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 am a student nurse and am graduating in May 08. I have come across great nurses that are helpful, patient and supportive, some who are indiffrent and some who are cruel and unsupportive--I just try to build and model my skills and professional demeanor from the supportive nurses. I have found that the nurses who are supportive and patient are superior in every way, to the cranky and cruel nurses who eat students for lunch. I like nursing and am glad I chose to go into the profession--it is not easy by any means--but nothing really worth doing is ever easy.
yep, not all of them. The ones I met that do seem to do so because they are jealous and insecure that they may loose their position or may be shown up. That's been my experience. They may be afraid that the new nurses that are coming in are full of energy with a good attitude, not burned out and are willing and ready to go. They are burned out, lots are overweight, some smoke and just don't want you to succeed. They have become complacent. It is a shame and then they wonder why there is not a good team. They are the people who are responsible for showing us the way.
To be fair, some newer nurses don't want to be shown the way. Some new nurses do think they know it all. Not always. Some nurses are willing to learn, be led and are full of energy with a great attitude. I was one of them. I felt my growth was stunted back then. I had to move to another unit because my charge nurse was so rude and did not want to show me anything. She just wanted to condemn me and tell me how I "should know" this or that already. I am now so much more empowered and knowledgable without her. I learned a lot, but it wasn't by her telling me. It was by my watching some of the things she did. I didn't want to be like her at all.
I have always disliked this particular saying because of the generalization. I found the thread fascinating, though, because I was at the receiving end of less-than-enthusiastic older nurses as a new grad; nurses who responded to questions or requests for help with abrupt, angry-toned responses or who even went so far as to comment that perhaps I'd be more comfortable working in a nursing home. The hospital was about 2 miles from a BSN college; many of my co-workers were graduates from that college, while I was a fresh ADN from another state. It was discouraging at best. At the end of my first year, I left that hospital, feeling like a TERRIBLE nurse, and wondering if my dream from childhood of being a nurse was just a pipe dream. But I took another chance; hired into a smaller hospital, and found my first of many mentors: dedicated to teaching the "new" nurse; responsive to questions and willing to provide information on CEU opportunities; took the extra time to provide possible scenerios for me to work through before the situation(s) arose. That was over 1/4 century ago, and I am, to this day, grateful she was part of my early nursing life. I work hard at passing her gift on to newer nurses, or to nurses who are new to my own specialty (psych nursing). I do NOT always succeed because I am human, and occasionally have the day when I am too tired, too hungry, too stressed. I try to remain aware of my own interactions, and apologize for abruptness when it occurs.
Arizonarm, et al:
Perhaps the REAL question, underneath the hackneyed slogan of nurses eating their young is this: Can the work environment be improved so that it doesn't make people grouchy, impatient and all around not too fun to be around What could be done? (as if we don't know!) Nobody wants to be around somebody who is tired, irritable and humorless. Just think of what a joy it is to work with people you are looking forward to seeing everyday. Am I being a Polyanna? Yes, it's a stressful profession, yet it's not the only one like this.
"lots are overweight, some smoke" What does this have to do with anything, as far as eating young?? I am overweight, I am older, I smoke... but I am supportive and caring to students and new nurses that come to our unit... and I try not to be too judgmental even if the new ones smoke, or are overweight, or funny-looking bite their nails, have bad hair etc... there will always be grumpy people around, and they would be grumpy whatever their job is...but don't condemn on the grounds of not being a perfect size or having a habit that you don't approve of... It's good that you found a place you can be happy in...
No one thinks they do (eat their young), but every shift I come home wondering if I shoud look for a different position. I'm an older, re-entry RN. I've had my own (succcessful) business for 20 years, my daughter is grown, I've traveled. I came back to nursing because I knew that my compassion and life experience would be welcome by patients, and I wanted to make a contribution. I started on a med-surg unit, with a very supportive group of experienced RNs. I learned the new technology and drugs quickly (I got no special training program for new grads or re-entry.) I was oriented for 3 weeks and dived in. All was well. After two years, I transfered to ICU. I'm finding cliques like in high school, gossip, put-downs and one-upmanship. I have a lot to offer, and I am a proven quick learner, yet I have been told I'm a slow learner but not to feel bad because its just my age--don't take it personally. It never occurs to them to look at their teaching skills or personal dynamics. I have started on the night shift, and I am awake, alert, and not taking a nap mid shift as they do. I'm rethinking this position even though it's where I wanted to be just because of the reception I'm getting. The men nurses don't show this caddiness. Not all, but many women nurses really need to reflect on their hyper-critical, know it all attitude.
