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 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....
:bowingpur:yelclap: very nice!!! can you come to louisiana just to be my instructor?! these threads about nurses eating their young are scaring me a little (i'm beginning my adn program this fall), but your reply is keeping my hopes high and positive! thank god for nurses like you!!!!! :icon_hug:
There will always be a few clinkers in the bunch. But other than that, I believe that respect filters downward. If management treats their seasoned nurses in a reasonable, respectful manner, they will be much more likely to pass that consideration on to the newbies. If management disrepects staff nurses by grossly understaffing on a regular basis, allowing toxic behavior in the workplace, refusing to pay extra for precepting (or acknowledging that effort in some other significant way), mentoring a new nurse becomes like trying to fill a cup from an empty pitcher.
When I graduated I always thought that was the case but havent found that to be true in many settings. Maybe with the oldschool nurses (age 55+) which is the majority but for the most part pther nurses are just happy to have a competent individual to work with. The only nasty nurses I have come up against are the old school Incompitent nurses who have become much too comfortable in the position they are in. Believe me their bark is much louder than their bite they are scared to death of you and what you represent.
Specializes in Diabetes ED, (CDE), CCU, Pulmonary/HIV.
No matter how much the profession wants to deny it, nurses eating their young (or any other nurse regardless of years of experience) does happen often enough to perpetuate the generalization. My preceptor 13 yrs ago could not be pleased. She was hypercritical and demoralizing, but remains in a position of authority today.
Another nurse threatened me verbally and physically, but I was requested by my manager not to report her because "she is going through a divorce*and is stressed out." I changed units to get away from her because she contined to be nasty and vile toward me. That nurse is in charge now.
In my new unit at that time (CCU) there was so much of the "seasoned CCU nurse" vs the new CCU nurses," that after one year I was the only one of a class of 10 remaining on the unit.
In my current job, it's our nurse manager. In spite of the hospital's policy to recognize and comment on employee achievement, her belief is that doing a good job is its own reward. When we get letters of appreciation from patients, she doesn't submit them for recognition. She is perfect and doesn't understand why we are not as well. She is fast to criticize, but not to compliment. (Lest you think I am walking around under my own little cloud, she treats all employees this way.)
So I disagree with the article and with the denial that nurses eat their young and anyone else within fork reach.
When I graduated I always thought that was the case but havent found that to be true in many settings. Maybe with the oldschool nurses (age 55+) which is the majority but for the most part pther nurses are just happy to have a competent individual to work with. The only nasty nurses I have come up against are the old school Incompitent nurses who have become much too comfortable in the position they are in. Believe me their bark is much louder than their bite they are scared to death of you and what you represent.
And here we go again, demonizing older nurses. No wonder there's hostility on all sides.
No matter how much the profession wants to deny it, nurses eating their young (or any other nurse regardless of years of experience) does happen often enough to perpetuate the generalization. My preceptor 13 yrs ago could not be pleased. She was hypercritical and demoralizing, but remains in a position of authority today.
Another nurse threatened me verbally and physically, but I was requested by my manager not to report her because "she is going through a divorce*and is stressed out." I changed units to get away from her because she contined to be nasty and vile toward me. That nurse is in charge now.
In my new unit at that time (CCU) there was so much of the "seasoned CCU nurse" vs the new CCU nurses," that after one year I was the only one of a class of 10 remaining on the unit.
In my current job, it's our nurse manager. In spite of the hospital's policy to recognize and comment on employee achievement, her belief is that doing a good job is its own reward. When we get letters of appreciation from patients, she doesn't submit them for recognition. She is perfect and doesn't understand why we are not as well. She is fast to criticize, but not to compliment. (Lest you think I am walking around under my own little cloud, she treats all employees this way.)
So I disagree with the article and with the denial that nurses eat their young and anyone else within fork reach.
No problem, you are certainly entitled to disagree based on your experience.
If I looked hard enough I could find one person per unit I worked on with experience that wasn't very kind to newbies, or anyone for that matter, including my current manager if I criticized her approach harshly enough. Sometimes maybe more than one.
However, in 15 years I've literally come across hundreds of nurses in my practice and the overwhelming majority of them are neutral and friendly to new nurses.
So in my experience, I have come across nurses who eat their young. But not enough for me to generalize and believe that as a profession "Nurses Eat Their Young".
