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.
This statement implies that "nurses" which includes all nurses eat or do not eat their young. Bearing this in mind i must disagree that nurses eat their young. This opinion is rooted in the fact that I personally do not eat my young. Nursing is definitely changing and the younger nurses I feel are waiting to be "spoon fed" and not take responsibility for their own developement. Yes there are some nurses that may eat their young but it is a two way street. Nurses are willinng to share knowledge with their young nurses but they know it all. Both the young and the old nurses need to work together to propell the profession and preserve the dignity of nursing.
Well I am only a second semester nursing student, but I must be the luckiest person in the world, my experiences have been great, I have a nurse on my med-surg rotation, who somehow I always end up with her patient and she has taught me so much, she is a wonderful person. The nurses are all great on this floor, but I have heard horror stories from other nurses and relatives who are nurses.
That said, I am an older student, second career, so I have worked at many different jobs and these types are everywhere, insecure, small, petty, and jealous unforetunate they given nurses a bad name
Unfortunately,l have to say that this is true. I think some seasoned nurses get intimidated at times, at worse, there are areas where in they tend to be clickish. I have been a nurse for 14 years but whenever I decide to move from 1 department to another, I have to deal with some nurses who talk down on me. Of course, some nurses will deny this but it's a fact. Where ever you go, there would be some who would be bossy, mean, or even ******. Still there are a handful who are supportive. That's why I salute the very few nurses who are mentors.They are one in a million:)
I think it does happen for a variety of reasons but I feel that one of the main reasons at least here in Canada is due to job insecurity because of management decisions to lay off whenever budgets run short. So it is not always because people are just nasty, it's because they are stuck in a messed up system. JMO.
I think it does happen for a variety of reasons but I feel that one of the main reasons at least here in Canada is due to job insecurity because of management decisions to lay off whenever budgets run short. So it is not always because people are just nasty, it's because they are stuck in a messed up system. JMO.
Very true. If the manager, department and/or facility is toxic, the behavior of the staff follows suit.
Definitely some of them do. I started in an ICU where I was gnawed on like vultures on roadkill. Then I switched to my unit now where it seems the nurses fall over themselves to help me. I think it depends on the unit you're in. But when it's bad, it's bad. I'm still annoyed at the general atmosphere of rudeness. Even today I caught some of the staffers making faces behind my newbie back as I said or did something admittedly geeky. But, whatever -- they can get over themselves. One day I will have it together and possibly save their hides or outlast them -- and they will NEVER truly have my respect.
Only true kindness is ever remembered. They say you never remember what people said or did to you, but you'll always remember how they made you feel.
I'd like to think there's a special place in h*** for these vultures who decided to take a new nurse and make her day miserable. No telling how many totally intelligent and talented people they run off everyday from nursing.
I think it does happen for a variety of reasons but I feel that one of the main reasons at least here in Canada is due to job insecurity because of management decisions to lay off whenever budgets run short. So it is not always because people are just nasty, it's because they are stuck in a messed up system. JMO.
And that is why I'll always be a union nurse. Management has to lay off under a guideline which is basically last in/firtst out. Not always the best way of doing it but the closest there is to fair.
Specializes in trauma, ortho, burns, plastic surgery.
IS the first time when I write on this thread , as much as i remember, loool, and I really would like NOW to be able to do with you AN a SOMENTHING (an article or steps to be fallow, a book whatever, to prevent and help to be keep on control this phenomen ).
This site is the only huge nurses site from all over and millions of nurses visit it. Couple of them was passed but "nurses eat their young" or will be in that position one day (I hope not). We like AN community we deserve to help them. We have 102 pages about that.
IT IS A PROBLEM, we can deny it, and tommorow could be happen to you also or to your child or to your husband or to your best friend!
Let put our minds togheter and to try to make a objective study about prevention and measure on this case! With concret methods to help nurses all over!
"nurse eat their youngs" is a complex concept... including bulling issues horizontal violence, and so many other intraganizational conflict notions.
We are adults and couple of us we know how to deal with in a way or another (soul pain is not counted here), but what will be happen with a young nurse just coming from the school?
Yes I try by purpose to manipulate in a good way your soul, to open your heart and to try to help togheter the nurses. YES Zuzi is beetwen them! So I REALLY CARE!
I think "Nurses Eat Their Young" is a term for a sort of lateral violence that is indicitive of burn-out. The problem may or may not be inherent to nurses, but I truly believe that if a unit were supportive of individual nurses, nurses felt they mattered (to pts, to mgmt), nurses were not mandatory OT one day & Low census'ed the next AND if this type of lateral violence was not treated as acceptable....perhaps we could do away with this disgusting term.
ashleykaye
1 Post
This statement implies that "nurses" which includes all nurses eat or do not eat their young. Bearing this in mind i must disagree that nurses eat their young. This opinion is rooted in the fact that I personally do not eat my young. Nursing is definitely changing and the younger nurses I feel are waiting to be "spoon fed" and not take responsibility for their own developement. Yes there are some nurses that may eat their young but it is a two way street. Nurses are willinng to share knowledge with their young nurses but they know it all. Both the young and the old nurses need to work together to propell the profession and preserve the dignity of nursing.