Do nurses really "Eat Their Young"?

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Specializes in Case Management, Psychiatric Nursing.

I start my first LVN job tomorrow. and Ive herd a few horror stories so im wondering do nurses really eat their young? If so what is a good way to win over my new colleagues. :nurse:

Help :confused:

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Specializes in ED, ICU, MS/MT, PCU, CM, House Sup, Frontline mgr.

yes, many experienced nurses eat their young!! however, the key to overcoming this is to: 1.) find supportive experienced nurses to help you... 2.) taste really really bad to the nurse that tries to eat you (in other words, grow a thick skin and stand up for yourself)!

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I have heard horror stories as well, however, that was not my experience at all. I started in a Tele unit in June 08, and it has been nothing but positive. There is one nurse I don't particularly care for and wouldn't trust her any farther than I can throw her. But, the rest of us help each other every chance we get, and I feel like I can ask anyone anything. Never been eaten.

As for winning over your co-workers, help others as often as you can, especially in code brown situations. The best advice I ever got was to treat your CNA's well because they can either make or break you.

Good luck.

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Specializes in being a Credible Source.

There are a couple of prickly folks around but by-and-large, I work with great group of folks and have never even been nibbled upon.

Ditto the comment about the CNAs... and would add to it the unit clerk.

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Specializes in Geriatric/LTC, Rehab, Home Hhealth.

We've had about half a dozen "young" come in to our facility in as many months...I haven't wanted to eat any - choking is another subject :0)

Seriously, if your focus is on your patients/residents and your mind is on learning I'm sure you'll come out of the first year with most of your fingers :0)

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Specializes in critical care, home health.

I've never understood nurses who don't like to work with new ones: we can all remember what it was like to be in your shoes. Personally, I just LOVE to work with new nurses. It's one of my favorite parts of my job.

If you come across a nurse who is unpleasant to you, I can't think of a better way to win her heart than to volunteer (cheerfully!) to help her in code brown situations. Or answer her call light, or get her a cup of coffee. I don't mean be a total brownnoser- certainly not- but it's very difficult to dislike someone who cheerfully helps you clean up poo.

One thing I see that completely irritates older nurses is having a new nurse behave as if she's very sure of what she's doing. If an older nurse disagrees, try something like, "this is what I learned in school, but I'm really interested in learning how YOU do this". Be open to understanding her point of view. Appreciate her wisdom, even though there will be times when what you've learned in school really is the better way.

Most nurses do want to help you, so go into it expecting good things to happen, with a smile on your face, and I doubt you'll be disappointed.

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Specializes in Medical Surgical Orthopedic.

I went in hoping for the best, but my preceptor (and her friends) turned out to be something pretty close to EVIL. After three weeks of stress, developing ulcers and not learning much of anything, I finally stood up for myself and told the director that I need to be assigned to someone new.

My new preceptor is a completely different animal....thank goodness :) And since I have managed to become friendly with a few people, the rest are slowly turning their backs on the vicious gossip they heard about me from the first preceptor.

My advice is to make friends anywhere and everywhere that you can! And if things aren't going well, ask for what you need to be successful. :nurse::twocents:

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Yes, it is often the case, but not all of us veterans are like that... I have been a bedside nurse for 32 years, and still remember how it feels to start and be insecure. I make every effort to help the "newbies" grow in their knowledge base and skills. However, I have worked with many that don't do the same. Keep positive and do your best. Make sure you have someone away from work to vent to. NEVER vent about anyone or anything that displeases you with anyone related to you job. If only positive comes out, you are more likely to have better outcomes.

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Specializes in critical care, home health.

Your preceptor should not be just any old experienced nurse; she should be a nurse who remembers what it's like to be new and have compassion for you. If she doesn't have compassion for a new nurse (after she's been in those shoes!), how can she have compassion for her patients??

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Specializes in Psych, EMS.

My charge nurse is like that..a bitter hag who tries to tell me what to do, beyond the scope of a charge nurse..but I consider the source (bitter btchy hag) and it does not phase me one bit. All of the other nurses on the floor are wonderful to me. So as a rule..i say no! Exceptions, sure. :D

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.

I also had great experiences as a new grad. There are always going to be a few that will need to "warm up" to you or that are just nasty but imo that is anything in life and not nursing specific. I enjoy most new grads although I have worked with a few that I felt weren't so great. Its more about common sense and insight, imo, than knowing skills because skills can be learned. Coming in with the attitude that you know the latest and greatest way to do things based on what you learned in school or saw once in clinical isn't very helpful, imo. Trust your senior nurses to guide you and at the very least give serious consideration to their suggestions because they have been there, done that. As others have said definitely help with the things that you can which at this point in time will include running for supplies, assisting with ADLs, transfers etc. Good luck.

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Specializes in critical care, home health.

I love new grads. So often they have a LOT to teach me, and I have a lot to teach them. I think older nurses (some, not all, of course) are insecure and can't bear the thought that what they've been doing all along is not the best thing. You build your life around this nursing thing, you believe that your knowledge is sancrosanct, and then these new people come in and challenge everything you thought you knew.

I enjoy the challenge. I enjoy learning. I want what's best for my patients, even if it means I have to admit that what I was taught is no longer valid. We have to be flexible. Take this new knowledge and go with it. Reconsider the "old ways" and discard the ones that have shown to be worthless. This is how we grow.

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