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.
Having just been off work for several weeks because of illness, I have found what a great place I work for and how everybody has shown me kindness. I was contemplating moving but I think I recognise that I have a lot more to achieve where I work.
Madwife:
you love your co-workers? That's golden! My husband works with a group that has holiday parties, truly likes and enjoys each other's company, and the atmosphere is wonderful. What could be better?
I don't know how anyone can think we don't eat our young. We are terrible to new nurses a lot of the time. Then we wonder why they leave our hospital within a year.
I think the tastiest delicacy for nurses is a non assertive nurse..yum yum.. I have been such a delicacy to a few nurses. You see I have ben non assertive for most of my nursing career. Its human, or "human" nature to abuse ones position of power over someone else. If an Rn, can get away with not helping an LVN even when help is warranted....some will. I worked with one Rn..her idea of a good time, was to study her law books while the rest of us struggle on a busy day. I had to complain about her when we had an emergency, and I could not locate her. Some nurses, have no buisness being nurses, but unfortunately sometimes its the least compassionate nurses that end up in a postiion of power. But thanks to the great Rns that have been quite the opposite. Ohh, its not just nurses that "eat their young" other health workers, have discovered the delicacy too.
I think the tastiest delicacy for nurses is a non assertive nurse..yum yum.. I have been such a delicacy to a few nurses. You see I have ben non assertive for most of my nursing career. Its human, or "human" nature to abuse ones position of power over someone else. If an Rn, can get away with not helping an LVN even when help is warranted....some will. I worked with one Rn..her idea of a good time, was to study her law books while the rest of us struggle on a busy day. I had to complain about her when we had an emergency, and I could not locate her. Some nurses, have no buisness being nurses, but unfortunately sometimes its the least compassionate nurses that end up in a postiion of power. But thanks to the great Rns that have been quite the opposite. Ohh, its not just nurses that "eat their young" other health workers, have discovered the delicacy too.
Hi ya,
delicious, yes! guess it happens in medical school too - my GP told me the first day of class, his anatomy prof came in with a big bag of tomatoes - he starts banging it on the counter, saying "see this?...this is what I'm going to do to your balls in this class." Does this stuff actually HELP eager young learners? One of my nursing profs told the old joke, "what's the diff between a nursing student and a pile of poop? Answer: People go out of their way to NOT step on the pile. Sick. Every person's psychology is different. Some will become bullies, too, and some of us swear we will never be this way.
I think that this does happen many other places. At my spouse's work, it happens there too. There are lots of bullies and backstabbers and worse, the company encourages it in many cases by promoting these types of people.
linzz - I really loathe this stuff - why don't some people just shut up and EVOLVE??? With a few exceptions, like lions who eat the cubs sired by other lions, we are the only species that eats eat other with regularity. Everybody loving, or at least tolerating and respecting each other may be a tall order, but the human race isn't going to survive unless this happens.
Specializes in Oncology, OR, Surgical, Orthopedics.
In 2 years of nursing, I have "quit" 3 times. All 3 times after being "eaten." I took 4 months off after the last time. I would really like to encourage all the "older" nurses out there to watch what they are saying to those new nurse. I remember times when the other nurses kept saying, "... but you missed that." No one is perfect, esp. not me, but please step in and help out those new nurses out, and tell them about it later, alone. Also remember that those new nurses are having alot of new information given to them (we all know that there is a big difference between school and real life). Unless you are telling them somthing for the 100th time that day, it's ok to ask questions out loud, that is part of learning!
but please step in and help out those new nurses out, and tell them about it later, alone. Also remember that those new nurses are having alot of new information given to them (we all know that there is a big difference between school and real life). Unless you are telling them somthing for the 100th time that day, it's ok to ask questions out loud, that is part of learning!
I agree that it's important not to confront the newer nurses in front of a lot of people ..... I've had that happen to me and it was AWFUL. I had a preceptor (at the first place I worked at) that got kicks out of saying things, either directly to me, or indirectly .... but in front of her co-worker friends, and they would chuckle about it. Yeah it made me feel like crap and that's not how it should be handled, at all. No one deserves that.
But then I moved on, to a new hospital, and got a great preceptor. However, she didn't always "step in and help out". I actually ended up making a few mistakes, which she was well aware of while it was happening (like the time I forgot a few PO meds .... things like vitamins, that weren't going to harm the patient, etc). Needless to say, after that .... I always checked my med orders at the very beginning of the shift, and I never made that mistake again.
There are times when the preceptor needs to step in and help out, but there also needs to be a bit of slack left out there for you to make your own mistakes. My preceptor never left me in unsafe situations, but she knew that by me making the mistakes myself, I would learn from it a lot better than if she was right there holding my hand and doing everything for me.
In 2 years of nursing, I have "quit" 3 times. All 3 times after being "eaten." I took 4 months off after the last time. I would really like to encourage all the "older" nurses out there to watch what they are saying to those new nurse. I remember times when the other nurses kept saying, "... but you missed that." No one is perfect, esp. not me, but please step in and help out those new nurses out, and tell them about it later, alone. Also remember that those new nurses are having alot of new information given to them (we all know that there is a big difference between school and real life). Unless you are telling them somthing for the 100th time that day, it's ok to ask questions out loud, that is part of learning!
This is what kills me - in nursing school, there is absolutely NO training in social skills - none at all. Wouldn't you think that a profession that is so "up close and personal" as nursing would require this? Not all of us learned certain things from our parents such as "You can catch more flies with honey than vinegar." The reason that the mean and petty stuff is allowed to continue is that the managers tend to be the worst offenders. Most of my nursing school instructors were from hell, no matter what Tweety says!
Most of my nursing school instructors were from hell, no matter what Tweety says!
Diahni
Why would I contradict your experience. You were there, I wasn't.
Now if you said something like "all nurses instructors are from hell and eat their young", then I'd jump down your throat. LOL
Interesting you had no training in social skills. We had lessons in "therapeautic communication" and assertiveness training. We were even videotaped and played back and critiqued. God I hated that part with a passion. It was quite a learning experience.
Seriously though, most of us are adults by the time we reach nursing school and social skills are basically intact by then.
Seriously though, most of us are adults by the time we reach nursing school and social skills are basically intact by then.
No kidding. And if you don't have basic social skills and you don't treat people how you want to be treated, but rather in a mean way, then you're probably used to being treated like crap.
Well personally having been on both sides of the fence. A cocky-dangerous student nurse who thinks they know it all and are gung-ho about showing it deserves to be eaten alive. Better eat them before they kill your patient.
However, most students are just out to learn (not show how much they THINK they know) and it's been my experience that most nurses do-not eat their young and most seem to be very supportive. Especially a preceptor, because the success of the novice nurse reflects the ability of the preceptor to mold them
Not every nurse eats their young but in every department in every hospital you will find at least a small group (and in some cases a large group) that does. If no one in your department is calling it out, its probably happening a lot.
Have you seen in staff meetings or small groups, nurses being critical of a new hire? Few are quick to stand up for new people but most have no problem believing the negative, even if they have no personal reason. It is very easy to critisize a new person, especially a new grad. Of course they are going to be slower than the experienced staff. Of course they don't know everything. A nurse with a low self-esteem can quickly and easily boost their own ego by comparing themselves to a new person but they have to point it out to everyone else or it does their ego no good. This is why I think some nurses eat their young.
Diahni
627 Posts
Madwife:
you love your co-workers? That's golden! My husband works with a group that has holiday parties, truly likes and enjoys each other's company, and the atmosphere is wonderful. What could be better?
diahni