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 have never understood this. If you eat your young, then you need to find another profession - because you don't deserve to be called a nurse. So I challenge all experienced nurses out there to consider how they treat and 'train' new nurses.
It's one thing to teach our younger co-workers (and sometimes they are hard lessons) and it's a whole other thing to beat them down to the ground, berate, and humiliate them - it's like seeing the school yard bully all over again - and that is just plain WRONG.
I strongly suspect that people who practice this sort of behavior have other issues that they need to deal with ... but don't do it in front of me because I will not tolerate it.
So that's my second challenge to my fellow experienced nurses - when you see this sort of thing happening - step up and say or do something. By being quiet and passive we allowing this sort of behavior to continue.
From a new nurses point of veiw...nurses do eat their young. I am the youngest in my unit. I do not agree with almost everything that goes on there. I guess im from a different era or something-i do not interact in a clickish way with the others...they are 35+. What do I look like clinging with them?? Thats what makes me the target of their ridicule. I had a "made up" incident with a family member. I had to confront(positively) the family about it and they said they didnt make the "reported" comments. I told my manager about it and she investigated it. We went to the source and she claims she heard it from someone else. She's an older lady who wanted to start on the new person. I was set up my first week on that unit. I quickly nipped that in the bud. You dont want to set bad impressions for your self just starting out, anyway.
Ninanina -
I am sorry this has happened to you. But age has nothing to do with it. I am older then the nurses you mentioned and I don't do things like that.
It's just that certainly personalities tend to congregate together some units are worse then others - look to the person who does the hiring as this often sets the standard.
I worked in an ICU once - I only stayed about 6 months - I couldn't stomach the clickiness of the gals - who were my age. If you weren't into what they were into - then you were an outsider. I called them the Stepford Nurses.
My advice give it a bit more time and if it still continues then find a better place to work. As life is too short to put up with that sort of crap.
There are nurses who eat their young but the same nursing are back biting each other when they feel that they can get away with it. It makes for a long day. katie 91 I like the idea about the cake.
:pumpiron:there may be books and such to help you learn to cope with the newbie hungry experienced nurse, but in my recent experience, if you make it known upfront that you are obviously qualified for the position, as are they and you expect to be spoken to not spoken at...things go much smoother. in my situation, there has been only one rn for ten years, our office is expanding on the types of procedures they perform...so though she is moving up in our office...she also feels as though she is being replaced in a sense.....morale of the story, maybe we as newbies need to look at the other side of the coin.
Both the seasoned/experienced nurse have issues in the "eat their young saga". thanks for bringing this out. Nursing is not or has not become a profession where we feel safe sharing our fears and insecurities with each other, so the cat fight begins, guys it is a female issue and a predominately female profession so I am not disrespecting you male nurses but focusing on the dominant group. We nest in a protective stance, nursing represents nesting in a sense, when any "newness" is introduced we inspect, and accept or reject. Simple though not sensitive or inclusive. Those of us, young, newbie or otherwise have to meet the muster. We do so by standing firm, confronting, not running from the cat fights. This is how we change the paradigm. nanacarol
I totally agree, and in the situations I have seen.... the male nurses are more than willing to help teach...almost as though they are taking advantage of having more knowledge....JUST KIDDING!!!!!!..... I do feel that male nurses are more secure with their positions, maybe they are built differently.....lol...I had the privelage of working with a male RN in the process of obtaining his CRRN degree, and he was the most respectful nurse I had the pleasure of working with. Honestly, I learned more from him in three days than I learned from some females in three months.
When a new staff arrive on your unit you are the one to let them now what is expecting of them and if you respect your self they he or she will respect you .The bottom line is our goal is offer optinum nursing care using our professional knowledge and skills.
Age has nothing to do with it ,and even though we need to respect elders.
No one definitely don,t want to down grade their self or the role of the nursing profession.
I can,t recall ever being disrespectful by a junior colleague while on the job.
WOW.... PLEASE pull your heads out of the sand... you may not "eat" your young; however, some of you indulge in an occasional snack. As a 42 yr old 2nd semester nursing student, I have personally witnessed several instances of rude and unprofessional behavior in three different facilities. Students endure the rolling eyes, whispered report, and public criticism just to name a few. My program employs seasoned clinical instructors who supervise our every move, the RN's on the unit are relieved from the burden of "shadowing" us, we [students] provide 90% of pt. care and are held 100% accountable. I am a student Nurse and I deserve the same professional consideration as any other team member. Enough is enough move to the light people!
......... Enough is enough move to the light people!
:angryfire
I actually can't think of a time I've ever been mean or disrespectful to students or anyone else on our unit. But honestly, if someone came in with the attitude that was portrayed in this post ..... I can't imagine I'd be bending over backwards to help them out.
RainDreamer, BSN, RN
3,571 Posts
I'm a nurse and I don't eat my young OR my co-workers.