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.
(Quote from Starbog) 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?
Diahni- yeah, this is my impression. I've even had some experiences with a couple of fellow students. Of course, they couldn't throw their weight around as much as a supervising nurse or instructor, but I have to admit, the nasty factor was pretty high. One turned out to be a guy with a chronic back pain situation - figures. The other was a student from Russia. After refusing to switch clinical locations with her, she went on a campaign of both having fellow students call me and made the occasional mean comments. When she graduated, I had the misfortune of having to "shadow" her at the hospital. It was awful, as she wouldn't speak to me. As to why a first year nurse would have a student shadowing her - go figure.
This from stardog:
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.
D:Yes, so have I.
S: 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.
D: In the vernacular, "control freaks." Just a personality trait.
S: 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
Diahni:
Ah, there's the rub. As a general statement, I'd say the perpetrators are far more likely to make the victims quit.
I, on the other hand, do appreciate Tweety's position. Don't know him other than on allnurses. (Forgive me for speaking for you Tweety!) But I appreciate his position that one should focus on being the change we all want to see, rather than perpetuating this negative stereo. Absolutely, not all nurses are this way. My own take is that nursing attracts dear hearts as well as the aforementioned control freaks. Add to the mix that unhappy people love to share the wealth. "Stuck people stick people." How nice for a stuck person to be entitled to do this literally, i.e. with sharps - ha!
Okay, what do you think about this: There are many extra certifications nurses can have. Why not add to the ACLS and PALS certifications something like a "NCA" certification, i.e. "Nursing Community Advocate" certification. This would involve a certain amount of hours of training that would include enhancing psychological insight, reading the literature, etc.
Let's include nursing instructors, too. It was quite common in my school for teachers to belittle students in front of doctors, patients and their visitors. Huh? Didn't anybody ever tell these instructors that this is not an effective teaching method?
The nursing shortage exacerbates this - I had some clinical instructors with the BSN degree, i.e. NO training in teaching.
For nurses, and perhaps students who are on the receiving end of aggression, the certification would include learning how to handle it and techniques for learning to let go of resentment.
A pilot program could be the focus of the thesis for a person getting a master's in nursing administration. Whadayah think?
Another thought. The fish does indeed start to smell at the head. Without a positive attitude and consciousness about the NETY (nurses eating their young) situation in administration, nothing can change. Whatever the organization, the people on top are the ones who set the tone.
I have to agree with you to a point. There are many nurses out there who feel they have the upper hand on new nurses and this includes instructors. There are so many people today, who have decided it's time to get paid for doing the RN's job and go back to school. However, these are the people who can work and have more knowledge then the OLD nurse who hasn't worked the floor at all.
I have to say the best nurses and instructors I have ever worked with get their hands dirty. They also walk a new nurse through the process and get the brain thinking. The group I graduated with wanted to jump right into management without ever working a day on the floor. How do you manage people if you have never nor, could do their job.
There are very good posts here but I think the first two from Nursepooh and Nightingale are the best.
This really isn't about nurses eating their young it is about the environment and people.
It is a dog eat dog field and has nothing to do with experience, young or old. It has to do with personalities and the biggest problem is that management allows it and is often part of it. I have seen many units run by new grads and young nurses and they can't keep staff so that would shoot this theory down. It's a people thing.
There are very good posts here but I think the first two from Nursepooh and Nightingale are the best.
This really isn't about nurses eating their young it is about the environment and people.
It is a dog eat dog field and has nothing to do with experience, young or old. It has to do with personalities and the biggest problem is that management allows it and is often part of it. I have seen many units run by new grads and young nurses and they can't keep staff so that would shoot this theory down. It's a people thing.
BH -
Yeah. Just like I said, the fish begins to smell at the head. I have more than a few friends who might have made good managers who turned the job down. I know why.
Management would be "deleted" if a floor experiences a high turnover and short term employment. Start fresh. I would also get deep into the matter and find out what is going on with the nurses that are still there and get rid of any one that is "eating the young" or driving staff off.
I would also get out there and round the unit regularly to make sure people are working together. I would not be blind to the same social butterflies hanging out socializing while lights are going off.
