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.
Annie09, you are right, the instructor should have spoken up to the nurse manager, but since she was afraid and unwilling to do so, there are things you can do. Friendly, in your face questions like, "Oh, you must have forgotted to give report to the covering RN about us students, I am sure it is easy to forget us since the general concensus of some of the RNs is that we are in the way thank goodness you aren't one of those". I've got your back next time, okay? Have this conversation in front of another staff RN so that she has to confirm her appreciation of appear as an A.. It is amazing how effective this kind of "innocent" response is. And it can be used in patient care situations as well, you say something like, " oh mr. so and so, I apologize for not introducing my self I am the budding student and nurse such and such has agreed to show me the ropes, doesn't do a fantastic job?" Never blink or give any indication that she has just put you down. She ends up looking like a fool and will back off after the 2nd or 3rd time of being put on front street. Good pickings. I've been there and done this. Nanacarol
Boy, I'm sure feeling that way right now! I am two years out of school, just moved to a new state and could use some advice. I went straight from school to doing the intake and referral for a hospice and home health agency (in hindsight I think I may have cheated myself a bit), but after working in a hospital for 20+ years as a unit clerk/CNA, (as you can see I was an "older" student) decided that was not the place for me. Anyway, my husband and I just moved, and the job I was offered was on an acute care ward in a very small (24 bed) hospital. I was very up front with the DON and told her I didn't have any clinical experience to speak of, and she assured me that I would have a preceptor during my 90 day probationary period. Well....let's just say she and I were from different worlds. (the preceptor, not the DON) I can get along with anyone, and believe me I tried! I'm sure she meant well, but she was very....blunt and aggressive towards me. After two months, the DON sat me down and we had a lengthy discussion, mutually deciding that acute care wasn't the place for me. She was very nice and actually offered to write a letter of recommendation because she felt I worked well with the patients, just didn't have the "speed" needed for that setting. (I agree, I'm 47 and not the healthiest thing) I didn't feel comfortable with my limited skills (aside from the unpleasant preceptor), and my priority is of course my patients safety. I truly love spending time with patients, hospital work just isn't my cup of tea. Does anyone have any suggestions? I feel I am more suited for paperwork, but after this (I basically feel as if I've been fired), I am quite down on myself and wonder if I should just give it up? Sorry this is so long, but it's good to get it off my chest...
Have you considered MDS, just to become familiar with the needs of the patients in particular long term care environment and the parameters for payment. You could then move to a more patient focused area but you would bring an understanding of the financial mandates from nursing. There are so many areas available to the RN, don't give up, It does not sound as if you had the support you needed. Nanacarol
I've often wondered about psych nursing, although I don't know much about it. I do like spending time with patients and talking to them. I am at such a loss right now! (Down but not out!) Anyone with ideas on this?
Boy, I'm sure feeling that way right now! I am two years out of school, just moved to a new state and could use some advice. I went straight from school to doing the intake and referral for a hospice and home health agency (in hindsight I think I may have cheated myself a bit), but after working in a hospital for 20+ years as a unit clerk/CNA, (as you can see I was an "older" student) decided that was not the place for me. Anyway, my husband and I just moved, and the job I was offered was on an acute care ward in a very small (24 bed) hospital. I was very up front with the DON and told her I didn't have any clinical experience to speak of, and she assured me that I would have a preceptor during my 90 day probationary period. Well....let's just say she and I were from different worlds. (the preceptor, not the DON) I can get along with anyone, and believe me I tried! I'm sure she meant well, but she was very....blunt and aggressive towards me. After two months, the DON sat me down and we had a lengthy discussion, mutually deciding that acute care wasn't the place for me. She was very nice and actually offered to write a letter of recommendation because she felt I worked well with the patients, just didn't have the "speed" needed for that setting. (I agree, I'm 47 and not the healthiest thing) I didn't feel comfortable with my limited skills (aside from the unpleasant preceptor), and my priority is of course my patients safety. I truly love spending time with patients, hospital work just isn't my cup of tea. Does anyone have any suggestions? I feel I am more suited for paperwork, but after this (I basically feel as if I've been fired), I am quite down on myself and wonder if I should just give it up? Sorry this is so long, but it's good to get it off my chest...
