of those nurses that 'eats their young'. Perhaps I am just incredibly lucky, but every nurse I have met in school and who I work with has been kind and genuinely helpful and wanting to impart their knowledge. Of course, there are those nurses who I may not get along with personality wise. Fortunately, so far, we've all been able to work together and get along when it counts- for our patients' sake.
head3rd
27 Posts
I don't know that I would go quite that far but as a male nurse I noticed a difference in how I was treated compared to 4 females that started at the same time. We were all brand new nurses with basically the same level of experience. I was treated great and when my preceptors had questions or suggestions they were very upfront about it. My new coworkers on the other hand would become very distressed because nurses were talking about them behind their backs the first week. Everyone was nice to their face, but would go to others saying how they did something wrong or questioning what they were thinking when they did things or said things.
Being a guy I don't really understand why some females do this, but they do. For most new nurses the sudden transition from clinicals to being a REAL nurse and the realization that you are now responsible for others lives and well being is very stressful. When you add to this just 1 or 2 people that act this way and you have the recipie for a complete meltdown. Suddenly they seem to think all of the female nurses are just well B**chs.
At 1st I thought this was just on my unit, but my residency cohort was 105 people with maybe 12 guys, all the guys were talking about how great everyone has been and the majority of the females were talking about leaving work in tears. One unit actually has a group of nurses nicknamed the "mean girls" apparently 4-5 of them will try to make life hell on a new nurse if they don't like them, not really bullying them but talking bad about them just far enough away that the person can hear bits and pieces of it.
A study about 4 years back said that the average length of time a nurses stays in the profession from graduation is 3 years, the number one reason for leaving was workplace environment and interpersonal issues in the workplace. I wish I had answers to the problem, all I can say is ladies don't act this way and if you see or hear others doing it tell them to cut the crap.