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.
And once again, any need to ask why experienced nurses are increasingly reluctant to precept? When we get a black eye because of what a few do, what's the point?
I can't help wondering if the "nurses eating their young " phenomenon is partially due to a female-dominated enviroment. estrogen-charged tension all around.
i had a hard time dealing with the senior RNs when i was a fresh grad. They practically hate us. :angryfire Of course there was nice and motherly ones around but some senior nurses really made sure we get hellish shifts. but, interestingly, once we are used to working with them, when i settled in my job for 6 months or so, these senior staffs became our friends.
Maybe it's their way of trying to get respect from us junior girls. Maybe they are jealous of us sweet young things with a whole bright future ahead of us while they are old and aging. Maybe they were treated badly by their seniors before then it's "get-back time", not at their seniors but at their juniors girls. Like a vicious cycle kinda thing.
Now, as a two years old RN, in order to break that vicious cycle, i'm friendly and nice to the fresh grads. Making sure they get their regualr doses of constructive critcisms and ego boosting encouragments.
Believe me, the nurses who have jumped me for the fun of terrifying a new nurse are not preceptors. If they've ever been asked, it must have been out of sheer desperation. Maybe that's part of the reason they seem to hate us newbies. I'll bet they are simply not ever asked, and our NM never bothers to address what the issues are, and that they resent it deeply, and take out the frustration on the new folks.
You're right not all nurses are the same! Its a shame some nurses dont treat students or newly qualified nurses as they would like to be!I felt very supported in my final clinical placement and was treated as part of the team. I was free to ask as many questions as i liked and felt they had an interest in my learning. while i was on this placement the ward had recruited some newly qualified nurses some from asia i was impressed by how they where welcomed and amount of support given to them during this transition. It just depends on which ward you work on, the ward sisters/manager atititude to team working, the ward culture,and types of people. There can be some strong personalities on some wards who can take an instant dislike to other nurses you just learn ways of dealing with such nurses. This is why i aim to become a mentor in the future to help other student nurses and newly qualified nurses. Some people forget they were a student at one point them selves and at some period newly qualified!!
And once again, any need to ask why experienced nurses are increasingly reluctant to precept? When we get a black eye because of what a few do, what's the point?
Because they have added to much paperwork and meetings to being a preceptor.
I can't help wondering if the "nurses eating their young " phenomenon is partially due to a female-dominated enviroment. estrogen-charged tension all around.
i had a hard time dealing with the senior RNs when i was a fresh grad. They practically hate us. :angryfire Of course there was nice and motherly ones around but some senior nurses really made sure we get hellish shifts. but, interestingly, once we are used to working with them, when i settled in my job for 6 months or so, these senior staffs became our friends.
Maybe it's their way of trying to get respect from us junior girls. Maybe they are jealous of us sweet young things with a whole bright future ahead of us while they are old and aging. Maybe they were treated badly by their seniors before then it's "get-back time", not at their seniors but at their juniors girls. Like a vicious cycle kinda thing.
Now, as a two years old RN, in order to break that vicious cycle, i'm friendly and nice to the fresh grads. Making sure they get their regualr doses of constructive critcisms and ego boosting encouragments.
I've actually been scolded by some of the bitter, cranky bitties for being nice to new people. Maybe they think I'm trying to make them look even more wenchier then they are? I'll compromise and say that SOME nurses do indeed eat their young but I think it is something that can be changed. In my former hospital, they were trying to change the vacation policy so everyone got a summer vacation-some people were getting 5 weeks off in the summer and others got zilch. My goodness, the poor scrubs and nurses on the commitee pratically got stoned by the nurses who had been there 20,30 plus years. One even said " I really don't care if the youngsters get a vacation or not-I paid my dues". Now it's all fine and good that you may have managed to fly under the radar for 30 years and not get fired(wasn't a very good nurse, BTW)but this hospital started seeing the younger nurses leaving, including yours truly. It's not like it was back then-very few people will stay someplace where they are unhappy for long. Now, the oldtimers are picking up holiday call from the "young" that left for a better situation.
I've actually been scolded by some of the bitter, cranky bitties for being nice to new people. Maybe they think I'm trying to make them look even more wenchier then they are? I'll compromise and say that SOME nurses do indeed eat their young but I think it is something that can be changed. In my former hospital, they were trying to change the vacation policy so everyone got a summer vacation-some people were getting 5 weeks off in the summer and others got zilch. My goodness, the poor scrubs and nurses on the commitee pratically got stoned by the nurses who had been there 20,30 plus years. One even said " I really don't care if the youngsters get a vacation or not-I paid my dues". Now it's all fine and good that you may have managed to fly under the radar for 30 years and not get fired(wasn't a very good nurse, BTW)but this hospital started seeing the younger nurses leaving, including yours truly. It's not like it was back then-very few people will stay someplace where they are unhappy for long. Now, the oldtimers are picking up holiday call from the "young" that left for a better situation.
The best thing that's happened in my 2 years on my unit are the "firings' or parting of the ways (forced to quit) of nurses who were horrible to new nurses/hires. The first thing they would do is 'mark their territory and tell you how it is in a fairly hostile way. Some of these women were my age (mid forties) but they felt they had to feel important and 'intimidate' the new nurses - whatever age. I think a large part of it is that pretty soon we'd find out how much hot air they blew and how they weren't the super RNs they liked to brag they were.
The vacation thing was also something that was very unfair and it was 'fixed' by a new manager (much to their horror) and they were not allowed to hog all holidays, weeks leading into holidays and the bulk of the summer months for vacations. It helped morale tremendously when the select few lost this unfair practice.
I've never had a patient or family complain about me in my 2 years - having come from a business background - and the way a hospital now sees patient's as 'consumers or customers' - I know that not only am I to do the best I can for their healthcare needs, we need to please the 'customer'....it's hard and I've had some really difficult families etc - but these particular Mean nurses were complained about alot! It was hilarious - and they were finally 'weeded' out and our unit is wonderful now. I'm now considered one of the (ha) older nurses there and I'm nice,supportive and friendly to new grads - I remember what it's like to be new - something some of those 'oldtimers' forgot.
My advice is if you like the place and there are some nice people just go to them for help if you need it - and hopefully management will see who's not working as a team etc.
I workrd in nursing 14 years as a male and i must tell you they nurses sureley do eat thier own. Every one starts out new and yes somtimes you do make mistakes. learning from them mistakes is important. Somes nurses foreget they were also in the same boat one day.
I am glad to stand up for the nurses who were great to me and who are great; but as another poster stated, it is often the bad experience we remember first; And I hope that no-one that precepts stops doing so; My preceptors were great;
Unfortunately, when you get "chewed up and spit out" in a jealous attempt to destroy your career, then you don't remember alot of good, especially when not one of the other nurses will back you up and put a stop to it.
You know sometimes I don't think it is so much that nurses eat their young as bullies destroy the confidence of those of us who are sensitive.
I have been an RN for quite a few years now and I am still affected by those bullies young and old, who demean me and make comments that are just plain mean.
I know of other older nurses who are very hurt by some younger nurses who are rude and think they know it all.
Really it comes down to lack of professionalism and a lack of being capable of working in a team environment without exerting your overbearing personality on others.
To all those nurses who have been picked on by others, I know it isn't much compensation but you are not alone :icon_hug:
reesern63, RN
267 Posts
And once again, any need to ask why experienced nurses are increasingly reluctant to precept? When we get a black eye because of what a few do, what's the point?