I don't know Kimbacats There are small towns up in that area where people treat outsiders strangly to say the least-maybe that was the problem with the preceptor. With you not having experience in acute care you needed a good perceptor!!! Don't be down on yourself you didn't have a chance if your preceptor wasn't working well with you and this includes getting along well with he or she.
Any "seasoned" nurses out there with advice for getting along with the R.N.'s , L.P.N.'s during clinicals?
This will annoy the crud out of you, but act dumb, really really dumb. And refuse to take any initiative. its a horrible suggestion i know, but trust me, it works. I went from an advanced LPN to an RN, and in the 3 years of uni never learnt one single new skill, and on pracs i wasn't allowed to do dozens of things that i did every day at work. and when i showed initiative within my very limited boundaries (like doing the obs round without being told) people would freak out. but when i started to just sit around waiting to be told to do everything the nurses preceptoring me were happy as.
pathetic i know, but welcome to the industry. just be careful, if you get a decent nurse who actually likes students, playing dumb will annoy her. but lets face it, in your entire time learning, you'll probably only ever come across 2 of them.
if you're really lucky you'll crack a nurse who actively goes out of her way to teach students, but they are few and far between, most nurses that have the skills and time management to be able to spend the extra time teaching are usually the ones who go around finding faults with others.
This will annoy the crud out of you, but act dumb, really really dumb. And refuse to take any initiative. its a horrible suggestion i know, but trust me, it works. I went from an advanced LPN to an RN, and in the 3 years of uni never learnt one single new skill, and on pracs i wasn't allowed to do dozens of things that i did every day at work. and when i showed initiative within my very limited boundaries (like doing the obs round without being told) people would freak out. but when i started to just sit around waiting to be told to do everything the nurses preceptoring me were happy as.
pathetic i know, but welcome to the industry. just be careful, if you get a decent nurse who actually likes students, playing dumb will annoy her. but lets face it, in your entire time learning, you'll probably only ever come across 2 of them.
if you're really lucky you'll crack a nurse who actively goes out of her way to teach students, but they are few and far between, most nurses that have the skills and time management to be able to spend the extra time teaching are usually the ones who go around finding faults with others.
Where are you people working???? Every nurse on my 51 bed floor
is willing and happy to teach the new nurses. And acting dumb would not thrill me. People didn't make it through nursing school being dumb so I'd be curious where this person came from. Did this nurse know you had been an LPN?? Because if I didn't know the new nurse had been an LPN I might not like her taking the initiative to to things that I feel the first time should be done with a perceptor. But if I knew you had been an LPN then I wouldn't care, in fact I'd be happy if you took the initiative.
This will annoy the crud out of you, but act dumb, really really dumb. And refuse to take any initiative. its a horrible suggestion i know, but trust me, it works. I went from an advanced LPN to an RN, and in the 3 years of uni never learnt one single new skill, and on pracs i wasn't allowed to do dozens of things that i did every day at work. and when i showed initiative within my very limited boundaries (like doing the obs round without being told) people would freak out. but when i started to just sit around waiting to be told to do everything the nurses preceptoring me were happy as.
pathetic i know, but welcome to the industry. just be careful, if you get a decent nurse who actually likes students, playing dumb will annoy her. but lets face it, in your entire time learning, you'll probably only ever come across 2 of them.
if you're really lucky you'll crack a nurse who actively goes out of her way to teach students, but they are few and far between, most nurses that have the skills and time management to be able to spend the extra time teaching are usually the ones who go around finding faults with others.
Students shoudn't go into clinicals with the expectation that nurses are going to go "out of their way" to teach students, and students should not try to "crack a nurse" in order to get someone to teach them. We often have students on our unit. My coworkers are much to busy to seek out students to teach, they are just quietly/stressfully doing their jobs. However, if a student approaches them and asks most of the time they will answer their questions and show them. Often when there are procedures to be done and students on the floor myself and fellow students will seek out the students to do them, but we certainly aren't going to bend over backwards. We're just too busy for that.
I think sometimes students take our being busy and minding our own business with our heavy workload for being coldhearted. Believe me if a student plays a dumb wallflower on my unit, he/she is going to be ignored and no one is going to teach them a thing. It's the proactive eager learners that get the most out of my unit.
