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.
Fiona, I work in a Union emvironment and while the contract does offer some protection, it is not always the best situation for determining if the best employee remains on the job. Seniority is and should not be the decidint factor when determining which employee is retained. The most senior employee may not be the employee best suited for patient care. Union cpntracts don't work for patient care or necessarily for it's policy and procedure abiding members it is great for finding ways to help malingerers and poor performers keep positions they might better be served by leaving. nanacarol
Well, I have just about finished my C rotation on Med Surg and there was one "young eating nurse". Actually, she acted like a bossy, spoiled brat to all of the staff on the floor who happened to get in her way at any particular point in time. She so loved making others look and feel incompetent. It was a strange thing. No one dared talk down about her, but the nastier she became, the nicer and more helpful everyone else around us became - and we all thanked the rest profusely, while walking past her briskly, making sure we voiced our appreciation to any of the other nurses within in earshot of this one. I even got so bold one night, I went up to a nurse that was seated at a computer charting right next to "the eater" and said, "Thanks for giving me a chance to help you out with your patients tonight. I hope my effort has made your evening a bit easier." And she said ,"Yes, you students have been very helpful." And then I added, "And I want to especially thank you for being a nurse who chooses to nurture, instead of doing that other nasty thing some other nurses chose to do. That really means a lot to us" The nurse who chose to eat her young glared right at me, but I resisted eye contact, and walked right on past her.
Sadly, she chose not to take the hint, but she did choose to switch to days. YAY! She was practically gone by the time we arrived, and everyone's evening - seasoned nurse down to NS became so much more pleasant. So if you're reading this, and this is you, we just want to let you know, you're are not missed, the day shift has our sympathies (their cards are in the mail), and working at night actually became fun again.
Well, I have just about finished my C rotation on Med Surg and there was one "young eating nurse". Actually, she acted like a bossy, spoiled brat to all of the staff on the floor who happened to get in her way at any particular point in time. She so loved making others look and feel incompetent. It was a strange thing. No one dared talk down about her, but the nastier she became, the nicer and more helpful everyone else around us became - and we all thanked the rest profusely, while walking past her briskly, making sure we voiced our appreciation to any of the other nurses within in earshot of this one. I even got so bold one night, I went up to a nurse that was seated at a computer charting right next to "the eater" and said, "Thanks for giving me a chance to help you out with your patients tonight. I hope my effort has made your evening a bit easier." And she said ,"Yes, you students have been very helpful." And then I added, "And I want to especially thank you for being a nurse who chooses to nurture, instead of doing that other nasty thing some other nurses chose to do. That really means a lot to us" The nurse who chose to eat her young glared right at me, but I resisted eye contact, and walked right on past her.
Sadly, she chose not to take the hint, but she did choose to switch to days. YAY! She was practically gone by the time we arrived, and everyone's evening - seasoned nurse down to NS became so much more pleasant. So if you're reading this, and this is you, we just want to let you know, you're are not missed, the day shift has our sympathies (their cards are in the mail), and working at night actually became fun again.
I'm glad to hear it was only one nurse on the unit and that while you acknowledge that there was one of those "nursing eating young" there, it wasn't rampant in the unit and it's not a reflection of nursing as a profession.
The problem with this person is that people do exactly what you did, skirt around her, ignore her, run past her, and talk around her hoping the takes the hint. Wonder what would happen if someone who worked with her got into her face with a constructive, well throught out confrontation, each and every time she acted inapproprirately.
