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.
Some do eat their young. But, you can see this in any other field. It has just become a generalization attached - unfortunatly - to nursing.[/quot
If this is the case then we as nurses need to do something about it and stop treating each other so badly. What are we exactly projecting to the rest of the world if we cant even be kind to each other!
on my management placement whilst coordinating the ward one of the A&E nurses 'playing' sister for the day thought it would be fine to take her anger on me this was over the phone. Knowing full well i couldnt admit anyone to the assessment unit i was in charge of she still thought this was my fault and was going to send the patient up any way without a bed available. Well one of the A&E nurses turned up on the ward and was asked who was coordinating downstairs? He was informed of how rude this person had been, sometime later there was a phone call this individual wanted to speak to me i said its me speaking she apologised for her behaviour. This apology would never have occured i think if a member of her staff had not turned up on my ward. This person and her ward sister have a reputation for 'eatin their young'. They have a reputation within the trust i trained in in england, especialy the actual ward sister. The person i had the incidence with has also tried to eat a friend of mine who had a clinical experiece in A&E. The point im trying to make is we are not all bad nurses. you will have some experiece of some terrible nurses who have no people skils. i was lucky to have a supportive team behind me who stuck up for me. Some wards are known for their treatment of new staff members i think its a shame how some nurses treat each other we are ment to be a team how many chances should these individuals be given i wonder??
on my management placement whilst coordinating the ward one of the A&E nurses 'playing' sister for the day thought it would be fine to take her anger on me this was over the phone. Knowing full well i couldnt admit anyone to the assessment unit i was in charge of she still thought this was my fault and was going to send the patient up any way without a bed available. Well one of the A&E nurses turned up on the ward and was asked who was coordinating downstairs? He was informed of how rude this person had been, sometime later there was a phone call this individual wanted to speak to me i said its me speaking she apologised for her behaviour. This apology would never have occured i think if a member of her staff had not turned up on my ward. This person and her ward sister have a reputation for 'eatin their young'. They have a reputation within the trust i trained in in england, especialy the actual ward sister. The person i had the incidence with has also tried to eat a friend of mine who had a clinical experiece in A&E. The point im trying to make is we are not all bad nurses. you will have some experiece of some terrible nurses who have no people skils. i was lucky to have a supportive team behind me who stuck up for me. Some wards are known for their treatment of new staff members i think its a shame how some nurses treat each other we are ment to be a team how many chances should these individuals be given i wonder??
And I totally agree with you...this individual I'm speaking of...the director of the program authorized a nurse from a different department who knew nothing about her, (and was told the minimum), to orient with her one day, and then a nursing instructor to shadow her with her regular preceptor. She still blamed me...because she was let go at the end of her orientation.
what makes people think they have the right to take their fraustration out on others? This is seriouse cos it brings us all down and can affect the care we deliver to our patients i hope these individuals are not taking it out on patients
Overly sensitive to nit-picking, criticizing your work, undermining you, ignoring and sidelining?
Bullying in the workplace is well documented and endemic. The effects of bullying are very distressing.
I think you are being flippant.
I can agree that there are nurses that eat their young and that are bullies in the work force. To say that it doesn't exist is false. Putting blinders on and branding people as overly sensitive conveniently sweeps the problem under the rug.
What I can't agree with is that it is edemic in nursing. That would be to say that nursing is a profession full of bullies and it's characteristic that nurses eat their young. This is no more fair than saying "all cops in New York are on the take" or "all politicians are corrupt".
I will agree that there are some sensitive people and take one incident out of their day and whine "nurses eat their young" or "nurse are catty". I could have done that yesterday as I came across a rude nurse. I've seen nurses overreact "did you see the way she just yelled at me?" when no yelling occurred. I've had to coach many insecure and nervious new grads through moments like this.
I have been eaten only twice. My preceptor for my final clinical class was a b#*&h. She asked me what field I wanted to go into and every response I had she told me I would never make it and was really neagtive. She had the whole floor turned against me and they all laughed at me. She had me doing bed/baths and I was supposed to graduate in a month. She made me bag a body of a patient all by myself when i had no experience with it. This all started after one of my teachers said I was her favorite student in front of her. I'm happy that is all over with. If she only knew that I graduated magna cum laude, second in my class and am now working in a level 1 trauma center dealing with things she never even heard of, what would she think. Maybe I'll go visit her:idea:
The second case was also when I was still a student. It was our last day of clinicals on a tele unit and we bought the nurses a pie as a thank you and I went to give it to one of the nurses and she waved her hand at me and said get it away from her. Gee, thanks. I told her I had ne problem eating it myself, which we did.
Other than that I have had some really fabulous mentors. They are defintiely the majority. I also love taking students under my wind. I take great pride in teaching and will never treat a student like I was treated. Those rude nurses do serve a purpose and that is to teach students not to treat students like garbage. i got a reward from some of my students and almost started crying. That was one of my brightest days.
I personally think a lot of people are overly sensitive.
I dont believe that there is that much young eating if any
Consider yourself very fortunate if you've never seen this practice. I have and I just shake my head in frustration when I see a seasoned nurse have a powertrip a/o bully session with a new nurse.
Just recently a very good new nurse 7a-7p (approx 1 year) was sobbing outside the hospital after a very demanding 12 hours because a night RN chewed her out for not taking report at 7:15pm pm from the ER - she merely said "could we call you back,we're in report". This older nurse (20yrs exp.) chewed her out in front of everyone - and she's known to all of us as very moody and she makes it known she 'hates' her job....but her actions humilated this nurse - and made her feel so inadequate.
Anyway, I heard about this from a fellow RN - who hugged her outside the hospital and tired to console her - Several of us on the day shift who know this RN were upset to hear this ....this is a very thorough relentlessly hardworking intelligent RN...and because of that nurse's actions we'll probably lose her to another job.
I've seen many examples of nurse's bullying other nurses....I wish I was lucky like you and say it doesnt happen much or people are just oversensitive.
I can't understand it. It's so self destructive to our profession and ourselves - these are the nurses who will work beside us, and take care of us someday.
I have very high standards in my practice - and I try to instill them in nurses I orient - but I also remember to be kind and encouraging - it so hard to be new and the learning curve is great.
Nursing is one of the hardest professions you can have....and I want them to succeed.
BlearnRN
87 Posts
Some do eat their young. But, you can see this in any other field. It has just become a generalization attached - unfortunatly - to nursing.