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.
Specializes in Geri,Med/Surge,Pedi,Oncol,Corrections.
I will NEVER EVER work in a HOSPITAL again...based on my experience with several RN there. Most were just mean-cold hearted, rude, maniluplative, general smart-asses who definitely ate there young. My learning experience in the hospital enviroment showed me there were over controlling RN's who only cared about themselves not the patient and resented LVN's being on their floor (or the newbies to the field) and while a student nurse I got the same impression (naively thought it was because we were students) but still jumped into a hostile hospital anyway to only realize that as a LVN (and patient to be) I never want to be in a hospital or a nurse at one...there is such a diverse field in nursing I decided to get out of that cruel enviroment and attempt to find a suitable enviroment where everyones goal is patient care and to help one another.
. My patients were not just of the "demanding" type, which may be because of the lack of caring attention (upon introducing myself to one of my patients she punched me yelling she hates us nurses) but many of my patients were also very overweight and difficult to move. I had seven patients. It was a 7a to 7p shift. I asked if someone could cover me so I can get lunch, no one would, I asked If someone could keep an eye on my patients so I can go to the bathroom (one of my patient's incision on an ORIF was coming open and I had put in a call to the doctor and let the charge nurse know) I was persistently following up with that. Well, I could get no help. No help with moving the patients, no coverage for lunch and almost soiled myself trying to make it to the bathroom. I worked 15 hours with no food, no break, and one chance to run to the bathroom. I just couldn't justify abandoning my patients and could get no one to help. 8 hours into the shift I called the registry and told them not to send me back. At the end of the shift the charge nurse told me I was a trooper and had a good attitude and asked if I would like to come back, I told her I already called my registry and told them not to send me back. I was so exhausted my legs and hands shook and I could hardly walk straight. Tit for Tat she DNR'd me. This shift was worse than the Friday night my partner and I were the only available 911 unit in a very busy northern California city. We at least got food and potty breaks, they may have been very short but we got them.
Again, as a rule, I have only run into a small number of nurse cannibals. I am proud to be nurse, love what I do and love my patients. I look forward to when I can be such a mentor and when I can, help someone out with even less experience than me.:)
I really enjoyed your post and stories - I feel like I've worked that shift you had (no help,no lunch,no break,overwhelming patients and a deaf ear from the charge/mgt) Good for you for saying you wouldn't come back - we've had agency nurses - very experienced and professional - say they would never work our floor again either!
When the burnt out bully nurse's leave I'm so glad - and so far we've weeded out about 4 of them in my 2 years - and it's better without them despite their years of experience - they no longer remembered how to be a kind, caring nurse - just how to browbeat everyone including their own patients!:nono:
Specializes in ICU, PICC Nurse, Nursing Supervisor.
glad to see you posting again... i thought you had left..... i agree i hate working in the hospital. i did it a lot when i worked agency, but feel so much more at home in ltc.
i will never ever work in a hospital again...based on my experience with several rn there. most were just mean-cold hearted, rude, maniluplative, general smart-asses who definitely ate there young. my learning experience in the hospital enviroment showed me there were over controlling rn's who only cared about themselves not the patient and resented lvn's being on their floor (or the newbies to the field) and while a student nurse i got the same impression (naively thought it was because we were students) but still jumped into a hostile hospital anyway to only realize that as a lvn (and patient to be) i never want to be in a hospital or a nurse at one...there is such a diverse field in nursing i decided to get out of that cruel enviroment and attempt to find a suitable enviroment where everyones goal is patient care and to help one another.
The fact that this topic stays at the top of the thread list is a good indication that Nurses do eat their young.
More likely because I believe that statement to be completely false from the beginning. Nothing can be further from the truth.
Maybe nothing could be further from your truth, but just because you haven't encountered problems in this area, that doesn't mean no one else has. Some of us have campaigned pretty heavily in favor of not letting isolated bad incidents become generalizations. But there's a big difference between asking people to keep an open mind to the thought that not all seasoned nurses are out to make their lives miserable and just dismissing them outright.
The bad experiences suffered by newer nurses do matter. To deny the existence of troublesome people in the workplace and say such things never happen and there should be no classes to address either side of the equation perpetuates the problems.