No one thinks they do (eat their young), but every shift I come home wondering if I shoud look for a different position. I'm an older, re-entry RN. I've had my own (succcessful) business for 20 years, my daughter is grown, I've traveled. I came back to nursing because I knew that my compassion and life experience would be welcome by patients, and I wanted to make a contribution. I started on a med-surg unit, with a very supportive group of experienced RNs. I learned the new technology and drugs quickly (I got no special training program for new grads or re-entry.) I was oriented for 3 weeks and dived in. All was well. After two years, I transfered to ICU. I'm finding cliques like in high school, gossip, put-downs and one-upmanship. I have a lot to offer, and I am a proven quick learner, yet I have been told I'm a slow learner but not to feel bad because its just my age--don't take it personally. It never occurs to them to look at their teaching skills or personal dynamics. I have started on the night shift, and I am awake, alert, and not taking a nap mid shift as they do. I'm rethinking this position even though it's where I wanted to be just because of the reception I'm getting. The men nurses don't show this caddiness. Not all, but many women nurses really need to reflect on their hyper-critical, know it all attitude.
Since the first two years went well, and you're realizing that perhaps it's a unit culture thing in this new unit, I appreciate that you're not generalizing and demeaning the entire profession by saying "nurses eat their young, nurses are catty gossips with hypercritical know it all attitudes".
Specializes in LTC,Hospice/palliative care,acute care.
Remember that we all have a duty to be advocates for our patients-if we see a co-worker taking an action that we feel is unsafe or detrimental to a patient we are bound to stop them and report it (so I was told recently by my administration-the few experienced nurses remaining in our facility were all told this) Would many call that "eating our young"? I'm sure of it..and the don gave us the recipe...
I dont think they meant the reporting of unsafe acts by other nurses as "Eating thier young" I think what was meant was the unsupportive, ambivalent and somtimes outright nasty attitudes that some experianced nurses have toward the new nurses entering the field.
I agree that the more experienced nurses should be patient advocates and inform the newer nurses when something isn't being done correctly. It's all in the manner in which they do it though. Attitude and tact mean everything when dealing with those situations and can determine if the newer nurse feels they're being eaten.
No one thinks they do (eat their young), but every shift I come home wondering if I shoud look for a different position. I'm an older, re-entry RN. I've had my own (succcessful) business for 20 years, my daughter is grown, I've traveled. I came back to nursing because I knew that my compassion and life experience would be welcome by patients, and I wanted to make a contribution. I started on a med-surg unit, with a very supportive group of experienced RNs. I learned the new technology and drugs quickly (I got no special training program for new grads or re-entry.) I was oriented for 3 weeks and dived in. All was well. After two years, I transfered to ICU. I'm finding cliques like in high school, gossip, put-downs and one-upmanship. I have a lot to offer, and I am a proven quick learner, yet I have been told I'm a slow learner but not to feel bad because its just my age--don't take it personally. It never occurs to them to look at their teaching skills or personal dynamics. I have started on the night shift, and I am awake, alert, and not taking a nap mid shift as they do. I'm rethinking this position even though it's where I wanted to be just because of the reception I'm getting. The men nurses don't show this caddiness. Not all, but many women nurses really need to reflect on their hyper-critical, know it all attitude.
Nobsrn: The only thing I'm surprised about is this didn't happen to you earlier! It's my experience that the more of a previous life you had before, i.e. varying careers, etc., the more you're going to be a target. I have several "theories" as to why this is, pm me if you like, but trust me, it ain't you! One would think that such a busy career as nursing would preclude all the things you mention, but apparently it doesn't. One could "deconstruct" every behavior you mentioned. Know it alls are afraid they don't know it all, and gossip is for the intellectually challenged. The only solution to a toxic work environment is to look elsewhere, and God willing, you'll find a place with lovely people to work with. I have a friend (not in nursing) who left a job she loved because of the kinds of thing you mentioned. The choice is clear, I think.
Cartman1532
14 Posts
I am a student nurse and am graduating in May 08. I have come across great nurses that are helpful, patient and supportive, some who are indiffrent and some who are cruel and unsupportive--I just try to build and model my skills and professional demeanor from the supportive nurses. I have found that the nurses who are supportive and patient are superior in every way, to the cranky and cruel nurses who eat students for lunch. I like nursing and am glad I chose to go into the profession--it is not easy by any means--but nothing really worth doing is ever easy.