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 a nurse for 7 months. For the most part, I work where the nurses are supportive to one another. I've had more negative experiences in talking with doctors than other nurses. If another nurse did try to eat me I would tell her to BITE ME!
i was not generalizing, actually i just answered the poll and replied based on where i work and my experience.....we do have an opinion on the "poll" questions don't we?......so please don't take it so personally.....
thanks for your advice and best of luck in vietnam!
i didn't take it personally. this sticky is for the debate about whether nurses eat their young . . . .
thanks for the good wishes . . .i leave in two days and i'm not even packed.
i was not generalizing, actually i just answered the poll and replied based on where i work and my experience.....we do have an opinion on the "poll" questions don't we?......so please don't take it so personally.....
thanks for your advice and best of luck in vietnam!
we're just concerned that rather than take that charge nurse as an isolated troll you generalize and start believing "nurses eat their young".
we do care and need to hear these stories, because they are real, true and hurtful to the new nurse and our profession.
I am a new grad LPN (to RN soon) working my first job. I am in my 5th week. I have yet to meet an unhelpful nurse, in my particular unit, at least. I have met one thus far, that has helped so much, I may never forget her.
How long does it take until I am not soo scared on the floor? I had orientation for 5 short days, and felt that I was not orientated enough. I really need a lot of advise. Charting is difficult for me and I am leaving late every day.
i work at a level one trauma center as a "float nurse" ...this means i work all areas of the hospital when they are shortstaffed. needless to say i never am called off or told i am not needed. i do er, critical care and all units.....just the other day i was on a medical floor, i had 5 patients, and a student nurse with me.....then a young male student walked up to my student and asked if she had any procedures to do to please let him help since he was with noone.....i asked my student why he was alone and he said the nurse assigned to him "refused" to do it....i went to the instructor and told her i would help him along with the student i already had...he was grateful and i gave them both a great day....they thanked me numerous times....the "refusing nurse" was at the desk and i blatantly said out loud for all to hear "all nurses need to remember what it was like to be a student and not eat our young since they may be the ones taking care of us in the future" ...you could of heard a pin drop...needless to say both students were at the desk when i said this too and snickered....the "refusing nurse" was reprimanded later that day.....hee hee....loved it....
i work at a level one trauma center as a "float nurse" ...this means i work all areas of the hospital when they are shortstaffed. needless to say i never am called off or told i am not needed. i do er, critical care and all units.....just the other day i was on a medical floor, i had 5 patients, and a student nurse with me.....then a young male student walked up to my student and asked if she had any procedures to do to please let him help since he was with noone.....i asked my student why he was alone and he said the nurse assigned to him "refused" to do it....i went to the instructor and told her i would help him along with the student i already had...he was grateful and i gave them both a great day....they thanked me numerous times....the "refusing nurse" was at the desk and i blatantly said out loud for all to hear "all nurses need to remember what it was like to be a student and not eat our young since they may be the ones taking care of us in the future" ...you could of heard a pin drop...needless to say both students were at the desk when i said this too and snickered....the "refusing nurse" was reprimanded later that day.....hee hee....loved it....
good for you! however, part of the problem with the phrase "eating our young" is that you're still only talking about one nurse. i hope the student doesn't go around saying, "nurses eat their young, i know because i experienced it", rather than say "one nurse on this unit refused students, but the rest were awesome, and let me tell you about the nurse who stood up for me........."
i work with a nurse that doesn't like working with students and i steer students away from her. why torture the poor students like that? it will be on her annual evaluation however.
Oh I know the students were talking bad about her but heard them in the next breathe taking nice about me standing up for them....I was outside their post conference room when they were telling the rest of their class..... I have seen many nurses act the way that nurse did. ....With me being a float nurse who works in ALL the areas of the hospital I see it almost daily...that is why I said what I did....do we forget so quickly how frightened and scared we were as students......
....do we forget so quickly how frightened and scared we were as students......
Not me, how about you? Do most of the nurses where you work mistreat people and students?
Most people around here are neutral. We're just doing our job. This may mean we don't roll out the red carpet and kiss the feet of the students/new grads, or even acknowledge that they are here, but we haven't forgotten and don't eat them either.
i don't roll out the red carpet but i don' t "not acknowledge" or ignore them either....i am friendly and helpful if they look confused or overwhelmed..... i am one of the nurses they use as a preceptor often.....
i don't roll out the red carpet but i don' t "not acknowledge" or ignore them either....i am friendly and helpful if they look confused or overwhelmed..... i am one of the nurses they use as a preceptor often.....
me too, or i used to be until i became a charge nurse a couple of months ago. it's the one thing i hate about my new job is i don't get to work one-on-one with the students.
by ignore or not acknowledge i don't mean that in a bad way. i mean they are busy going about their jobs, not being unfriendly. students come on the floor and they still go about doing their job.
of course a student would look at that as rude, but they don't mean to be, they are just doing their own thing. when asked by students for help or a question they are friendly and helpful. 99% of the people i work with fall into the friendly category. a few of us, myself included, precept often, roll out the red carpet and are aware if they are looking lost. one nurse i work with doesn't like having students around.
i use to be a charge nurse too....got tired of the extra responsibility, lack of respect and constant complaints from the staff about schedules and "not being fair" when i bent over backwards for them....not to mention the pay hike wasn't that great to do it....so went to "float team"....make me own schedule plus make 15 % more on base pay for doing it.....plus not the same kind of patients every single day....kind of fun and now i have met so many more people at the hospital....
i liked doing the students too....so great to see the "i got it" look in the eyes when it finally clicks for them.....i have gotten thankyou cards, letters and even flowers from some students and one girl i precepted for new grad gave me a gift card to a restaurant for 40.00 after she was done and on her own....
Please note that by moderator concensus 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 lilnk. 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 nuturing to the new nurse and students on your unit.
End of sermon. LOL
I am a 4 year RN with a license and I need a job. I have been hired for a few positions, but have had bad experiences because as soon as the DON sees a 4 year degree, she wants to make me a supervisor. I told her that I need to get my experience as a nurse first before I become a charge nurse or a supervisor. Where is the best place I could get my med/surg experience. The hospitals seems fast pace and the nurses have no time to train you and the nursing homes want you to take on 30 patients, pass meds, do treatments, assessments, and charting......which I think is alot for an 8 hour shift. I am too new of a nurse to know if this is too much for a nursing home or not. However, I do need to get experience as an RN and it seems like it is impossible to get the experience once they find out that you are an RN. Help!! from licorice14225112060:monkeydance:
i didn't take it personally. this sticky is for the debate about whether nurses eat their young . . . . 
Paleobug
356 Posts
I've been a nurse for 7 months. For the most part, I work where the nurses are supportive to one another. I've had more negative experiences in talking with doctors than other nurses. If another nurse did try to eat me I would tell her to BITE ME!