**nurses Who Eat Their Young Should Be Kicked To The Curb***

[suziesunshine]

We are in the realm of evidence based practice where nursing "traditions' have little value. This should translate over to the tradition of nurses who eat their young. We've all met them..usually middle aged with no significant other who pride themselves in being tough. Their attitudes are reflected in their slovenly appearances and of course they are great hands on nurses since they have little else in their worlds.

NP programs are no different. I've had clinical experiences with physicians and NP's alike and the physicians are professional, curteous and will correct me without the underlying insult. Most of the NP's have been rude or have ignored me and one went off on me. I threatened to sue the school if they didn't change my preceptor and they changed my assignment that day.

Those nurses (and NP's) are the reason that half the world doesn't view nurses as professionals. MBA's do not belittle students, interns or new employees. Neither do engineers or any other professionals. Many bright nurses have left the field because of these low lifes.

We should all make a concerted effort to stop this behavior in ourselves and other nurses. If they are rude or belittling, they should be told that if they want to be considered a professional...then act, dress and behave like one. If they don't listen, then administrators should be told and if necessary, they should be let go since they are making a mockery of the profession.

If you are young and starting out and your preceptor is a schmuck to you, then tell her to start looking and acting like a professional, report her to your supervisor or administration. Don't be intimidated and don't take it. It's time these "tough cookies" were kicked to the curb where they belong.

In today's world of evidence based practice...this has got to go.

[justme1972]

My original thread was closed for whatever reason. I have been in the profession for over twenty years and I've met middle aged nurses or NP's who enjoys humiliating new nurses, orientees or students. Tell me, what other professional does this out of "tradition"?....answer...NONE.

MBA's don't insult their interns or orientees. Engineers are not put through a "right of passage" by middle aged women with very little else in their lives but their jobs.

In the land of evidence based practice, nursing research and emphasis on professionalism..this has to go. If you are a new grad, a new orientee or whatever and you are humiliated, being treated rudely or maligned, then go to administration. Don't take that nonsense.

We will never be recognized as professinals unless this behavior stops.

As a "middle-aged" woman...nurse or not...I can tell you first hand that people that are "middle-aged" have ALOT more going on in their life than their jobs.

I sincerely hope you find the right road to lead you there...good luck.

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

I merged the three current threads about this topic. I surrender to the will of the people, that despite the 13 similar topics I linked that we still need yet another thread about it.

Yes, the behavior described needs to stop. We each have a personal responsiblity if it happens to us stop it then and there.

I'm grateful that in my 16 year career I haven't seen it that much and it's never happened to me personally.

Carry on.

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

Hello,

Thank you for your response. I don't like stereotypes myself. I don't believe all experiened or even most experienced nurses eat their young. But it is part of "the culture" I have repeatedly been told. Thats not good enough for me, someone who is relatively new to nursing. In school we were taught to act as professionals, which I do.

Really my concern is about talking opening about this issue, so that more nurses (including experienced nurses who don't like bieng stereotyped) will have confidence in standing up for themselves AND EACH OTHER!! Its nice when a nurse will come up and tell me quietly that another nurse behaved very badly towards me, and she sympathizes. Its another thing to stand up for each other and say thats not acceptable, this is a professional place of work and harassment of coworkers will not be tolerated, regardless of experience. It would be nice if they could say this and not feel threatened about their job, as I have been told by nurses who feel bad about how newer nurses, or other coworkers are treated in general.

You are right, there are many posts on this already however, and I do urge people to look at those before making new posts.

I hope this clears up any misunderstanding.

No problem.

Personally, it's not part of my nursing culture. However, I understand that it is for many people.

Could we at least leave the agism out of it.

[Diahni]

www.bullyonline.org

if you really want some help with true bullying/mobbing at the workplace.

Also recommend self-assertiveness training/classes and books. The difference you make can be a matter of attitude.

This is definitely true! How you come off to people will affect how they treat you. Problem is that its the people who are most vulnerable that get the most cr*p. There's a class issue here, too. I'm not surprised that somebody just posted (forget who) on this thread that she didn't encounter this behavior at an Ivy League hospital. At the risk of getting "flamed," treating your underlings in an abusive manner is low class. Hassling waitresses because of the bad food in a restaurant comes under the same category. Well bred people don't treat ANYBODY in the manner that I've experienced in both nursing school and the hospital. Yeah, hazing happens in every profession. And it's the low life that's doing it. People ought to be better than this. Class is not something defined by your bank account, but it is defined by your manners, no matter what degree comes after your name.

Diahni

[PANurseRN1]

Personally I find this posters comments an insult to me and all other middle age nurses who are doing nother more than trying to survive this world ourselves. If she is looking for respect I suggest she start giving it because in this world you get what you give. Being almost 50 years old and working in the field since the time she probably was born I have worked long hard hours to earn the respect that I have from my coworkers, managers, and doctors, and to have her insulting remarks describing me as a middle age, "sloven" individual goes beyond tolerance. No matter what her age, no matter new nurse/old nurse if you were on my unit and treated older people this way you wouldn't need to be eaten, you would be left alone to self destruct.

