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.
As a relatively new nurse....just over a year experience and VERY new to the field of L&D nursing....Let me just say...I have finally come to understand what the term "Nurses eat their young" mean. It became crystal clear to me 3 days ago. Fortunately, I was not the "young" they were eating!! They seem to be eating each other. And all of them good friends!!! What I finally came to realize was that things were very busy, very hectic, and babies were popping out like popcorn. The unfortunate travel nurse who could not hang with the schedule got eaten alive. Right there in front of me. I stayed out of the way until things settled down and just did what was asked of me or found the pleasant RN Applicant to help me if I did not know how to do a task. It was SCARY for several hours. My old instructor was there with students (who were also staying out of the way). I talked to her for a while and she made me feel better. By the way, she was one of the toughest instructors and would chew you up and spit you out without thinking. I believe that older nurses want new nurses who will not buckle under pressure and pressure occurs everyday. They are tough to weed out the ones who are not genuine about nursing. They have no time for wannabees. I respect this...I have learned alot in a short period of time because I had to and they have thanked me for being a help to them and because sitting in the break room with them is not scary. They are quite human and likable. I think the eating of the young comes from "survival of the fittest" much like in nature. Only the strong survive and only the strong need to survive to ensure the integrity of the nursing field. Some of the weak minded are working and patient care suffers because of it. Maybe, I have just looked at this the wrong way....but I think the older nurses have something for the newbies to learn. I am taking it for what it is worth....Not getting eaten...hehehe
From your description I didnt see anyone showing any compassion to this travel nurse and someone having compassion.....I sure dont want to be a patient where you work. I have worked with "survival of the fittest" nurses. One got fired for sleeping on the job, the other one quit....I think somebody upstairs must like me...good riddance I said to myself.. One of the "FIT" nurses made a new Rn supervisor cry....to some crying is a sign of weakness.."UNFIT "nurse.".to some. She had come to a busy unit to help and and Lvn who was swamped with work. The Darwinian nurse..(survival of the fittest Nurse) chased her out of the Unit...."what are you doing in my station"? She yelled with an angry voice. Of course the darwinian nurse thought it was cute to just sit on her butt when an LVN needed help..she didnt want that disturbed. The good news..the "unfit" compassionate, nurse that cried tears and tried to help.. is still a nurse and still a supervisor. Last I heard the Darwinia-survival-of-fittest-Nurse was working at a prison. I was hoping she put in for prison warden or executioner.
I have worked for a registry, and at some facilities, the regular staff, dont want to help...it doesnt matter if they know the facility backwards and forwards, they act like since registry makes more money than they do, they dont deserve help. Yes..some just let you sink or swim...no thought for what may happen to the patient.
I am a new RN and I have not encountered this AT ALL. Everyone on my floor is amazing and supportive. I love it.
My guess if you work at a hospital where they have adaquate staffing, great orientation for new nurses. and Nurses that offer to help you if you should need help..just a guess. Most important a great DON
I believe it is due to the fact that most nurses are still mainly women. As we all know women are very catty and bring a lot of DRAMA into the workplace. I am not saying that men don't behave this way, just that for the most part men do not act in this manner. Thank God more and more men are becoming nurses!
I believe it is due to the fact that most nurses are still mainly women. As we all know women are very catty and bring a lot of DRAMA into the workplace. I am not saying that men don't behave this way, just that for the most part men do not act in this manner. Thank God more and more men are becoming nurses!
I believe it is due to the fact that most nurses are still mainly women. As we all know women are very catty and bring a lot of DRAMA into the workplace. I am not saying that men don't behave this way, just that for the most part men do not act in this manner. Thank God more and more men are becoming nurses!
All i can say to that is MEOW.. Actually I think cattines., think some cats may take offense to that. But i wonder if its not more a symptom of insecurity, which crosses all gender lines.
Specializes in Women's Specialty, Post-Part, Scrub(cs).
From your description I didnt see anyone showing any compassion to this travel nurse and someone having compassion.....I sure dont want to be a patient where you work. I have worked with "survival of the fittest" nurses. One got fired for sleeping on the job, the other one quit....I think somebody upstairs must like me...good riddance I said to myself.. One of the "FIT" nurses made a new Rn supervisor cry....to some crying is a sign of weakness.."UNFIT "nurse.".to some. She had come to a busy unit to help and and Lvn who was swamped with work. The Darwinian nurse..(survival of the fittest Nurse) chased her out of the Unit...."what are you doing in my station"? She yelled with an angry voice. Of course the darwinian nurse thought it was cute to just sit on her butt when an LVN needed help..she didnt want that disturbed. The good news..the "unfit" compassionate, nurse that cried tears and tried to help.. is still a nurse and still a supervisor. Last I heard the Darwinia-survival-of-fittest-Nurse was working at a prison. I was hoping she put in for prison warden or executioner.