As a charge nurse I've just finished evaluations. Two nurses didn't get a raise and one is on probration. 18 others got excellent to good reviews. The few who precept new grads are awesome and not one new grad complains. I'm not going to let those two jade me. If I was new and attacked by those two, I'd like to think I wouldn't be jaded either.
Some, but not all. I'm a new grad. Well, not even new. I've decided to take almost two years off of the nursing field after graduation. I have had thoughts of even changing career based on my experience in nursing school. I think I'm average when it comes to my academic capability and ability. Although, my grades showed otherwise. I graduated with honors and joined the honor society. I'm very unconventional when it comes to my personality, because I'm a gay male and Filipino. I can be very effeminate. I have not known anyone who was out when I was going to school. Being different takes courage, and not everyone are willing to accept. With my character, I hit the jackpot! I had a very happy outlook in life, and I love to laugh. I never allowed my indifference to hinder in learning and implementing the necessary skills and knowledge in nursing. However, I become the primary target for the teachers, because I stick out like a soar thumb for some of them. I was ready to achieve my BSN and was taking my last class. Unfortunately, I had to drop out right at the mid term, because my teacher said in private that I will never pass her class. Eventhough my grades in lecture were in the 90's or A. I was discouraged by her verbally and her behavior towards me was not encouraging. She was not satisfied with my skills. In my mind, I was doing the best I can, but it's not enough. As though she was born as a nurse, coming out of the delivery room with a cap in her head. Nursing skills and knowledge are earned, not genetic. Every time when I had to go home after my clinicals, I cried. Some teachers tend to forget. Perfection is untainable, unless you're wonder woman. Teachers are human beings too with their own bias, motivations, and expectations. And some are archaic that they've forgotten the meaning of compassion and empathy. Power can blind people and loose track on their purpose of being there. Nevertheless, I had to voice out and asked help to the department. Before I even said my piece, they've been telling me things that only the teacher and I knew about. They had to justify her side, and I was never heard. She spoke to them before I did. I've come to a decision that it's time to move, and go to a program where people will be much nicer. I got accepted in an Associate Degree program, and I finished the remaining class. I ended up having six degrees in which only one is valuable for me. I refused to become a victim and made my choice to finish and graduate. The experiece will not even stop me to finish my BSN and further my education. There's no stopping. I have healed through time, and I'm ready to take my liscense. Each of us is unique, and the journey that we take are individual. There might be some hurdles on the road for some due to diversity, but the possibilities are endless. I will arrive to my destination just like everyone else who have taken the journey. There are freeways and side streets along the way, and never think that there's only one road. Some people will be there to take your heart away, yet alot of people are willing to give and teach because they know the value of becoming truly human. Those are the ones who made the difference by giving, not getting for the sake of power and control or prestige. Giving your self is indeed the essence of happiness and humanity. Human beings can be good or bad. It's a choice. Some are noble to give, and some are hungry.
I'm a new RN and worked at the local hospital on the ortho unit for almost 3 yearsand was fired four months ago. I was so excited to graduate . I also don't necessarily like the phrase 'eat their young' because workplace abuse is a serious widespread problem in every line of work. There are mean people everywhere..well let me rephrase the term mean. There are always people who have lowself esteem, feel threatened or inferior, tired, frustrated, hurting, and so many other challenges of life. I attempt to remind myself of this while I work at forgivness, but it still hurts.
I've been called stupid, incompetent, acused of being a drug addict because my scrubs had some wrinkles, discredited in front of staff and patients so many times. Eyes alway rolled, nurses would make a point of talking about me when I was present, and all new staff was taught to treat me this way. I had a precentor but there was little teaching. It seemed to become an additional protocol to there orientation to the floor to treat me this way. The ended with a two page statement of the incidents that I had done. Some I didn't recall and others seemed to be embellished for the aske of drama. Sincenoone was every present to help or encourage I really don't know how these situations could be known. This was not confined to only seasoned nurses. Eventually LVNs, CNAs, and other new RNs participated in the bullying. The initial abuse began with a charge nurse who from the beginning was intimidating, demeaning, and wanted me out. This nurse was relativly new also.
In addition I am recently separated from my alcoholic husband and his sister works at this hospital so you can imagine the encouragement and 'flame to the fire' that occured. This is not a small city but not large enough that ifyoudon'tknowsomebody, you know somebody who does know them.