Well, I have just about finished my C rotation on Med Surg and there was one "young eating nurse". Actually, she acted like a bossy, spoiled brat to all of the staff on the floor who happened to get in her way at any particular point in time. She so loved making others look and feel incompetent. It was a strange thing. No one dared talk down about her, but the nastier she became, the nicer and more helpful everyone else around us became - and we all thanked the rest profusely, while walking past her briskly, making sure we voiced our appreciation to any of the other nurses within in earshot of this one. I even got so bold one night, I went up to a nurse that was seated at a computer charting right next to "the eater" and said, "Thanks for giving me a chance to help you out with your patients tonight. I hope my effort has made your evening a bit easier." And she said ,"Yes, you students have been very helpful." And then I added, "And I want to especially thank you for being a nurse who chooses to nurture, instead of doing that other nasty thing some other nurses chose to do. That really means a lot to us" The nurse who chose to eat her young glared right at me, but I resisted eye contact, and walked right on past her.
Sadly, she chose not to take the hint, but she did choose to switch to days. YAY! She was practically gone by the time we arrived, and everyone's evening - seasoned nurse down to NS became so much more pleasant. So if you're reading this, and this is you, we just want to let you know, you're are not missed, the day shift has our sympathies (their cards are in the mail), and working at night actually became fun again.
Hi Annie,
I think we have all encountered this type of nurse, and I use the term "nurse" lightly, at one point or another.
I agree with what Tweety said, skirting around her will do no good. Being passive aggressive with this person will only fuel her intimidation tactics. She does need a strong individual to bring her back down to earth, and that someone will come along.
Specializes in Geriatrics, med/surg, LTC surveyor.
As a new nurse, I have to say that I didn't get alot of support and that alot of nurses were mean on the first unit I worked on. Then I had the exception when I moved to another area where an experienced nurse took me under her wing and showed me the ropes. I don't know that they intend to be mean or if they are just stressed? I have noticed as a manager alot of, "She didn't do this and she didn't do that." My response is that if you have time to pick at her you don't have enough to do. Nursing is hard and it is so much easier if we just work together and support each other.
I feel it is difficult, being a nursing student, to be able to stand up to this type of attitude right now. I brought this situation up before my clinical instructor several times, and she just said, "That's OK, just let it go." After being assigned to one of this nurse's patient's for 2 weeks straight, that's four-8 hr clinical days, I finally went to my CI and politely requested not to put with her, as I was barely able to make my clinical objectives being with this nurse. But you are right Tweety, it just got worse because it wasn't effectively dealt with. There were many "things" she'd do to the students. She wouldn't include the NS in one report. She'd just say, "Can't you read? Go get it off of the computer."
If there was an issue with the patient, and we brought it to her attention, she just stare straight ahead, and say, "Yup."
She wouldn't inform us when she was leaving, nor would she include it in report with the next nurse, and the new nurse coming on would give all of the evening med's, (there was a 2-hour window) early, before realizing there was a SN involved. Other times, if I was in the same room with her and the patient, she'd whisper quiet inflammatory remarks to me as I passed her. I ignored that, because I will not start something in front of a patient. The last night she was on, she stayed near the clinical instructor to find out when the CI would be available to observe care, as we had objectives to meet, and this nurse would jump in and do the care before the CI could observe me. No, I think the clinical instructor should have said something, but she wouldn't, and didn't. To me this nurse was the equivalent of a playground bully. The 5-th grader who stands over the 1-st grader saying, "What's 9 x 6? Common stupid tell me what 9x6 is. It's 54, stupid. That is so easy, and you couldn't get it. You're so stupid! Ha Ha Ha Ha!" I'll think about it Tweety and Katie91, and see if I can come up with an intelligent, yet to the point way of addressing this. Food for thought Your input is appreciated - Any suggestions?
Specializes in Geriatrics, med/surg, LTC surveyor.
I don't know what to say. I am disgusted that she would behave in such a manner. We were all students at one time or another. I always enjoyed the students. It was alot of help actually.
I can tell a funny story. The first time I was in nursing school (1980), there was a really mean nurse with hair so stiff with hairspray that it did not move. Another student and I were standing at the nurses station, the nurse was charting. Someone moved the chart rack which was round (circular) and a chart caught in her hair. She never even noticed but it made her hair stand straight up on one side when the person forced the rack to move. She walked around that way all day.