I have worked for a registry, and at some facilities, the regular staff, dont want to help...it doesnt matter if they know the facility backwards and forwards, they act like since registry makes more money than they do, they dont deserve help. Yes..some just let you sink or swim...no thought for what may happen to the patient.
I can totally see your point of view. And perhaps you might of misunderstood mine a little. For one: Our birth center is top ranked and growing. 90% of the area I live in WANTS to have their babies with us. That makes us very popular and very short staffed. The patients are not treated badly.The point I was trying to make was that what appeared at first glance to be "nurses eating their young" was really that fact that they were busy, short on help, time, and patience. They just didn't have the time to "teach" while going at that extreme pace. I personnally have not had a truly "mean" nurse in my direct line. I have seen some during my clinicals, I would not apply at that hospital at all. I have to say I agree with you about the laziness in some nurses. I would not want to be their patient or co-worker. I personally do not feel that crying is a weakness. I cry everytime I lose a resident or feel that I could have done something better. That is just me. Crying is something that makes us human, as a pysch nurse...I am sure you would agree. The survival of the fittest I refer to is to weed out the lazy, the ones who will not help others, the ones who ignore patients. From your description, I would say the "Unfit" nurse you describe was the "FIT" nurse and the "Darwin" nurse was the one who was weeded out. And I say good for the one who is now a supervisor. She didn't get eaten and now the mean one is probably just where she belongs. I am not familiar with registry...is that like "agency or travel" nursing? If it is...yea, in my short time I have seen some who will let temp do all the work. (I worked at a LTC that used agency) I find that unfair. The facility that I am at now, offers a bonus system for regular employess who want to pick up extra shifts...it puts their pay equal to that of an agency person. If they don't want to pick up, well they should not fault the agency. They have no training in the facility, have to look for everything and learn everything very fast. We have several travelers working with us right now and I am one of 5 orientees. The traveler I spoke of was the only one to get "eaten" Without disclosing the details....she has a bad attitude, often leaves work that most be picked up by the regular staff or other travelers. She has a very condescending attitude toward the patients. As if having a baby while she is on duty is a personal affront to her. She has gotten a little better since it was put to her that she is expected to carry her weight while under contract to our facility. The other travelers are awesome people and bring a lot to the table. I have heard this said by some of our toughest members. So...If I did offend you...that was not the intention. I think I was letting off some of my own insecurities of being new and seeing the pace I have got to achieve. The nurses where I am are intense and scary at times. It is because they are GOOD NURSES...they do not fail the patients and when things slow down...they do not fail those of us who are serious about learning. I think the term "eating their young" can be taken in different ways. My view on it makes it to where I can stay is a tough demanding environment, learn and grow from it, and not absolutely hate the people I work with. I try to stand in their shoes before I run for the door. Just my point of view and how I handle my own experiences.