Perhaps this is the advice you should be given students who have clinicals where you did, rather than judge the rest of us because nursing cultures differ from place to place.
Hi Miami Nurse...it's funny, I just moved from Key West...I truly am in a different world...I think maybe it had something to do with my situation, but I sure tried to make it work...maybe you have a suggestion for another avenue of nursing besides med-surg/acute care? Thanks again for your response!
Students shoudn't go into clinicals with the expectation that nurses are going to go "out of their way" to teach students, and students should not try to "crack a nurse" in order to get someone to teach them. We often have students on our unit. My coworkers are much to busy to seek out students to teach, they are just quietly/stressfully doing their jobs. However, if a student approaches them and asks most of the time they will answer their questions and show them. Often when there are procedures to be done and students on the floor myself and fellow students will seek out the students to do them, but we certainly aren't going to bend over backwards. We're just too busy for that.
I think sometimes students take our being busy and minding our own business with our heavy workload for being coldhearted. Believe me if a student plays a dumb wallflower on my unit, he/she is going to be ignored and no one is going to teach them a thing. It's the proactive eager learners that get the most out of my unit.
Perhaps this is the advice you should be given students who have clinicals where you did, rather than judge the rest of us because nursing cultures differ from place to place.
Oh, and in response to this...having seen and been where I have, I would most certainly go out of my way to help a student who truly wanted to learn. (and NOT eat them alive)! I always reminded myself of this in nursing school. I know how busy it gets, I was a CNA on a med surg floor during school, but you can always make time later to explain something to a new nurse or student. They may be taking care of you one day, remember!
Students shoudn't go into clinicals with the expectation that nurses are going to go "out of their way" to teach students, and students should not try to "crack a nurse" in order to get someone to teach them. We often have students on our unit. My coworkers are much to busy to seek out students to teach, they are just quietly/stressfully doing their jobs. However, if a student approaches them and asks most of the time they will answer their questions and show them. Often when there are procedures to be done and students on the floor myself and fellow students will seek out the students to do them, but we certainly aren't going to bend over backwards. We're just too busy for that.
I think sometimes students take our being busy and minding our own business with our heavy workload for being coldhearted. Believe me if a student plays a dumb wallflower on my unit, he/she is going to be ignored and no one is going to teach them a thing. It's the proactive eager learners that get the most out of my unit.
Perhaps this is the advice you should be given students who have clinicals where you did, rather than judge the rest of us because nursing cultures differ from place to place.
Meow Tweety!
Yeah, it's an all around difficult situation. For the most part, nurses are de facto preceptors for students, whether they like it or not. It's such a busy job, sometimes this added feature makes it over the top. Teaching and being involved in the task at hand can be mutually exclusive. My own experience is I had to learn very important things on the fly, as opposed to learning a skill in a structured way. One thing I welcome about the way Excelsior College deals with clinical skills is that it is systematic. Meanwhile, I found my clinical time as a student in a "real time" school to be not much more than taking over for cnas. When the students arrived, the nurses rolled their eyes, and the cnas were nowhere to be found. I actually was told by one cna that she didn't have to do anything when I was there since students were supposed to do all the cna work. I'd say the entire nursing education system needs an overhaul. In an ADN program, does one really need to make beds for two years to get it right?
nanacarol
162 Posts
Annie09, you are right, the instructor should have spoken up to the nurse manager, but since she was afraid and unwilling to do so, there are things you can do. Friendly, in your face questions like, "Oh, you must have forgotted to give report to the covering RN about us students, I am sure it is easy to forget us since the general concensus of some of the RNs is that we are in the way thank goodness you aren't one of those". I've got your back next time, okay? Have this conversation in front of another staff RN so that she has to confirm her appreciation of appear as an A.. It is amazing how effective this kind of "innocent" response is. And it can be used in patient care situations as well, you say something like, " oh mr. so and so, I apologize for not introducing my self I am the budding student and nurse such and such has agreed to show me the ropes, doesn't do a fantastic job?" Never blink or give any indication that she has just put you down. She ends up looking like a fool and will back off after the 2nd or 3rd time of being put on front street. Good pickings. I've been there and done this. Nanacarol