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 med/surg;ortho/HD/OB;NICU/Hospice/ER.
You're lucky to be out of that military environment. That is a vicious place to be if one is a civilian.
You might want to give it one more try, in a civilian hospital, you might
find that things are as different as night and day.
Aren't ICUs known for being cliquish? Maybe try working on a floor, surgical, gyn, whatever.
Good luck in whatever you do.
WOW yes, I have experienced that. Jerking the supplies from your hand and saying you are too slow is an attempt to make them look good. I bet you figured that out. Yes, corporate area does have their wolves too. But not all sleep at night either!! But with your experience in nursing will definately prepared you for your new job! I would have quit too but years ago they did not have the jobs available for nurses in corporate America. Good Luck!!!
Hi, I am sorry for anyone's experience with experienced nursed treating their co-workers like dirt. But it happens. I had a horrible experience with nurses int he hospital I worked at as a CNA while going ot nursing school(>21yrs ago). Actually I was doing my clinicals that day and had some horrible feedback from the charge nurse. Prior to the feed back reaching me & instructor, I accompanied her to a room while she gave medications via a central line. She did not use a sterile type technique and I told my instructor about it, I had also asked her about the technique. All in all ,bottom line is, her feed back was negative and I could have gotten kicked out of nursing school for it if the instructor believed what was said. Thank goodness that did not happen. Now today I see it alot in my work almost everyday. It is less in some hospitals. But people have their own way of getting around things and being passive aggressive in their actions. They find all kinds of ways to undermine you and your work. This is they type of thing we need to stop! People that do this type of behvaior are just insecure and very very unhappy in their personal lives.
I agree -- backstabbing cut throat type behavior happens all the time in every type of work. I guess the bottom line is we have to be secure enough in our own capabilities that we let this behavior roll off our backs. That's really hard to do at times when it's so hurtful and causes job loss, etc. . . . especially if you are the type of person who is a little sensitive. And, yes, I do think these type of people are insecure and unhappy because they couldn't possibly get joy out of it otherwise. I blame a lot of this type of behavior on management for allowing it to continue. God willing, I won't have these experiences and if I do I will know how to tactfully handle them. Happy Days to you! :)
WOW yes, I have experienced that. Jerking the supplies from your hand and saying you are too slow is an attempt to make them look good. I bet you figured that out. Yes, corporate area does have their wolves too. But not all sleep at night either!! But with your experience in nursing will definately prepared you for your new job! I would have quit too but years ago they did not have the jobs available for nurses in corporate America. Good Luck!!!
Hey, I remember this one! I went to such a disorganized nursing school that there was never a time and place to really learn basic stuff - for the most part, we gave the cnas a break, and if we were lucky, got to work with a nurse who didn't mind actually explaining a thing or two. Well, I worked with a male nurse (yes, they can be jerks, too!) who threw an iv set at me. I didn't want to admit I hadn't yet assembled one from scratch, but I didn't even have time to say this. He grabbed it from me in such a hostile way that I wondered if I wanted to work in such a creepy and infantile environment. Nobody says you have to have a high "EQ" to go to nursing school, never mind teach at one. My general impression is the less one knows about the world, the bigger the deal one makes about the things one does know.
In my "grabby" story, was that supposed to make him look good, or me bad? Dunno!
I think they definitely eat their young. I just had my first job as an RN and worked for three months, almost making it to the four month mark off probation, but the charge nurse didn't like me so even though I got a satisfactory evaluation on a Monday, the following Thursday my manager told me I didn't meet her "standards". It is infuriating that this happened and it was my introduction to nursing as a profession. I am a young nurse starting out and the older generations are not accepting of younger people.
I think they definitely eat their young. I just had my first job as an RN and worked for three months, almost making it to the four month mark off probation, but the charge nurse didn't like me so even though I got a satisfactory evaluation on a Monday, the following Thursday my manager told me I didn't meet her "standards". It is infuriating that this happened and it was my introduction to nursing as a profession. I am a young nurse starting out and the older generations are not accepting of younger people.
Mvs - sorry about your experience, but get back on that horsey and SHOW THOSE OLDIES what youngins' are made of!!! :trout:
I think they definitely eat their young. I just had my first job as an RN and worked for three months, almost making it to the four month mark off probation, but the charge nurse didn't like me so even though I got a satisfactory evaluation on a Monday, the following Thursday my manager told me I didn't meet her "standards". It is infuriating that this happened and it was my introduction to nursing as a profession. I am a young nurse starting out and the older generations are not accepting of younger people.
mvs211,
I feel your pain! Just a thought - there may be a few out there who are bitter about having to work - after all, nursing as a female ghetto predates the time when the larger share of women began to be out in the world of work. But whatever the reason, beating up on people who are just learning is disgusting. My fave rant is getting written up as a student after working with a new clinical teacher for one day. In the list of "crimes" was using a bedpan to empty a foley bag, because the requisite vessel was nowhere to be found. It was several pages of microcriticisms in almost humorous language, such as "she TOTALLY missed the most important nursing diagnosis for the patient." The tone was not unlike what you'd expect of some junior high schooler finding fault with some new kid at school. Well, knowing I had taken just about enough of it, I had fun writing a rebuttal to her ridiculous witch burning. I still laugh about it, but it was very annoying at the time, and I ended us switching to an online program. The school I went to was a real worst-case-scenario for women like this. As I said before, I know exactly what you mean, and rest assured, somebody needs to work on themselves and it ain't you!
absolutely!!! I do not understand it. I am new but not young. All I can say is "shame on you" to those who do it. Also please realize that in the long run YOU LOSE, as you are alienating someone who will undoubtably be able to lighten your load in the future but may recall your treatment of her and decide to help someone who was there for her when she needed it!
YES!!! as a nursing student every hospital placement I've had has been constant ridiculous drama because the nurses are unhappy with us there, they hate teaching us, hate our mere presence and complain about it constantly
Don't know why I thought of this, but I just saw a Discovery Channel show about the social dynamics of our hominid ancestors. To be accepted by the group, a male has to find the new female to be a ape-babe. The females were far more complicated about whether or not a new female is to be accepted. A new male caveman was evaluated on how clever and generous he is to the tribe by both the males and females. More than a few times, I have felt that being criticized and ignored vs. supported and included has precious little to do with how well I'm performing my "skills" in the hospital. And everything to do with fitting in the group. Sort of like junior high school.
Don't know why I thought of this, but I just saw a Discovery Channel show about the social dynamics of our hominid ancestors. To be accepted by the group, a male has to find the new female to be a ape-babe. The females were far more complicated about whether or not a new female is to be accepted. A new male caveman was evaluated on how clever and generous he is to the tribe by both the males and females. More than a few times, I have felt that being criticized and ignored vs. supported and included has precious little to do with how well I'm performing my "skills" in the hospital. And everything to do with fitting in the group. Sort of like junior high school.
Diahni
From apes, to cavemen, to junior high schoolers. Your doing Darwin proud.
currentlytx
31 Posts
WOW yes, I have experienced that. Jerking the supplies from your hand and saying you are too slow is an attempt to make them look good. I bet you figured that out. Yes, corporate area does have their wolves too. But not all sleep at night either!! But with your experience in nursing will definately prepared you for your new job! I would have quit too but years ago they did not have the jobs available for nurses in corporate America. Good Luck!!!