I can totally see your point of view. And perhaps you might of misunderstood mine a little. For one: Our birth center is top ranked and growing. 90% of the area I live in WANTS to have their babies with us. That makes us very popular and very short staffed. The patients are not treated badly.The point I was trying to make was that what appeared at first glance to be "nurses eating their young" was really that fact that they were busy, short on help, time, and patience. They just didn't have the time to "teach" while going at that extreme pace. I personnally have not had a truly "mean" nurse in my direct line. I have seen some during my clinicals, I would not apply at that hospital at all. I have to say I agree with you about the laziness in some nurses. I would not want to be their patient or co-worker. I personally do not feel that crying is a weakness. I cry everytime I lose a resident or feel that I could have done something better. That is just me. Crying is something that makes us human, as a pysch nurse...I am sure you would agree. The survival of the fittest I refer to is to weed out the lazy, the ones who will not help others, the ones who ignore patients. From your description, I would say the "Unfit" nurse you describe was the "FIT" nurse and the "Darwin" nurse was the one who was weeded out. And I say good for the one who is now a supervisor. She didn't get eaten and now the mean one is probably just where she belongs. I am not familiar with registry...is that like "agency or travel" nursing? If it is...yea, in my short time I have seen some who will let temp do all the work. (I worked at a LTC that used agency) I find that unfair. The facility that I am at now, offers a bonus system for regular employess who want to pick up extra shifts...it puts their pay equal to that of an agency person. If they don't want to pick up, well they should not fault the agency. They have no training in the facility, have to look for everything and learn everything very fast. We have several travelers working with us right now and I am one of 5 orientees. The traveler I spoke of was the only one to get "eaten" Without disclosing the details....she has a bad attitude, often leaves work that most be picked up by the regular staff or other travelers. She has a very condescending attitude toward the patients. As if having a baby while she is on duty is a personal affront to her. She has gotten a little better since it was put to her that she is expected to carry her weight while under contract to our facility. The other travelers are awesome people and bring a lot to the table. I have heard this said by some of our toughest members. So...If I did offend you...that was not the intention. I think I was letting off some of my own insecurities of being new and seeing the pace I have got to achieve. The nurses where I am are intense and scary at times. It is because they are GOOD NURSES...they do not fail the patients and when things slow down...they do not fail those of us who are serious about learning. I think the term "eating their young" can be taken in different ways. My view on it makes it to where I can stay is a tough demanding environment, learn and grow from it, and not absolutely hate the people I work with. I try to stand in their shoes before I run for the door. Just my point of view and how I handle my own experiences.
Thanks..I smiled when you took the time to explain. Funny how one can misunderstand what someome is saying. I had a hard time controlling my sarcasm and anger at you, it must have shown right through. I really was going to ask you what you were doing in nursing, but now am glad you are.
Specializes in Women's Specialty, Post-Part, Scrub(cs).
Thanks. I was a little taken aback by your post...and yes the tears came to my eyes even though I have never even met you. I probably did not make a very good post the first go around. I started my new job at 40 intense hours a week and have been learning to scrub for c-sections this week. I, also, have been doing PRN at my old job. (LTC) because if I didn't they would be short of help and my maw-maw's and paw-paws would be the ones who suffer for it. I have been averaging about 70 hours a week. I was VERY tired when I was typing. I appreciate that you said you were glad that I am in nursing. I truly love what I do and can't see myself doing anything else. Misunderstandings happen, it is how we handle them that makes a diffenrence in their outcomes. Thanks...tears are all dried up now.
Thanks. I was a little taken aback by your post...and yes the tears came to my eyes even though I have never even met you. I probably did not make a very good post the first go around. I started my new job at 40 intense hours a week and have been learning to scrub for c-sections this week. I, also, have been doing PRN at my old job. (LTC) because if I didn't they would be short of help and my maw-maw's and paw-paws would be the ones who suffer for it. I have been averaging about 70 hours a week. I was VERY tired when I was typing. I appreciate that you said you were glad that I am in nursing. I truly love what I do and can't see myself doing anything else. Misunderstandings happen, it is how we handle them that makes a diffenrence in their outcomes. Thanks...tears are all dried up now.
I am very sensitive myself..I was fighting back tears of joy when you explained.
psychnurse1998
158 Posts
From your description I didnt see anyone showing any compassion to this travel nurse and someone having compassion.....I sure dont want to be a patient where you work. I have worked with "survival of the fittest" nurses. One got fired for sleeping on the job, the other one quit....I think somebody upstairs must like me...good riddance I said to myself.. One of the "FIT" nurses made a new Rn supervisor cry....to some crying is a sign of weakness.."UNFIT "nurse.".to some. She had come to a busy unit to help and and Lvn who was swamped with work. The Darwinian nurse..(survival of the fittest Nurse) chased her out of the Unit...."what are you doing in my station"? She yelled with an angry voice. Of course the darwinian nurse thought it was cute to just sit on her butt when an LVN needed help..she didnt want that disturbed. The good news..the "unfit" compassionate, nurse that cried tears and tried to help.. is still a nurse and still a supervisor. Last I heard the Darwinia-survival-of-fittest-Nurse was working at a prison. I was hoping she put in for prison warden or executioner.
I have worked for a registry, and at some facilities, the regular staff, dont want to help...it doesnt matter if they know the facility backwards and forwards, they act like since registry makes more money than they do, they dont deserve help. Yes..some just let you sink or swim...no thought for what may happen to the patient.