Iv'e been unemployed for going on four months now and am still terrified and realize that this 'opinion' of me has more than likely been spread and embelished throughout the nursing comminity. The fact that there is currenlty a nursing shortage and the fact that I have been fired doesn't speak highly of me. And with the 'blame the victom' mentallity that society holds I feel demoralized ande defeated. Iv'e now gone through all of my saving, three mos. late on the mortage. My daughter has not handled the situation well either but I know thats my fault too. The trauma was so bad emotionally I attempted unemployment pmt. The hospital said that I didn't do the job that I was hired to do so I was denied. The emotional trauma remains so fresh that I can't holda thought much less know where or what I should do.
You have my symphathy Alex. Keep your head up. I have known, it's temporary and it'll pass. History can not be changed. You have to keep your strength for you and your daughter. Marinating in the past will only rob you of today as well as your great and wonderful possibilities for the future. One good thing is being alive, because you have a choice. A choice to make a decision to do the right thing. Unfortunate things happens to good people, because we can not control another human being. It's not your fault, blaming your self will only put you down. We only have control of our own existence and of our own behavior. Even micro organisms stay away from sharp edges to protect their existence, yet they have no brain. You have the ability to protect yourself, and you have the ability to change your environment by moving on. Your daughter needs you to be strong. Yes, it's painful. Forgiveness does not mean a thing when you're hurting. Acknowledgement of the fact is better. Forgiveness does not mean you have to forget their behavior. I'm glad that we as human beings were given memory to serve as a basis for trust and learning. Look back only to better the future so you will sparkle. And never loose them because they'll give you a stronger defenition and character. No, the scars will remain and there's no easy way to heal the pain, only through time. But dwelling on it defeats movement. Courage to move forward Alex, courage. With your skills and experience in life and education, you can come up with something and move on. Have faith, having faith to expect for a brighter future. Changing behavior changes emotions, rarely it's the other way. Love will follow when you give your self to others once more. Truly, serving and taking the risk to trust and offering kindness to others will open your heart to be happy again. There will be people who will fill your heart up and you'll find them when you start giving - your self. Be a giver, not like those human vacum and needy people for power, and control who have hurt you. And you'll find your self in love. Spread your love like a fountain, all over. Also, don't forget to look up - thy will be done. Have the courage to change and embrace changes for they offer opportunities. Be good to your self and your daughter.
Absolutely, of course they do. Nurses really do eat their young.
The less knowledgeable, haven't opened a book or a journal in years "I've been doing this for __ years and this is how I've always done it." types are especially hungry for intelligent, knowledgeable new nurses who are up to date on the latest techniques and information. They chew them up and spit them out.
Absolutely, of course they do. Nurses really do eat their young.
The less knowledgeable, haven't opened a book or a journal in years "I've been doing this for __ years and this is how I've always done it." types are especially hungry for intelligent, knowledgeable new nurses who are up to date on the latest techniques and information. They chew them up and spit them out.
Then they go looking for new, fresh meat.
Nope, not buying into that sterotype either. Yes, there are some nurses like that, but to generalize the entire profession of nursing.....nope.
If I'm so unknowledgable about nursing, why do I have to precept new grads at all? New grads don't come out of school knowing it all. They rely on expert nurses to teach them.
We learn from each other.
Granted I don't have the latest up to date knowledge and I'm constantly picking new grads brains on stuff.
I get two journals, learn lots of stuff online through Allnurses, medline, etc. have taken many classes in ventilators, telemetry, leadership, trauma seminars, on and on and on. Not to mention I'm getting my BSN.
Granted there are a few of those "this is the way I've always done it for years...." kind of folks, but I find that nurses are some of the most flexible people when comes to learning new information and procedures because nursing has been such a dynamic profession. We constantly need to learn.Of course when computer charting came around that was difficult for some old timers, but that was more computer anxiety and stubborness.
Who are the instructors in nursing school, the CNS's, and educators in hospitals? Nine times out of ten it's a 30 something or a middle aged nurse who was in the trenches learning and growing throughout his/her career.
very nice!!! 
can you come to louisiana just to be my instructor?! these threads about nurses eating their young are scaring me a little (i'm beginning my adn program this fall), but your reply is keeping my hopes high and positive! thank god for nurses like you!!!!! :icon_hug:
teeituptom, BSN, RN
4,283 Posts
Yes we carry clubs. and love to swing them.