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 Vents, Telemetry, Home Care, Home infusion.
They eat there young. Yum, Yum, Yum. It is a bottomless pit of hunger.
Comments like this make my blood boil, joking or not.
Don't you see the negativity in this type of statement? It underscores the lack of value for each individual as a person....that one can be replaced at the drop of the hat. Taking that tactic further when one is a Manager leads to the revolving door mentality of lack of support for new grads and employees, no need to acknowledge/retain experienced staff therefore creating constant chaos + high turnover on a unit as no one to LEAD.
People can live with only so much stress in their daily lives before they decide to bail out. In turn loss of respect for nursing and desire abandon profession entirely is the sad outcome were seeing by the numerous posts at allnurses.
Comments like this make my blood boil, joking or not.
Don't you see the negativity in this type of statement? It underscores the lack of value for each individual as a person....that one can be replaced at the drop of the hat. Taking that tactic further when one is a Manager leads to the revolving door mentality of lack of support for new grads and employees, no need to acknowledge/retain experienced staff therefore creating constant chaos + high turnover on a unit as no one to LEAD.
People can live with only so much stress in their daily lives before they decide to bail out. In turn loss of respect for nursing and desire abandon profession entirely is the sad outcome were seeing by the numerous posts at allnurses.
WELL stated!! agree 100% It would be an honor to work along side YOU!!!
You know, today is the first time I have ever looked at this post.
I have never experienced this with the nurses I have learned from. They have been so encouraging over the last year. They have accepted me as a nurse, and for that I am grateful.
I'm sorry all new nurses don't share in the same experience I have had. It must be difficult to learn along side of nurses that are not willing to teach and encourage you.
So, in answer to the question: It must depend on where you are, your attitude, and the attitude of those around.
You post great information....I followed one of the links and stumbled across the ANA's nurses code of ethics. Section 1.5 is especially interesting. Thank you.
The thing about nursing, or the medical field in general, is that there is no much at stake. You need to be good at what you do and you need to learn your job quickly. Some patients don't have time to wait for you to make the same mistakes over & over again. I had several different preceptors-- some mellow, some hard-core. The hard-core preceptor cared about my success just as much as the mellow preceptors, but had a different style.
But therein lies the difference - I was volunteering for an arts organization where the head was a total dictator, didn't listen to anyone, and played by her own rules. It led me to read about "management styles." The point is that sure, the "hard-core" may very well care, and help you get the job done, but at what cost? People are neither loyal nor stay working for tyrants. The sooner this type disappears from nursing, the better. People on allnurses.com love to argue about this, and there is no denying that this type of co-worker, or worse, manager, is out there. I still maintain is doesn't have to be this way. Just because the job gets done, to my thinking, is irrelevant. Making other people miserable should not be tolerated. In our personal lives, maybe we can avoid this kind or person, though this is not true in the work place.
I rather not speak to you, obviously you did not read my post with understanding! do not email me!
I will not email you, but I will respond with a post, and I apologize if we are not understanding one another.
It was a tongue in cheek comment, not really to be taken seriously.
My point is when people say "nurses eat their young" or as you say "get your head out of the sand" I have to wonder if they mean "nurses is a profession where the old eat their young because I've been eaten, but of course I'm the exception but I still believe that nurses eat their young.
Believing we're a profesion that nurses eat their young is just like keeping our heads in the sand pretending problems are out there. We should rise up and solve our problems realizing that most of us out there are good people wanting to do the right thing.
WELL stated!! agree 100% It would be an honor to work along side YOU!!!
Hey, there's a lot of nurses like Karen out there. Which is my point, why judge the entire profession with the vile expression "Nurses eat their young"?
Not to say nursing is a tough demanding and dreadful experience for the new grad. Been there and done that myself and I haven't forgotten.
I had a moment of pride yesterday when I was talking to an instructor about an unexpected student she placed on my unit to do her precepting. Unfortunately I didn't think I could accommodate another student, but it worked out. She said "the students love your unit and there's a high demand of students wanting to work this unit." Next week a student did a clinical on my unit is coming to spend the day with me for his leadership class...his choice. Doesn't sound like "nurses eat their young" to me. :)
Hey, there's a lot of nurses like Karen out there. Which is my point, why judge the entire profession with the vile expression "Nurses eat their young"?
Not to say nursing is a tough demanding and dreadful experience for the new grad. Been there and done that myself and I haven't forgotten.
I had a moment of pride yesterday when I was talking to an instructor about an unexpected student she placed on my unit to do her precepting. Unfortunately I didn't think I could accommodate another student, but it worked out. She said "the students love your unit and there's a high demand of students wanting to work this unit." Next week a student did a clinical on my unit is coming to spend the day with me for his leadership class...his choice. Doesn't sound like "nurses eat their young" to me. :)
Tweety it is assumed that acts of a few bad nurses do not represent the entire profession....so why diminish another person's experience....even a single act is wrong. You are right it doesn't sound like the nurses on your unit "eat their young" but a segment of the profession does. So I will start using the phrase "SOME nurses eat their young" By changing the phrase you so revile the emphasis is placed on the perpetrators of bad behavior....the stigma should be attached to those who support and participate....truly the bad apples are out numbered by the good eggs.
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:typing
SKLTNKEY
15 Posts
I rather not speak to you, obviously you did not read my post with understanding! do not email me!