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.
I am a nursing student and have had the opportunity to work with MANY nurses during my clinicals. So far I can honestly say they have been nothing but good to all of us. I have yet to have a bad experience (fingers crossed and knocking on wood) with ill treatment.
I know this is a bit different than actually being a new grad , but then again, it's not... In our area, as well as many others, there is such a shortage of nurses that the patient: nurse ratio is rediculous. They are just glad to have the extra hands, eyes, and ears to help out and relieve the burden of worry when strectched so thin. I was amazed at the amount of experience (work) we were allowed to do.
I know that I have probably deviated from the original topic. I just wanted to share .Sorry, I'm young...please don't eat me!
Promise me this please. When that nurse does come along to eat you, you remember that most of the nurses you've been in contact with have been either neutral or decent and you don't come back to this thread...."yes, nurses eat their young because I was just eaten........". Take it for it is. If you're an nurse, you're going to come across crabby nurses, but they aren't representative of us all.
Promise me this please. When that nurse does come along to eat you, you remember that most of the nurses you've been in contact with have been either neutral or decent and you don't come back to this thread...."yes, nurses eat their young because I was just eaten........". Take it for it is. If you're an nurse, you're going to come across crabby nurses, but they aren't representative of us all.
I hope I didn't sound too naive in my last post, but this is a topic that is talked about and joked about often with us students. I am sure the day will come when it will happen . I am also sure that I will just take in stride and go on. Knowing that it isn't personal against me, it is just personal to my inexperience. (I hope..) I am not easily roused or offended, so maybe I won't even realize it if/ when it happens.
By the way, everyone of you "regulars" on this chat site has been a God-send to me. I may not have been posting since I joined in 2006, but i have definately been reading. I have come across soem very good advice and some really funny and sad stories. I especially found the thread about what NOT to do once you get to clinicals EXTREMELY helpful. So a great big hug and thank you to all of you!!!!!!!:thankya:
I hope I didn't sound too naive in my last post, but this is a topic that is talked about and joked about often with us students. I am sure the day will come when it will happen . I am also sure that I will just take in stride and go on. Knowing that it isn't personal against me, it is just personal to my inexperience. (I hope..) I am not easily roused or offended, so maybe I won't even realize it if/ when it happens.
By the way, everyone of you "regulars" on this chat site has been a God-send to me. I may not have been posting since I joined in 2006, but i have definately been reading. I have come across soem very good advice and some really funny and sad stories. I especially found the thread about what NOT to do once you get to clinicals EXTREMELY helpful. So a great big hug and thank you to all of you!!!!!!!:thankya:
I second that. I am starting nursing school and I am scared to death. It helps so much to be able to talk to nurses on the site. Everyone on this site has been so nice to me. :bowingpur
I hope I didn't sound too naive in my last post, but this is a topic that is talked about and joked about often with us students. I am sure the day will come when it will happen . I am also sure that I will just take in stride and go on. Knowing that it isn't personal against me, it is just personal to my inexperience. (I hope..) I am not easily roused or offended, so maybe I won't even realize it if/ when it happens.
Oh it's going to happen. One day you'll come across "that nurse" or maybe even an entire unit of them. Hopefully knowing this you'll have the skills to cope and won't scream "nurses are so catty with their constant bickering and backstabbing", but realize there are those nurses, but the rest of us are decent people, trying to make a living in a tough and demanding field and it's not fair to judge us based on those bad nurses.
It's definitely not true that all nurses eat their young. Being a new nurse on a ICU step-down unit, GOD only knows what I would have done without the support from the other nurses. I could have a disagreement with a nurse and ask her to assist me with a patient in the same breath and it's done!!!
Nurses are under a lot of stress and sometimes you may say the right thing in the wrong way and unintentionally hurt someone's feelings. Also, I've learned that some people just cannot handle constructive criticism and take it as being put-down. And if another nurse is just being "plain ole nasty," then too bad for them because that's their problem & don't make it yours. We are in a profession that does require thick skin.