The reality is that a small but stubborn group of nurses continues to find ways to make the job painful for others, and newbies are especially vulnerable. The flip side of this reality is that most nurses aren't like this. Unfortunately, even among the nice nurses there are those who fear their own backsides will acquire bitemarks if they speak up to the bullies. But many of us can and do look out for the fledgling nurses and actually enjoy helping them to build their competence and confidence.
"The reality is that a small but stubborn group of nurses continues to find ways to make the job painful for others, and newbies are especially vulnerable. The flip side of this reality is that most nurses aren't like this. Unfortunately, even among the nice nurses there are those who fear their own backsides will acquire bitemarks if they speak up to the bullies. But many of us can and do look out for the fledgling nurses and actually enjoy helping them to build their competence and confidence." rn/writer
You are so right. :yelclap:
Before I became a nurse, I ran into some pretty cranky old nurses and my first thought was, "I never want to be one of them!". When I finally decided to become a nurse was when I saw how wonderful the nurses were when my best friend was dying of cancer four plus years ago and my statement changed to "I do want to be one of them". In some ways becoming a nurse was an eye opening experience, in most it was an enlightening and blessed experience. In every way it was the best choice I ever made.
However, if I were to enter nursing as my first career in the medical field I may have had a few experiences that may have eaten me alive, but coming from running 911 calls in cities such as Oakland, Vallejo, and Los Angeles California, I've developed tough skin and a certain assertiveness that a lot of new nurses don't have which. I was accepted to a law enforcement academy but chose to remain in the medical field. All this gave me an advantage over the average younger new nurses who were most likely, from what I have been reading, shell shocked at some of the treatment they received. We need to take the fledglings under our wings and help them fly for the good of ourselves and our field.
To all of you who may be shell shocked, you obviously have a sense of what is right and wrong. You need to fight through this for you have a realization and a certain sense that will make you a valuable asset in our field. Please hang in there, I know it is hard but you can do it!!
Maybe nothing could be further from your truth, but just because you haven't encountered problems in this area, that doesn't mean no one else has. Some of us have campaigned pretty heavily in favor of not letting isolated bad incidents become generalizations. But there's a big difference between asking people to keep an open mind to the thought that not all seasoned nurses are out to make their lives miserable and just dismissing them outright.
The bad experiences suffered by newer nurses do matter. To deny the existence of troublesome people in the workplace and say such things never happen and there should be no classes to address either side of the equation perpetuates the problems.
The reality is that a small but stubborn group of nurses continues to find ways to make the job painful for others, and newbies are especially vulnerable. The flip side of this reality is that most nurses aren't like this. Unfortunately, even among the nice nurses there are those who fear their own backsides will acquire bitemarks if they speak up to the bullies. But many of us can and do look out for the fledgling nurses and actually enjoy helping them to build their competence and confidence.[/QUO
[font="Arial Black" Forgive me, I didn't mean all nurses. Those that eat the young. Yes, I have suffered some bad experience from new nurses as well as seasoned nurses. There is a way you can speak to a new not so secure nurse.
Again, I think it has something to do with security. You said, unfortunately, ...there are those that fear their own backsides ... Fear, not safe, security .... insecurity. WE ARE NURSES. The only career / job that WE can go ANYWHERE to obtain a job, ANYWHERE. I pray that we join together one day.
:nono:
lauftrbstmedicine
7 Posts
I will NEVER EVER work in a HOSPITAL again...based on my experience with several RN there. Most were just mean-cold hearted, rude, maniluplative, general smart-asses who definitely ate there young. My learning experience in the hospital enviroment showed me there were over controlling RN's who only cared about themselves not the patient and resented LVN's being on their floor (or the newbies to the field) and while a student nurse I got the same impression (naively thought it was because we were students) but still jumped into a hostile hospital anyway to only realize that as a LVN (and patient to be) I never want to be in a hospital or a nurse at one...there is such a diverse field in nursing I decided to get out of that cruel enviroment and attempt to find a suitable enviroment where everyones goal is patient care and to help one another.