Nurses Eating Their Young

[looking for work]

I have been examining it for 10 years straight. I have not been fired over and over. It has happened, you take your experiences and learn from them. For example, I was a new hire at an ER with some ER experience already under my belt. The environment in that hospital was hostile, to put it very politely. The whole hospital was in the process of being closed and people were losing their jobs left and right. My turn came too, but instead of being politely told that I was being laid off for financial reasons, the nurse director took it as an opportunity to grow fangs and pull out her hatchet. I was called into her office with my nurse manager and humiliated so badly I felt like crying. My nurse manager knew the real deal, and actually broke down in tears herself. I took the beating like a man, and shook hands with the director when I left. Please dont make assumptions about people's experiences when you dont have all the facts. The nice thing about this posting spot is that you can come on here and vent.

[heron, ASN, RN]

I have been examining it for 10 years straight. I have not been fired over and over. It has happened, you take your experiences and learn from them. For example, I was a new hire at an ER with some ER experience already under my belt. The environment in that hospital was hostile, to put it very politely. The whole hospital was in the process of being closed and people were losing their jobs left and right. My turn came too, but instead of being politely told that I was being laid off for financial reasons, the nurse director took it as an opportunity to grow fangs and pull out her hatchet. I was called into her office with my nurse manager and humiliated so badly I felt like crying. My nurse manager knew the real deal, and actually broke down in tears herself. I took the beating like a man, and shook hands with the director when I left. Please dont make assumptions about people's experiences when you dont have all the facts. The nice thing about this posting spot is that you can come on here and vent.

QED ...

[looking for work]

Not sure what QED is supposed to mean, but if it is an attempt to heckle a horrible experience, then look in the mirror and laugh at yourself please. I have found some of the most gruesome people enter this field, and fester inside of it forever. I am thanking god that will never be me. I am not financially tied down to nursing like some of the bitter bitter nurses I have crossed paths with in my career. Some advice to you, read the original article and take a look at yourself. I dont need to be eaten alive off the job as well.

[heron, ASN, RN]

Quod Erat Demonstrandum

[looking for work]

If you would like to make a statement then do it, but speaking in latin would otherwise cause me to use the language line at the hospital where I no longer work. I have no idea what you are trying to say.

[heron, ASN, RN]

If you would like to make a statement then do it, but speaking in latin would otherwise cause me to use the language line at the hospital where I no longer work. I have no idea what you are trying to say.

Google it ...

[looking for work]

Still not sure who you are. This is the reason the author of the article posted it on this blog. The behavior of the nurses in management and leadership today is reprehensible and has to stop. They cement their own jobs by throwing co-workers right under the bus for no reason at all. What you didnt know was that the Director who humiliated me was also fired. I was supposed to be the new manager, and my manager to be new Director. I posted my experience to demonstrate that this is indeed a problem.

[heron, ASN, RN]

And you still don't get the point ... let me spell it out in words of one syllable.

The issue is two-fold. First, you have demonstrated both a reluctance and an inability to go after information on your own. Rather, you replied with name-calling and self-pity and somehow decided that your ignorance was my fault because I'm old.

Secondly, if you treat a total stranger with such aggression, how did you treat your colleagues when they happened to do or say something you did not understand? Your behavior is a lawsuit waiting to happen.

Insanity is defined by some as doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. Get help.

[looking for work]

I would just like to add to this post that is is very troublesome to see all of the nurses on this thread who have been on the receiving end of poor management and poor leadership. It seems to be more common, and the norm that new nurses face this kind of hurdle when trying to enter a new field, and a new career. New grads are not clueless, just new, and its a shame what is happening all over the place. Keep your heads held high and dont get discouraged. Have confidence in yourselves and dont give up. I precepted 2 new grads (at the same time) and they both successfully transitioned to floor nurses. My husband has as well, but we see that some are not treated with respect. This is a shame.

[ttmm2008]

I seem to have more trouble with PCTs than with the other RNs. If I ask them to help with a patient they give me this look like "who are you to tell me what to do?" Believe me, I'm not above getting my hands dirty and I don't think that having RN after my name makes me too good to do any job, but if I ask them to bath a patient or change a bed they look at me like I have two heads.

Welcome to our world. Tons of responsibility but no authority. Yep that's new nurse 101. The PCT problem exists and you have you be careful or it could turn into a near "hazing". Respect them because they do work very hard but also ask for their help. You cannot do it alone so they have to help and they also get paid for "helping" in other words doing their job. The good news is that it will gradually get better once you show them there is a reason you're the RN. You did go to school and get trained for the job you're doing and yes it does involve more than patient hygiene. It gets better, respect them, don't be afraid to ask them to do their job and also don't be afraid to jump into the gore. They will appreciate it. Finally, don't be afraid to go to the manager if all else fails.

[brewbabe]

I too, have experienced some nasty nurses that have made me feel totally incompetent. It's a horrible feeling, one I don't want to wish on anybody.

I fully agree that these nurses that "eat their young", really need to evaluate themselves, and, move on if you really feel the need to treat co-workers, students and new grads the way they do. You were a student at one time...it's called LEARNING, and they won't learn if they are made to feel stupid, "in the way", or a "burden on your time".

I now am a manager, and have been approached by one of the local nursing programs to have RN students follow me. I enjoy having a student work with me...they have to learn somehow, right? I want them to have the best experience possible by being involved in everything that a manager in my facility goes thru everyday. I know I did right by them when they leave the facility with a huge smile, and; "I had the best experience here, can I come back?"

[pensue37]

My preceptor was this way, going to far as to tell me I'm too old to be a nurse (48 yrs. old) and telling me my critical thinking skills are horrible. At any rate, the entire precepting experience amounted to me living on the edge, in fear of going through 2 years of schooling for naught. If I have one bit of advice for preceptors... please allow your student nurses to make some mistakes without fear of damnation, but to learn from them! Don't belittle them personally, but point out how they can do something better or easier. Personal assaults do no one any good. At the end of my precepting experience (final review) my preceptor pointed out everything I did wrong. Finally, as I held my breath then spoke to defend myself, I asked her, "Have I done anything right?" Her response... "The patients seem to like you, I can see why you were a good cashier." (the job I took on while paying my way through school)

In many ways I feel like I'm scratching my way along in my young nursing career due to this horrible experience. Those words haunt me on days when I feel inept in comparison to my experienced co-workers. It really is hard to work in some places, if you are a caring and loving individual that doesn't fit in with the gossip mongers and bad girls.