Of course, I would staff so the work could get done and pay good techs good wages so they will appreciate their jobs and reward them for hard work. That way it would be easier to replace dead weight.
When I started nursing, we didn't have techs. We got the work done and we worked together as teams to get baths and care done. Now our workload is heavier and we have to babysit adults who don't seem to want to work. I can't believe how many units are run by the techs. The techs dictate what the nurses do. I'm tired of babysitting and then having to do the work myself.
You have some very valid points. However, your statments about techs is a little harsh. I have worked with some amazing techs in my 20+ years of nursing and started as a tech myself. I will admit there are far more lazy people in this world when it comes to nursing tech or nurse then the hard workers. We have to face facts the old ways are gone and the new ones have arrived. Some for the better and some for the worse.
Nursing is highly regulated. The profession is such to prevent harm to our patients. I think nurses have alot of watchdog behaviour in them. That is we are contantly checking and double checking ourselves and our peers to ultimately prevent errors....prevent harm. I think the term eating our young is based on this intesity to do things right. We need to allow the new nurse a learning curve. Perhaps a solution could be a strong mentoring program on the unit that lasts long after orientation?
I have purposely gone out of my way to make new nurses feel welcomed, secure, confident, etc. I tell them of my stories of how I felt unsure of myself, scared, etc., when I started out. But I do have a problem with new nurses who are just plain bad nurses. For instance, where I work, they are mostly PRNs. They are catered to, make their own schedule, (no weekends or holidays), paid out the wazoo, and don't change dressings, don't pass all the meds, sit on their cell phones most of the time, stuff like that. The experienced nurses get upset when we see this lack of caring and not even finishing tasks that these new nurses get by with. It does no good to complain, and even if you try to nudge them in the right direction, you get the "I'm a nurse, I know everything" **** poor attitude. So for these types of nurses, I say bon apetite.
Several of you have voiced your frustration with RNs who are the l eaders whether theyare "charge" or not and they continue to allow techs and others to perform poorly. I am of the opinion that I MUST step up and demand that every one be held accountable for their work performance. If I just grip with others who see it as "managements" job to make change, then I get what I get. I teach others, including my organization's leaders how I think I should be treated. If the care on my shift is poor and I do nothing thru the appropriate channels to facilitate change then I am signing off on the poor performance. I know there are those who say, "it is not my problem" if that is true, why are you frustrated and leaving good positions? If that is so, why are you so angry with the poor performers? We are all in it together and if we do nothing we are enabling the poor performer to continue to be poor performers and that covers managers as well. Nanacarol
There are as many arrogant young nurses who disrespect their elders' experience and accumulated wisdom as there are old birds who are intimidated by new blood and new ideas. It's not a factor of age, but rather of the individual coming to the position. To perpetuate the mantra, "nurses eat their young," is to give continuing life to a stereotype and to reward a thoughtless naivete about the world of work, while providing a disservice to those veteran nurses who must repeatedly defend themselves against unfounded unreason, while bringing us all down as a profession worthy of serious respect.
Mostly agree, but if the "old birds" are not up on current issues, and refuse to continue educating themselves not only do they jepordize their own licenses, but risk mine being called in to the courts. While there are many helpful nurses for sure, I have yet to meet a nurse that was not a preceptor who has the time or inclination to explain many details. Much of this is the facilities handiwork and the "shortage". I work at a small hospital where even the NM is putting out memos to be nice to new hires. What does this say about our profession? Let's just face it, with the technical advancements and ladder climbing, we are no different than an Ad Agency or Sales businesses. The world of nursing is getting competetative (careful my spelling sucks) and anyone thinking it is an easy ride where everyone stands together is going to be shocked. I also think this is why nursing is getting better. In my minimal experience in nursing there are no handouts and no warm touchy moments with other nurses, they are as competetive as anyone. No one looks out for the newby unless they are paid to do so.
:typing
Katie91
79 Posts
Ah Sweetie, absorb much, cry often and laugh heartily. Make us proud and be able to look at yourself in the mirror without guilt each day.
That would be enough thanks as far as I'm concerned.
Congratulations and welcome to the profession!!