My Teacher Says Nurses Eat Their Young

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Specializes in LTC, Med/Surg.

I just finished my 2nd week of PN school and was surprised when one of my teachers said that nurses eat their young. My sister, who is an RN, has told me that I'll have to learn to stand my ground with doctors, but I never expected to hear that I'd be bullyed by my fellow nurses just because I'm the newbie. Does anyone have a story?

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Specializes in ICUs, Tele, etc..

nurse pimping is common during orientation, specially by other nurses who's not orienting you, it's a way to gauge the nurse who's orienting you if they're up to par, or sometimes they just do it just cuz...inevitably any nurse would have to go through it even if ur just a new grad, or if ur going into a specialized unit where it's a tight knit group i guess....you'll just have to find the best preceptor that would work with you and learn to stay away from the one's you're not clicking with.

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We buried this old wive's tale on another thread recently.

The truth is that there are nice people and mean people in every profession and you will find that there are nice nurses and mean nurses.

Nurses don't eat their young.

Some mean nurses are mean. Most nurses are helpful and nice.

Grab a shovel and help completely bury this old myth.

Oh, and you do have to stand up for yourself, where ever you work.

Good luck.

steph

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

the old eat the young

the young eat the old

it's a dog eat dog world

all this can be true, or not.

depends on where you work, and with whom you work.

And it is NOT unique to nursing. Your instructor knows all this. So, now , do you.

Take care, and best wishes to you. I also welcome you to the site!!!!

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We buried this old wive's tale on another thread recently.

The truth is that there are nice people and mean people in every profession and you will find that there are nice nurses and mean nurses.

I agree with that. On the other hand, there is a reason that myth persists in the profession. IMO, nurses are always walking the edge of time and intensity, the situation is not condusive to taking on a new nurse. When your mind is on your pt, and you have such a big responsibility, mentoring someone might not the first thing on your mind, even for a "nice" nurse. When I am being preceptored, I keep that in mind, and I try my best to observe and learn, without being intrusive. I also try to be as helpful as possible, so my preceptor will appreciate the extra hand. Also, be empathetic, for example, find the right moment to ask questions, and not when the nurse is the middle of something crucial. I find that even very abrupt and busy preceptors will turn the corner and become more open to teaching me when they realize I'm an asset, not a liability. That's happened so many times, that i can almost count on it. Even the "mean" nurses, will relax a little.

Such is the life of a newbie or student nurse. Don't take it personally if you sense hostility, and when you spot a rare species like a preceptor of your dreams, hang on to her.

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Shame on your instructor for perpetuating a misconception that has caused a great deal of division and mistrust in nursing. Very unprofessional of her, that.

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What does "nurse pimping" mean?

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Specializes in ICU, nutrition.
one of my teachers said that nurses eat their young.

We do, and they are very tasty!!

Just kidding. Ditto what everyone else said, there are nice and mean people everywhere in every profession. The worst I ever got hazed was at a waitressing job. Those grizzled-30-year-vet-mean-old-hag nurses got nothin' on a grizzled-30-year-vet-mean-old-hag waitress.

On the one hand, shame on your teacher for perpetuating the myth. On the other, it was nice of her to warn you it could happen.

Good luck to you.

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I wouldn't worry too much about it if I were you. Right now just worry about getting through school!

No matter the profession-there are going to be those that are hard to work with. When you get to that point, just work hard, understand where they are coming from and don't take it personally. Hold your own!

Good luck!

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Specializes in ICUs, Tele, etc..
What does "nurse pimping" mean?

basically the same thing when residents or attendings put med students on the spot which makes them all nervous....it's a teaching tool that's use where someone is asked about a subject and when they don't know the answer people jump at them. for i guess a new nurse not knowing the answer for most things are acceptable but when asked again, expected to answer that question correctly.

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I just finished my 2nd week of PN school and was surprised when one of my teachers said that nurses eat their young. My sister, who is an RN, has told me that I'll have to learn to stand my ground with doctors, but I never expected to hear that I'd be bullyed by my fellow nurses just because I'm the newbie. Does anyone have a story?

Yeah, some do, some don't, some do and regurgitate, and then you learn, hey, that's life. Tuff :uhoh21: but it will make you stronger and better. Don't be INTIMADATED ! :cool:

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