I'm a new grad and I'm having a terrible year. I was bullied during my first rotation and they managed to paint me as incompetent and difficult to silence me, now on my second rotation and my reputation has come with me. I thought I was doing really well, but there is one nurse who rings the coordinator everytime I blink the wrong way. She has also made complaints to cover her stuffing around with her mates and not supporting me during a horrid shift. I was bailed up and yelled at by the coordinator for at least 10 minutes the other day, I knew there was no point trying to stand up for myself, they are all a bunch of bullies. I don't mind being criticised, they just seem to think that being abusive is an acceptable way to orientate first year nurses. So it looks like my career is down the drain. I am in a small country area so I have very few other employment options and I have lost all faith in the profession. I have lost all my self esteem and if it wasn't for the money (and letting my family down) I would walk away now. Has anyone had a problems in the grad year? Can someone tell me what I should do?
Specializes in Med/Surg/Ortho/HH/Radiology-Now Retired.
Hi Grace,
Sorry I didn't mean to offend with my earlier post, must have come off night duty or something that day
What I meant to say is, there seems to be a big divide between hospital and university-trained nurses, with each side viewing the other with suspicion and not necessarily always recognising what the other has been through to get to where they are. I also think one of the issues that nursing (like a lot of occupations) is struggling to come to terms with is how to manage younger people in the workplace - while we younger nurses may appear not to "respect our elders" in the way older hospital-trained nurses did, I think this is the trend with younger people in general, not just in regard to nurses. This is not to say that I don't value the knowledge that older nurses have and recognise how far nursing has come as a profession due to their efforts, but I am also aware that often their practice is based on tradition, rather than evidence/research (another side-effect of going to uni I guess).
I should also note that I am the daughter of a hospital-trained nurse who never went to uni or did further study, and I'm probably guilty of generalising too much about "older nurses" based our (really poor) relationship!
I'm sure these sorts of discussions will be around for plenty of years to come... keeps life interesting
Thank you. Apology accepted. :)
The argument about hospital trained nurses V Uni educated nurses has been doing the rounds for a long time. Perhaps if I share with you some of my experiences in this regard it might help you understand why some hospital trained nurses feel as they do.
Back 'in the day', we not only worked full-time and hard, we also attended lectures, studied, did essays, assignments, exams etc etc, all in our own time, for the most part. We were a 'jack -of -all trades', including doing cleaning duties which nurses today don't do, and rightly so! It was a totally different nursing/working environment, 'back then'. We also were paid a pittance for wages. We fought hard for better conditions, better wages, professional recognition, you name it, as nurses together we rallied and fought the good fight. Not only for ourselves, but for the future generations of nurses who would follow us.
To now have that 'future generation' of nurses criticise, ridicule, reject or condem those who helped pave the way for them, is not only insulting, but also hurtful. Hospital trained nurses might not have a university degree, but they have a wealth of experience and, knowledge gained throughexperience, which is invaluable. As with anything else, you can read about it in books, attend lectures on it, but until you actually physically EXPERIENCE it, you really have no tangible idea just WHAT it is REALLY like. Childbirth and the death of someone you love dearly are two things which come to mind as a way of giving you an analogy. We might think we understand or know all about such events because we've studied them, but until we actually experience it for ourselves, actually live it, feel it, taste it, our knowledge is purely that of a person who has read about or studied a particular subject, event etc etc. Competent nursing really needs a combination of both.
When experienced people can share what they know, the learner has much to gain. However, if either is unwilling to be the teacher or the learner, then you have a problem. Sadly this is not uncommon in the nursing profession. I well remember thinking my old tutor sister's -( now THAT gives it away for me, doesn't it??!!!) :chuckle -were old fashioned, out of date, strict grumpy old bags. I came to realise as time went on how judgemental and wrong I was! They were in fact, wise, experienced, courageous women!
In the latter part of my career I tried to be generous towards new nurses by sharing what I knew. The 'Elder' handing along the knowledge and wisdom if you like. Sadly, I more often than not, was met with arrogance, disinterest, ungratefulness. Interestingly, I hear and read about how older nurses refuse to share what they know! It would appear we're damned if we do, and damned if we don't!
As for practice based on tradition as opposed to evidence/research .......