I feel it is difficult, being a nursing student, to be able to stand up to this type of attitude right now. I brought this situation up before my clinical instructor several times, and she just said, "That's OK, just let it go." After being assigned to one of this nurse's patient's for 2 weeks straight, that's four-8 hr clinical days, I finally went to my CI and politely requested not to put with her, as I was barely able to make my clinical objectives being with this nurse. But you are right Tweety, it just got worse because it wasn't effectively dealt with. There were many "things" she'd do to the students. She wouldn't include the NS in one report. She'd just say, "Can't you read? Go get it off of the computer."
If there was an issue with the patient, and we brought it to her attention, she just stare straight ahead, and say, "Yup."
She wouldn't inform us when she was leaving, nor would she include it in report with the next nurse, and the new nurse coming on would give all of the evening med's, (there was a 2-hour window) early, before realizing there was a SN involved. Other times, if I was in the same room with her and the patient, she'd whisper quiet inflammatory remarks to me as I passed her. I ignored that, because I will not start something in front of a patient. The last night she was on, she stayed near the clinical instructor to find out when the CI would be available to observe care, as we had objectives to meet, and this nurse would jump in and do the care before the CI could observe me. No, I think the clinical instructor should have said something, but she wouldn't, and didn't. To me this nurse was the equivalent of a playground bully. The 5-th grader who stands over the 1-st grader saying, "What's 9 x 6? Common stupid tell me what 9x6 is. It's 54, stupid. That is so easy, and you couldn't get it. You're so stupid! Ha Ha Ha Ha!" I'll think about it Tweety and Katie91, and see if I can come up with an intelligent, yet to the point way of addressing this. Food for thought Your input is appreciated - Any suggestions?
Do what you have to do to get through school. I agree with your instructor and your approach right now. I was mainly speaking to the nurses that work there.
What you can take from all of this is knowing that you are going to come across nurses like this along the way and that it's important, if you're going to working the same unit, that you learn how you are going to deal with it. I'm a big fan of direct one-on-one face-to-face dealings with these sort of people and handling it myself. Of course I choose battles because some people aren't worth my time. I've been fortunately not have to have been eaten, but I've had a few bites taken out of my butt.
Before I became a nurse......I worked as a gas station attendent.....Yep......washed your window and filled your tanks (many years ago) Then as a Waitress......(can I help you and what dressing would you like with that?) So.....now.... Do I eat my own?.....
Depends on what I see. NOPE...If you are new to this field....I will help you....If you are new to everything? I will try. We are so challenged to keep up with everything that sometimes we forget you are new.
If this will help ..... pay attention, act like you want to know.....step up and take a hand in what is going on. Take notes, and remember what is important. Don't act like you have never seen this before, because you will again. LOL
LAUGH, because this job will never change, but you will.
I don't know what to say. I am disgusted that she would behave in such a manner. We were all students at one time or another. I always enjoyed the students. It was alot of help actually.
I can tell a funny story. The first time I was in nursing school (1980), there was a really mean nurse with hair so stiff with hairspray that it did not move. Another student and I were standing at the nurses station, the nurse was charting. Someone moved the chart rack which was round (circular) and a chart caught in her hair. She never even noticed but it made her hair stand straight up on one side when the person forced the rack to move. She walked around that way all day.
LOL Ginger!!
Thank goodness the 80's mile high hair is a thing of the past, although some feel the need to desperately hang on to the look :chuckle
nanacarol
162 Posts
Fiona, I work in a Union emvironment and while the contract does offer some protection, it is not always the best situation for determining if the best employee remains on the job. Seniority is and should not be the decidint factor when determining which employee is retained. The most senior employee may not be the employee best suited for patient care. Union cpntracts don't work for patient care or necessarily for it's policy and procedure abiding members it is great for finding ways to help malingerers and poor performers keep positions they might better be served by leaving. nanacarol