Personally, if anyone talked on the board about a religion or race like this it would not be tolerated and I think it is disrespectable to allow older nurses to be referred in such a manner without anything substantial to back it up. If this is true of older nurses then give me proof otherwise shut up and quit insulting people who work hard to survive the job market and are the first ones the younger ones come running to when they don't know what to do when their patients go bad, or better yet when they don't know when to call the doctor so they won't be yelled at.

Suzishunshine if you want to make nursing a better place I suggest you start with the person that looks back at you in the mirror.

I think it was time this thread was closed and any other thread that shows this much disrespect for their own older members.

Thank you for saying what I was far too angry to say myself.

[banditrn]

I can't speak for everyone, but I, personally, have never 'eaten my young' - but as an experienced, older nurse, I have been treated disrespectfully a few times by younger, newer nurses who felt that they 'knew it all' and didn't want the benefit of my experience.

That's OK - there are plenty of others for me to mentor. I feel like it's my 'rite of passage' to help them, just as the more experienced nurses helped me when I was new. There may have been some with an attitude, but there were plenty of others that I could count on.

[Spidey's mom, ADN, BSN, RN]

Thanks Tweety, for merging the threads. :icon_hug:

steph

[caroladybelle, BSN, RN]

This should translate over to the tradition of nurses who eat their young. We've all met them..usually middle aged with no significant other who pride themselves in being tough. Their attitudes are reflected in their slovenly appearances and of course they are great hands on nurses since they have little else in their worlds.

One could say the same thing about the abundant numbers of young nurses that eat the old.

After all we have all met them, usually young and sleeping with everything that has a pulse, spending hours on their cell phones, and worrying over their pregnancy/HIV test scares. They pride themselves on how long their fake nails are. Their attitudes are reflected in their slutty appearances, with their low waisted scrubs, and their thong panties showing............. because their is nothing else important in THEIR Worlds.

(But that would BE MEAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

[NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN]

I threatened to sue the school if they didn't change my preceptor and they changed my assignment that day.

What's with the attitude "If I don't get my way, I'll threaten to sue the school" expressed periodically by students here. I view that type of statement as highly confrontational along with kicking people to the curb.

What's happened to dialogue, discussion, give and take......get a lot more out of life with honey than you do with vinegar.

[NurseyPoo, RN]

I have seen way too many "Younger/Newer" nurses act like they know it all. I am sorry but the minute...NO the second that you believe you are superior to nurses who have been doing this a heck of a lot longer then you...you need to rethink your career! Nursing is a learning thing...I learn something new every single time I walk in the Hospital. Some of these younger nurses act so snotty and rude. YOU ARE ALL STILL WET BEHIND THE EARS! You all need to get over yourselves. If I have a problem with something or need advice on a situation with a patient I am certainly not going to ask a newbie. I have been a nurse for 3 years and in the medical field in one way or another for 16 years...I don't know squatt compared to some of my co-workers. It is simply called using your resources. That is what they are there for. I could also be that way because I was born in the 60's...did not have a TV in my room growing up, got my first cell phone in 1999...and my butt/underwear does not hang out at work! Have a little self respect would ya'...?!?!!!

Sorry I had to get that off my chest...Whew I feel better:p

[Maggie Mae]

Middle aged, no significant other, good hands on skills. You say that like there is something wrong with it. Do you view your patients through that same critical lens, or can you turn it off and on? Why not be an example? Practice with pride and have empathy for those that don't meet your standards. Be the change you want to see in the world.

[medsurgnurse, RN]

Personally I find this posters comments an insult to me and all other middle age nurses who are doing nother more than trying to survive this world ourselves. If she is looking for respect I suggest she start giving it because in this world you get what you give. Being almost 50 years old and working in the field since the time she probably was born I have worked long hard hours to earn the respect that I have from my coworkers, managers, and doctors, and to have her insulting remarks describing me as a middle age, "sloven" individual goes beyond tolerance. No matter what her age, no matter new nurse/old nurse if you were on my unit and treated older people this way you wouldn't need to be eaten, you would be left alone to self destruct.

Personally, if anyone talked on the board about a religion or race like this it would not be tolerated and I think it is disrespectable to allow older nurses to be referred in such a manner without anything substantial to back it up. If this is true of older nurses then give me proof otherwise shut up and quit insulting people who work hard to survive the job market and are the first ones the younger ones come running to when they don't know what to do when their patients go bad, or better yet when they don't know when to call the doctor so they won't be yelled at.

Suzishunshine if you want to make nursing a better place I suggest you start with the person that looks back at you in the mirror.

I think it was time this thread was closed and any other thread that shows this much disrespect for their own older members.

Bravo!! I agree generalizations about any race, religion or sexual orientation would not be tolerated. Why is is ok to generalize about older nurses?