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.
"Nurses Eat Their Young" as a stereotype has got to be kicked to the curb.
I entered nursing at 40 and have worked my entire adult life. In retail, waitressing and the hotel industry as a teen and in college. In the computer industry. As a secretary in a law firm and in a sales office. In the tourist industry. In Social Work (my first degree).
And I've met jerks in all walks of life. Nurses do not have a monopoly on that.
We ALL need to stand up for ourselves and not put up with being treated disrespectfully. And that needs to be taught AND practiced, starting at home.
steph
StevieLynn,
Oh, to be sure, there are lots of jerks out there. But this is what really gets my goose about nursing: Somehow turning the other cheek is apparently part of the job description. It makes absolutely no sense at all. While I admire people who can be calm and collected while somebody is laying into them, this is a rare ability that most people are unable to maintain, though we can all do it most of the time. It's not okay to be abusive to other people. That you are sick. or a loved one is sick is no excuse. It doesn't happen a lot, but it does happen. It should be part of the manager's job to gently remind patients and their families that they can't behave this way. The same should hold true for nurses being abusive to other nurses. Problem is, it's usually the person with more power that feels free to do this. What do you do? Go over somebody's head to complain. Administration would probably just laugh and say if you can't take the heat....
Not to forget to mention the ones looking to hit the jack pot of their "MRS" degree with a wealthy doctor. Look out when the new residents hit the floor.
Nurses pursuing a "MRS" have gone the way of the dinosaur. These days, doctors more often than not, marry other doctors. That said, who wants to marry a doctor?
coming from a family of physicians .. I would definately NOT want to marry a doctor.
Nurses pursuing a "MRS" have gone the way of the dinosaur. These days, doctors more often than not, marry other doctors. That said, who wants to marry a doctor?
I agree that this isn't really an 'eat our young' issue or an age issue but simply a matter of some people just being naturally 'witchy' (with a capital B) and frustrated, and its easier for them to take their frustrations out on newcomers than anyone else. I wouldn't generalize that nurses eat their young because the phenomenon the OP described is not unique to nursing. I have never treated new nurses that way, and from my observations, neither do most nurses that I have worked with.
Nurses pursuing a "MRS" have gone the way of the dinosaur. These days, doctors more often than not, marry other doctors. That said, who wants to marry a doctor?
Then there is a herd of dinosaurs at the teaching hospital I used to work at. Those poor residents didn't know what was hitting them..talk about leading lambs to slaughter they not only got eaten as the young but practically molested before it happened. It was shameful the way those "nurses" acted around them.
Then there is a herd of dinosaurs at the teaching hospital I used to work at. Those poor residents didn't know what was hitting them..talk about leading lambs to slaughter they not only got eaten as the young but practically molested before it happened. It was shameful the way those "nurses" acted around them.
Ha! How funny! A fellow nursing student was asked to go on a date with a doctor during our clinicals, and the clinical instructor caught wind of it and had a fit! It probably depends on the hospital and general culture. Having to deal with "mating rituals" on the job is too much to ask! If the flirters and flirtees knew how it makes other people react, they'd be more discrete. The situation I saw was made even funnier by the fact the doctor had a good twenty years on the student. Maybe there should be a "flirting room," so other people don't need to feel sick to their stomach on the job.
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.
I agree...with the bulk of attorney's charging $250 an hour, and with the high probability of losing a case such as that...I don't know many students that have that kind of cash to even pay one to draw up and file the papers.
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
I've been an RN for over 20 years and I've been in an Ivy League University Medical Center for about 6 years now. I can honestly say that bullying, snapping at people, belittling people and bringing a person to tears is not tolerated here. Advanced degrees are encouraged as is politeness and class.
I apparently offended a couple of people about the fact that I've seen most of the bullies as being middle aged without happiness in their lives.No where in my original post did I say that ALL middle aged nurses were bullies. Hey, I'm middle aged and do my best to maintain myself both physically and accademically and I have NEVER been a bully. I wasn't raised that way.
Again, if we want to promote nursing as being on the same level as any other profession, we need to rid our profession of the tough cookie image.
I agree...with the bulk of attorney's charging $250 an hour, and with the high probability of losing a case such as that...I don't know many students that have that kind of cash to even pay one to draw up and file the papers.
I know this one wouldn't :)
Karen,
You ought to check out my former school - lots of pickles, but no honey!
If you check out legal web sites, to be sure, students rarely win. When they do, it boggles my mind, such as the white guy who sued to get into a medical school, thereby challenging the affirmative action laws in place. Most times, it's better not to get into a pi**ing contest with a skunk.
After all, who would want to attend a school after a court battle?
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.
It's not a matter of a an attitude. It's a matter of being humiliated in front of a patient and in front of a physician. It's a matter of expecting to be treated as an adult when I am paying for an education.
Unfortuneatly, one cannot have dialogue and discussion with bulliies.
Ok.."kicking to the curb" is a poor choice of words...let's try..getting fired for unprofessional behavior...and yes, I did consult an attorney because I won't allow that type of behavior. I never never exhibited it and wouldn't take it now from relics in the era where that was ok.
I've been an RN for over 20 years and I've been in an Ivy League University Medical Center for about 6 years now. I can honestly say that bullying, snapping at people, belittling people and bringing a person to tears is not tolerated here. Advanced degrees are encouraged as is politeness and class.
I apparently offended a couple of people about the fact that I've seen most of the bullies as being middle aged without happiness in their lives.No where in my original post did I say that ALL middle aged nurses were bullies. Hey, I'm middle aged and do my best to maintain myself both physically and accademically and I have NEVER been a bully. I wasn't raised that way.
Again, if we want to promote nursing as being on the same level as any other profession, we need to rid our profession of the tough cookie image.
SS: Don't forget you can also be a very sweet tough cookie! While I feel sorry for people who treat others badly, it sure doesn't make it any more pleasant to be around them. I don't think that any age group has the market on being this way. I had a young Russian nursing student say to me during a lab class (after my saying the room was too hot,) oh, it's probably a hot flash, and then she laughed sarcastically. Funny, huh? What remains true is one's perception of life doesn't necessarily come from one's situation, but rather one's mind set. At the same time, sometimes the only nice thing about a given situation is the way people are treating each other. Anybody who has witnessed the varying reactions different families have to a devastating illness in the family can vouch for this!
rngreenhorn
317 Posts
I like my "young" lightly breaded and fried in canola oil, served with a cold pale ale and mashed new potatoes.