You should be aware that not all evidence/research is totally conclusive. And even when it is, sometimes the best practice is that which has stood the test of time and obtained best outcomes. You may call it tradition. I call it tried and tested. Proof positive.
I'm saddened and sorry to read that you have a poor relationship with your Mum. Mother/daughter relationships can be awkward and difficult at times. Try not to judge her too harshly, there's probably things about your Mum, her own life experiences, which you have no idea about. I hope you can heal the relationship so you both can enjoy and treasure each other. We only ever have one mother.
I wish you all the very best in your career and my advice is to be cautious of generalising about older nurses and/or nurses who trained in hospitals. Not every nurse is the same. Whether hospital trained or university trained. Everyone is uniquely individual. Most people have gifts and talents we can all benefit from if we remain open.
Grr. I just had this big reply written out and my web page went back, deleting it.
So to sum up what I was saying, I've found that some nurses react differently to students and employees. As a student you have a buffer, in a sense, whereas as an employee - either an AIN like myself, or a new grad like you - you are expected to be up to their expectations, and the desire to help kind of evaporates. I hope tthese nurses get over themselves soon and give you a break - as has been said, we all were (or will be, in my case) new one day!
Grace Oz
1,294 Posts
Thank you. Apology accepted. :)
The argument about hospital trained nurses V Uni educated nurses has been doing the rounds for a long time. Perhaps if I share with you some of my experiences in this regard it might help you understand why some hospital trained nurses feel as they do.
Back 'in the day', we not only worked full-time and hard, we also attended lectures, studied, did essays, assignments, exams etc etc, all in our own time, for the most part. We were a 'jack -of -all trades', including doing cleaning duties which nurses today don't do, and rightly so! It was a totally different nursing/working environment, 'back then'. We also were paid a pittance for wages. We fought hard for better conditions, better wages, professional recognition, you name it, as nurses together we rallied and fought the good fight. Not only for ourselves, but for the future generations of nurses who would follow us.
To now have that 'future generation' of nurses criticise, ridicule, reject or condem those who helped pave the way for them, is not only insulting, but also hurtful. Hospital trained nurses might not have a university degree, but they have a wealth of experience and, knowledge gained through experience, which is invaluable. As with anything else, you can read about it in books, attend lectures on it, but until you actually physically EXPERIENCE it, you really have no tangible idea just WHAT it is REALLY like. Childbirth and the death of someone you love dearly are two things which come to mind as a way of giving you an analogy. We might think we understand or know all about such events because we've studied them, but until we actually experience it for ourselves, actually live it, feel it, taste it, our knowledge is purely that of a person who has read about or studied a particular subject, event etc etc. Competent nursing really needs a combination of both.
When experienced people can share what they know, the learner has much to gain. However, if either is unwilling to be the teacher or the learner, then you have a problem. Sadly this is not uncommon in the nursing profession. I well remember thinking my old tutor sister's -( now THAT gives it away for me, doesn't it??!!!) :chuckle -were old fashioned, out of date, strict grumpy old bags. I came to realise as time went on how judgemental and wrong I was! They were in fact, wise, experienced, courageous women!
In the latter part of my career I tried to be generous towards new nurses by sharing what I knew. The 'Elder' handing along the knowledge and wisdom if you like. Sadly, I more often than not, was met with arrogance, disinterest, ungratefulness. Interestingly, I hear and read about how older nurses refuse to share what they know!
It would appear we're damned if we do, and damned if we don't!
As for practice based on tradition as opposed to evidence/research .......
You should be aware that not all evidence/research is totally conclusive. And even when it is, sometimes the best practice is that which has stood the test of time and obtained best outcomes. You may call it tradition. I call it tried and tested. Proof positive.
I'm saddened and sorry to read that you have a poor relationship with your Mum. Mother/daughter relationships can be awkward and difficult at times. Try not to judge her too harshly, there's probably things about your Mum, her own life experiences, which you have no idea about. I hope you can heal the relationship so you both can enjoy and treasure each other. We only ever have one mother.
I wish you all the very best in your career and my advice is to be cautious of generalising about older nurses and/or nurses who trained in hospitals. Not every nurse is the same. Whether hospital trained or university trained. Everyone is uniquely individual. Most people have gifts and talents we can all benefit from if we remain open.
Cheers..............