Nurses eating their young-venting

Trauma Columnist · Mar 13, 2004

I'm sorry you are dealing with this. Its a shame! I work in an ED and we have had a huge influx of new grads. I love their enthusiasm, their happiness and most of all - their youth! My sons are 23 and 18 now and I appreciate these qualities in them too. Besides - if you think about it - you are our future! Thanks for becoming a nurse!

fergus51 · Mar 13, 2004

I know what you're talking about. I copied a line from a friend... When giving report to someone like that, just look at them completely seriously and say "It must be terrible to have to take over from such a bad nurse". Usually it will get them off balance long enough to get finished with report.

Personally, I just think there are some people who always need to find fault and it's easier to get away with it if they do it to the newer people (regardless of age). You can either freak out at them enough to make them scared of you or just blow it off.

Tweety, BSN, RN · Mar 17, 2004

I'm very sorry. But a healthy dose of self-esteem, tough skin and big balls will take care of that.

Don't allow anyone any power over your feelings.

I know what you're saying, but it's not because your young. People occasionally try that with me. "Did you even look at the heart monitor.....did you do anything about.....' Other shifts are always going to make judgements. I have to rise above it. Look them in the eye with confidence and say whatever I have to say.

Good luck.

leslie :-D · Mar 17, 2004

my dearest darchild, :wink2:

please do not get offended by my teasingly affectionate endearment, but since i am old enough to be your mom, i feel my maternal instincts surfacing.

remember this forever. nurses do not eat their young: they eat whoever they damn well please. there are nurse *****es and your regular qd *****es. it has nothing to do with age. the light at the end of the tunnel is when you're in your 40's, you (hopefully) have a wonderful sense of self; along w/that somes inner peace and security. you don't give a rat's butt about what others think of you. at 23, i did not feel that way. believe in what you do and what you aspire to do. do not let anyone get the worst of you. do not give them permission. best of luck.

Ortho_RN · Mar 17, 2004

It happens.. It is actually happening to my best friend.. She works on an Oncology floor and they are known throughout the hospital for being hateful to other nurses/students.... Its not her shift, its the day shift.. They come on and are real hateful to her.. By the time she gets home someone has already called about something that is nothing.... ITs to the point now where the closer to 0800 it gets the sicker to her stomach she becomes.. She is considering transferring off that floor.. Which I think she should.. No reason for other people to be so hateful.. They have even yelled at her.. All I can say is one person EVER yelled at me, and Im gonna get right back at them... Especially a fellow nurse..

llg, PhD, RN · Mar 17, 2004

remember this forever. nurses do not eat their young: they eat whoever they damn well please. QUOTE]
I agree completely. People often use expressions such as "eat their young," but the truth is, many nurses have a bad habit of not supporting each other... period. They don't support their colleagues and/or their leaders any better. Instead of working together to solve problems, they point fingers and blame each other. That makes us very vulnerable to anyone smart enough to use a "divide and conquer" strategy on us.
Hopefully, with a little more time, you will develop a thicker skin and not let the comments of a few mean-spirited colleagues get you down. Most of all, I hope you never become one of the mean-spirited people.
Take care,
llg

fergus51 · Mar 17, 2004

I think the expression comes from the fact that nurses have an easier time eating those who are less experienced (and that used to always mean young). I don't see bullies picking on those who are confident.

llg, PhD, RN · Mar 17, 2004

I think the expression comes from the fact that nurses have an easier time eating those who are less experienced (and that used to always mean young). I don't see bullies picking on those who are confident.

Good point. Thanks.

llg

kathywv · Mar 19, 2004

I have been a nurse for a long time....I started as an LPN, went on for my ADN and then BSN and finally my MSN....From the beginning of time in this profession we have been known to eat our young. :stone I think that some areas are far better known for this practice than others.

You need to know that you will make mistakes, and you will have to stand up to them...this is how we learn in life. You will become a better nurse as time goes on.

Believe in yourself...learn everyday, and do not be afraid to stick up for yourself if need be. This stage of your career will pass and you will soon feel much more confident in yourself and your skills.....

Hang in!!!! :)

angelad725 · Mar 20, 2004

As a new graduate, your assessment skills are not going to be as good as a nurse with 10 years experience. You may not of picked up on something as easily as she did, because you are just starting out and that is ok. It isn't anything to be ashamed of, it takes experience to develop those skills. And remember this...THEY WERE ALL NEW GRADS ONCE TOO! How easily they forget that they were once in your position. But nursing is difficult because who are nurses? Mainly women, and women by nature are always looking to tear down other women to make themselves look better.

Nurses could have so much power, being that we are the largest group of healthcare providers...but we don't use it because we spend so much time fighting with eachother.

jschut, BSN, RN · Mar 22, 2004

*SIGH*

Oh do I ever know how this feels.....

I've recently started a new job and work 2-12 hour shifts on the weekends so I can go to school also.

I start work at 6p, so when 10-6 shift comes on, I tend to stay on the hall I have been on for 4 hours. Certain nurses get angry at me because "that's their hall" (difference being one hall has 11 less people than the other.) Then, I get ostracized for "not doing this" and "not doing that", and the other nurse goes and answers call lights down my hall if I am just a few seconds later than she thinks I should be.

This certain nurse actually said to me to give my patient a dose of morphine because pt was getting up and down alot at night. I told her no, because the morphine had been ordred for resp distress which this woman wasn't in with SaO2 sats in the upper 90%'s!

But of course, this nurse knows everything and has done everything, and I am nothing but a little peon for her to trample.

It's very hard to take when switching from being a boss at the old job to being a "slap-on-the-hand baby" at the new job you are trying real hard to like....(and NEED, because they offer better benefits and better pay and will work with school schedules...)

*SIGH*

Good luck! And if you find out a good way to solve this one, I'll be watching cause I could use the info too!