If nothing else gets you through the shift, then remember..............you work with these people, you don't sleep with them. Better to respect you then like you.:typing
BuffyJan ~ yes, some degree of sacrifice is necessary to become successful, but not to the point you become embittered toward your co-workers and God forbid, your patients.
We must choose our battles wisely and know when to simply walk away from a negative situation. It took me way too long to use this tool during a recent incident in my career. I allowed myself to be intimidated by my former departmental director. Shame on me for staying as long as I did in that toxic environment, but I've never been a "job hopper" and took pride in my loyalty and longevity with my employers. Now, I'll hop around on a pogo stick if I have to; no job is worth compromising my health and sanity!!
And Misserella, please don't be scared. Your fear will show in everything you do. Walk with your head held high and remember why you are in nsg school ~ to be a public servant of those who need your care and compassion!
Yes. It is true. But it is very much depends on the organisational culture. I am working in ICU and my colleagues are quite helpful. But I think the leader of the ward is very much influential to the way the seniors treated the junior. I have a very charismatic Sister leading the ICU and that really made a different. However, there is still some try to curse you if they can't eat you.
I am guilty of having bitten a few heads off. I really try not too, especially to new nurses. But there are a few things that make me bite. If you are giving me report on a patient that just had a cardiac cath a few hours ago-please be able to tell me not only which groin they punctured but what it looks like. It irritates me if you never looked at this patient's groin. As you are supposed to be checking whether that patient is bleeding or developing a hematoma. It irritates me that the patient had open heart surgery yesterday and you can't tell me whether their incisions are OTA( Open to air) or if they have a dressing. It also irritates me when a new nurse has a smart ---- attitude, that they know it all. But all in all I really try to be nice and supportive. Because we need to help and support our new nurses!!! But I can not deal with a I don't give a rat's behind attitude or laziness. And unfortuanately you get alot of that from people who only became nurses for the money!!!!
If you are giving me report on a patient that just had a cardiac cath a few hours ago-please be able to tell me not only which groin they punctured but what it looks like. It irritates me if you never looked at this patient's groin. As you are supposed to be checking whether that patient is bleeding or developing a hematoma. It irritates me that the patient had open heart surgery yesterday and you can't tell me whether their incisions are OTA( Open to air) or if they have a dressing. It also irritates me when a new nurse has a smart ---- attitude, that they know it all. But all in all I really try to be nice and supportive. Because we need to help and support our new nurses!!! But I can not deal with a I don't give a rat's behind attitude or laziness. And unfortuanately you get alot of that from people who only became nurses for the money!!!!
I totally agree!!! and the pedal pulses that are usually marked anyway.
I know a bunch of people who will be really glad to see a happy nurse ~ your patients! That's really what it's all about.
As far as being a slow learner, we all learn at different paces. Please don't let the fact that you learn this way discourage you or feel you will be "eaten" because of it. I would highly suggest that you tell your preceptor/mentor up front about your learning style. This will give her/him an idea of the speed of the pace in which she/he must be to be an effective teacher. This is sort of a CYA thing too, as all to often when we start new jobs, we have a day or two of orientation, then poof! we're on our own. If you're open and honest about your learning curves, you really can't be held completely accountable.
You may even want to take it to the extent of drawing up a mini contract for yourself and your mentor to sign with a witness present for signing as well. I am not kidding, wish I were but nurses are continually faced with potentially litigious dilemas.
So don't be afraid to ask those questions ~ the only dumb question is the one not asked!! :wink2:
Tweety, BSN, RN
36,447 Posts
Promise me this please. When that nurse does come along to eat you, you remember that most of the nurses you've been in contact with have been either neutral or decent and you don't come back to this thread...."yes, nurses eat their young because I was just eaten........". Take it for it is. If you're an nurse, you're going to come across crabby nurses, but they aren't representative of us all.