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.
is the oppression coming from a source other than nursing?
are the negative behaviors in nursing stemming from learned helplessness?
take time to really think about these questions, and look up what sexism means, and how oppressed people behave? what does oppression do to a community? research this, you may find parallels.
I would like to refer you to my previous statement about abstraction. It is too often the reality. Once we correct the situation, the phrase will die. You will not correct the problem by burying your head in the sand.
If you read my dozens of posts in this thread (and about 40,000 other ones. LOL) and still can say I have my head in the sand, then I would like to refer you to my previous statement: agree to disagree.
is the oppression coming from a source other than nursing?
are the negative behaviors in nursing stemming from learned helplessness?
take time to really think about these questions, and look up what sexism means, and how oppressed people behave? what does oppression do to a community? research this, you may find parallels.
what is the definition of "oppression in nursing". i think having an understanding and agreement as to what you're saying would help me. thanks.
O.k., I agree to disagree. I would choose to keep a phrase that describes the reality, as indicated by the response to this survey. You would choose to eliminate the phrase. As long as we are agreeing to disagree, I'd like to be sure I understand. Whatever your history, it seems that you would choose to correct the problem of nurses eating their young by eliminating the vocabulary. Kinda reminds me of newspeak. I can respect the concept without agreeing with it. The Warfian hypothesis does indeed have some validity.
I'd like to be sure I understand. Whatever your history, it seems that you would choose to correct the problem of nurses eating their young by eliminating the vocabulary.
You're not understanding.
I'm not saying that by simply eliminating the phrase problems of nurses eating their young is going to go away. I've made many posts advising others on how to deal with nurses who attempt to eat them mainly by being proactive in their defense of themselves. I've also suggested that nursing schools be a little better in teaching some of these self-denfense, assertiveness skills. I've also said other things, but as we agree to disagree, I'm not going to get more defensive than I have already have in this fourm.
"Nurses eat their young". That implies that if you are a nurse, then you "eat your young". EVERY nurse eats their young. Is that a correct statement? No, it's not.
"Some nurses eat their young". That implies that some nurses do, and we all know that ..... no one is discounting that fact. But please don't group all nurses into one general category and say that because someone is a nurse, then they all act this certain way.
Yes, and we all understand phrases to be the literal truth. I do not understand the point tweety is making. I think I agree, we are all to some extent responsible. Where I work, management is very actively opposed to "nurses eat their young." It still happens and we support the nurse who suffers, offer her suggestions to deal with those "nurses" and use the phrase, because it is a lot easier than saying "some nurses who are experienced, feel threatened, do not have anything better to do, sometimes feel it is necessary to berate lesser experienced nurses and unfortunately you are their target de jour." Except in this forum, I have yet to meet someone who felt it was the literal truth, or even the rule. Everyone I have met face-to-face has understood that it is an all too common reality. The ANCC has an excellent policy, which my institution has adopted. So change the phrase, eliminate it or deal with it. Once the practice is the rare exception, no one will repeat the phrase.
Please note that by moderator concensus 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 lilnk. 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 nuturing to the new nurse and students on your unit.
End of sermon. LOL
The survey is biased to favor "nurses Eat Their Young." is not true or is at worst the exception. Still, 3 out of 4 respondents answered that it is true. Had the numbers been reversed or 50%/50%, even with the obvious bias, I would have thought that my experiences were simply a statistical clustering. I now know that, unfortunately, it is not the exception. I'm not offended, the truth can never give offense.
Could it be that the nurses that you all have been saying are "eating their young," are probably very unhappy in other areas of their life? I myself, as an experienced nurse would not dream of belittling a fellow colleague. These nurses intentionally try to humilate, run nurses out of whatever unit may be their territory or "comfort zone," never encourage and always see themselves as superior. I have experienced it first hand. These people, no matter what their profession need to feel like they are in control. Maybe things are out of their control at home, and they need to make up for it at work. We nurses have got to start backing each up and uniting. This is the only way to end this problem. To all you nurses that are getting gobbled, consider the source, let it roll off your back, and know that you are taking care of your patients to the best of your ability. To you nurses that are doing the gobbling, have you ever considered retirement, cutting down on your hours, or that you have been in one specific area or unit for too long. Maybe it is time for a change, maybe you are afraid of change. Maybe you are afraid that these new nurses, young nurses, or exceptionally good nurses are going to excell, and you are just stuck. Teach and be mentors. Don't you want nurses to give safe care to the patient? Does the patient's safety and outcome matter to you. Start caring for these nurses that want so desperately to work as a team. Our job is stressful enough, continuous strife will only make things unbearable and we will lose good nurses. Think about this. Maybe we need to move on and change this to a more positive thread. How do we make this situation better. Any thoughts? Thank you for listening. And remember if you're are that unhappy in your job, here's an idea....quit.:typing
That would be the idea. We have identified the problem, it is real and needs to be addressed. Role modeling good behavior, having the new nurse's back and taking
"The Call to Action for institutions relates that all healthcare organizations must:
* adopt and implement clear zero tolerance policies and procedures for all abusive behavior with multidisciplinary guidelines for reporting, enforcement, and progress measurement;
* encourage employees to promptly report incidents and ensure that no employee who experiences and reports workplace abuse faces reprisal;
* establish multidisciplinary evidence-based educational interventions to ensure skill development in preventing and responding to abuse—the program should include a system for documenting incidents, procedures to be taken in the event of incidents, and forums for open communication between employers and staff; and
* take action following an incident of abusive behavior including disciplining offenders, counseling victims and other employees, providing a follow-up mechanism for analysis of incidents and imposing corrective measures to prevent recurrence of similar incidents.
The Call to Action for nurses says that all nurses must:
* communicate respectfully, honestly, and openly;
* hold self and each other accountable for unacceptable behavior;
* seek solutions as a team—investigate and analyze occurrences of abuse just like other incidents such as medication errors;
* develop a mentoring system among peers, supervisors, physicians, and other providers to build on strengths and enhance personal skills;
* change negative cultures—establish a standard for collaboration and communication in their unit, develop strategies and skills, and share their best practices; and
* participate in multidisciplinary educational committees to develop organizational policies and strategies for abuse prevention. "
(Crit Care Nurse. 2007 Oct;27(5):20; discussion 20)
On 'eating our own'. I was gobbled up as a brand new nurse (in pediatric ICU). I was seen as a strong personality but no one was willing to take me on; I needed to be taught, to be guided. Instead, I was thrown to the sharks (was made a charge nurse!) and failed (was fired) within the first 3 months of passing my board.
Talk about being thrown under the bus!!
*Hey, that gives me an idea for a new thread ~ couldn't we all write epistles on that subject?!?*
What happened to you was just awful, and I can understand you embitterment toward CC. I'm just grateful you perservered and chose not to walk away with your tail between your legs.
It is nurses like yourself that the new grad (Hel*! ALL of us!!) can look to when he/she is having a God-awful day. It's critical for all of us to be able to 'pick our selves up from our bootstaps and fix whatever's erroneous' (a quote from my dearly departed Grandmother, a true Renaissance woman!! ).
Thick skin is a requisite of nursing. I think of us as croissants ~ crispy on the outside, soft and warm on the inside
:typing
).
SueBee RN-BSN
232 Posts
what is the real source of oppression in nursing?
is the oppression caused by nurses themselves?
is the oppression coming from a source other than nursing?
are the negative behaviors in nursing stemming from learned helplessness?
take time to really think about these questions, and look up what sexism means, and how oppressed people behave? what does oppression do to a community? research this, you may find parallels.