nurses "eating" young

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Specializes in er, pediatric er.

I have always heard that nurses are notorious for "eating" their young. I graduate in May. I have to say that I have witnessed this first hand, and have experienced it, as well. I have always wondered why this is and wanted everyone's opinion on why it happens. It seems to me that experienced nurses would want to nurture young nurses instead of offering them up to the wolves....so to speak.

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

It seems to be experienced nurses would indeed want to nuture new nurses.

Fortunately, I haven't worked in an environment where it's widespread. I sometimes wonder if one nurse gives a new nurse a bad attitude, then the new nurse generalizes about "nurses eating their young" when it's only one or two people.

Most of the time experiences nurses are busy and overwhelmed with their day to day activities, and unfortunately don't have much time to "nuture". I think that while we many not be available to nuture, it doesn't mean we are eating our young.

But some are quite tasty with a little A-1 sauce.

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Begalli - you are great at stating the obvious, so thanks!!

Tweety, I love new nurses with A-1. A little crispy on the outside, tender inside. :)

I too think that this is an overdone concept. There are a couple of reasons, as you stated, that people might feel that they aren't welcomed. We are busy, we are tired. Another is some people are just not good at teaching. Another is some people are jerks. That isn't limited to nursing. I'm not sure the answer to training new employees is matching them with another nurse. Do we get paid extra to proctor? (I guess some do but we don't).

Maybe hire a new hire orienter period. ha ha

steph

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I have to agree. I am currently a student and I sure have met some grumpy people. Try not to let them bug you. I plan on keeping that in the back of my mind so when I have to help a new nurse I wont treat them like I was.

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

Steph, so many students and new grads say things like "why are nurses so rude to students" and "why do nurses eat their young", I'm beginning to wonder am I just blind to it happening? Because it didn't happen to me and in all my years I don't see it happening. It must happen because so many people say it does, and it's not fair to discount their feelings. Does your perspective change with experience? Or am I just too much into my own high nurse to patient ratio am I oblivious to what's going on around me in the profression (most likely).

I know the new grad on my floor is treated royally by myself the preceptor and my coworkers. We all did happy dances and hugged her when she passed boards this week.

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Specializes in Med-Surg.
I have to agree. I am currently a student and I sure have met some grumpy people. Try not to let them bug you. I plan on keeping that in the back of my mind so when I have to help a new nurse I wont treat them like I was.

Absolutely there are some grumpy people in health care. There are some downright evil mean and nasty witches. But they tend to be that way to everyone, not just the new grads.

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I think the simple fact of the matter is that as a nursing student, and even as a new nurse, you really don't have any idea what experienced nurses are dealing with on a daily basis.

If I'm taking care of very acute, decompensating patients, I might not have time to be the facility's shiny happy welcoming committee. With that said, I do try to nurture and encourage new nurses and I love to have nursing students, but everyone doesn't like to teach.

Whether or not you have a good precepting experience depends on a lot of variables, not the least of which is the staffing on your unit and the mental health of your preceptor on any given day. Nursing is a stressful job... when I was a new grad, I didn't know everything (far from it!) but I was willing to help other people where I could and did not expect to be coddled. *Your* attitude also has a lot to do with it.

This phenomena isn't exclusive to nurses. Ask any new paramedic or cop if they were nurtured as rookies.

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

there is alot of "older nurse eating" too.......I have seen it w/my own eyes. No less disgusting, if you ask me.

I dont' get why we can't nurture EACH other; dangit we are a nurturing profession right????

Now, go visit those threads. This one has been "done to death" here before, as someone before pointed out.

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Specializes in Medical Oncology, Med-Surg, L & D.

i am a new rn too. so far, i haven't eaten alive :chuckle in my opinion, there are only 2 kinds of experienced nurses.

1) one who loves to teach

2) one who doesn't want to be bothered.

most of the time, the don knows who are the best teachers.

note: please don't get me wrong. nurses who are not willing to orient doesn't mean they are not great nurses, they are great too just like the ones who love to teach. all nurses are good teachers (think about patient/family teachings).

but especifically for orientation, there are few who are not good at it. so goodluck to all new nurses. :nurse:

please do not generalize the statement "nurses eating their youngs." :) :twocents:

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
i am a new rn too. so far, i haven't eaten alive :chuckle in my opinion, there are only 2 kinds of experienced nurses.

1) one who loves to teach

2) one who doesn't want to be bothered.

most of the time, the don knows who are the best teachers.

note: please don't get me wrong. nurses who are not willing to orient doesn't mean they are not great nurses, they are great too just like the ones who love to teach. all nurses are good teachers (think about patient/family teachings).

but especifically for orientation, there are few who are not good at it. so goodluck to all new nurses. :nurse:

please do not generalize the statement "nurses eating their youngs." :) :twocents:

i hope you are finding the ones who want to help most often. there are a lot of us out here. the bad ones seems to be the ones so many judge us by as a group.

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They not only eat the young, they eat the old, and each other.

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