I would rather strangle our old nurses rather than eat the young.

Mijourney · Apr 9, 2001

Originally posted by lalaxton:
I have to agree with wildtime on this one, it is a state of mind not age. I also agree with mustang that it is not a function of their age but of being tired of the job. I believe that although sometimes change is hard it 'keeps you young' and helps you to better handle change when it occurs. My mom became a legal secretary at age 60, learned to use a word processor which was hard for her to do but not impossible. She is 77 now and is tackling the internet, not very good at it yet but determined to try....

Some people would rather complain about a problem instead of find a solution.... Hang in there Chuckie...

Hi. Ditto Lalaxton. I also agree with wildtime and mustangsheba. The pace of our work is regularly increasing and change, especially chaotic change, is difficult. If we nurses are forced by financial need to work or simply want to stay in the mainstream, we must do what's necessary in an effort to keep up with the tide no matter our age. If these two nurses feel that they're being unnecessarily put upon by management, then as "elder statespeople" with longevity, they can do themselves and the rest of the staff a favor and go directly to management. In my opinion, that's called leadership.

Q. · Apr 10, 2001

Originally posted by NicuGal:
As for rotating...I think that if they have put in alot of years, why should they rotate?...and these people have been there for years and paid their dues!

No, No No!! I respectfully say, that this attitude has to go!

They should rotate if everyone has to rotate. What if the skill mix on a particular shift is not safe? (ie - all new grads on night shift without any experienced nurse for a resource)

What if there are staffing shortages on a particular shift, due to vacations or LOAs?

It is this attitude that turns otherwise happy young RNs into old, "crotchety" ones. By rotating only certain RNs (and we all know they effects of doing swing shifts on the body) you are burning them out - and you are preserving the older ones for...what? Retirement? A unit needs to function as a team, and for those who demand exceptions, you start to divide the unit and that is not good.

Kday, I used to work with some of those you described - we hated working days as well for the same reason. We as night staff vowed to NEVER be that way. Well, now we are on days, and those nurses left. We are proud to say that our new grads aren't experiencing what we did. Just some words of encouragement.

Chuckie · Apr 11, 2001

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Sue D · May 21, 2001

All these tales are just more examples of the sad fact that nurses are often their own worst enemies. Clashes between old and young, degree or non-degree and all the rest of it just divide the profession, especially in the UK.

I think that American nursing leads the way in nursing education and the Uk would do well to follow their example.

cmggriff · May 22, 2001

Nice schmice, you people a gonna make me hurl. Here's what I do in these situations (and we all have situations like this). If the person giving me a hard time is a guy, I grab him by the throat and throw him up against the wall. then I explain in my most gentle manner that, in my presence at least, I expect this behavior to stop. It always has. Now if the problem is with a female I have to have my wife do the throat grabbing. You see I can't hit a woman.

NicuGal, MSN, RN · May 23, 2001

Sorry Susy...still think that if someone has put in 25 or 30 years...they deserve a break! We have over 90 nurses in our unit and a few that have been there over 25 years...I think that they do deserve a break! We rotate 25 percent so we don't really have too much worry about coverage.

MQ Edna · May 23, 2001

Originally posted by NicuGal:
[i think that it comes from new grads that think they should have every holiday off, every summer vacation they want, etc...and these people have been there for years and paid their dues! No other profession treats their elder employees as badly as nursing...at least that I know of!

I have to say that this is a sentiment I have seen several times and it is getting wearisome. I have worked with many new grads, as an aide, and haven't seen any such attitude. The only nurse I have ever known who thought she should get every holiday and every Sunday off has been a nurse at least 20 years! And, as a new grad myself, I am very aware that I am low man on the totem pole and don't plan to ask for ANY time off until next summer, at least! :)

Laura

Chuckie · May 23, 2001

I