Older nurses jealous of new young nurses?

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Are older nurses intimidated by new younger nurses? What do you think

Are older nurses intimidated by new younger nurses? What do you think

Uh no.

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No, I think some people are just mean and they'll be mean to new and old nurses alike. The only new nurses I have seen get treated really nasty lately were ones that came in with a lot of attitude and had to be corrected. I'm sure they thought it was out of jealousy though!

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Specializes in Critical Care.

Nice try.

~faith,

Timothy.

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Specializes in Rodeo Nursing (Neuro).

I'm a new nurse, and I don't think anybody is threatened or intimidated by me! But I'm also 49 years old, and have learned some things through life experience that have helped me fit in. First, bear in mind that no one stays in nursing long enough to be an experienced nurse without some pretty good reasons, at least one of which is almost certain to be: it's important. Good nurses take their work very seriously. Differences of opinion can get more personal than they maybe ought to, but we aren't baking bread, here. In the same vein, incompetence, and worse, indifference are apt to provoke impatience. If you're perceived as lazy or inept, you aren't likely to get much sympathy. If you come across as cocky or know-it-all, they'll eat you alive.

Not only nurses, but most people with a level of expertise like to be respected for their knowledge. Show that and a readiness to learn, and there will be people ready to teach. Fail to show it, and you'll be written off. It's human nature, and it isn't really wrong. Why should anyone invest their energy in someone unwilling to profit by it?

Of course, as others have noted, a few people are just mean, and it is possible to wind up in a group who are mostly that way. But my experience with people in and out of nursing has been that mean people are a minority.

Taking criticism appropriately may be a new nurse's biggest challenge. You can't let it get you down, but you shouldn't shrug it off, either. You have to be willing to learn from mistakes, evaluate yourself honestly, and seriously consider whether a critical remark is valid. Valid criticism helps you grow. Honestly thinking through why a criticism is not valid can help you grow, too. There may well be times when a recent grad may be more up-to-date, and there are likely to be times when a thing can be done right in more than one way. But it's still important to respect traditional wisdom, even when you choose a more modern approach.

To summarize: if you find yourself swimming with sharks, be a sponge. Sharks don't eat sponges.

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Specializes in Telemetry, OR, ICU.
Are older nurses intimidated by new younger nurses? What do you think

:chuckle

:rolleyes:

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Specializes in Telemetry, OR, ICU.
I'm a new nurse, and I don't think anybody is threatened or intimidated by me! But I'm also 49 years old, and have learned some things through life experience that have helped me fit in. First, bear in mind that no one stays in nursing long enough to be an experienced nurse without some pretty good reasons, at least one of which is almost certain to be: it's important. Good nurses take their work very seriously. Differences of opinion can get more personal than they maybe ought to, but we aren't baking bread, here. In the same vein, incompetence, and worse, indifference are apt to provoke impatience. If you're perceived as lazy or inept, you aren't likely to get much sympathy. If you come across as cocky or know-it-all, they'll eat you alive.

Not only nurses, but most people with a level of expertise like to be respected for their knowledge. Show that and a readiness to learn, and there will be people ready to teach. Fail to show it, and you'll be written off. It's human nature, and it isn't really wrong. Why should anyone invest their energy in someone unwilling to profit by it?

Of course, as others have noted, a few people are just mean, and it is possible to wind up in a group who are mostly that way. But my experience with people in and out of nursing has been that mean people are a minority.

Taking criticism appropriately may be a new nurse's biggest challenge. You can't let it get you down, but you shouldn't shrug it off, either. You have to be willing to learn from mistakes, evaluate yourself honestly, and seriously consider whether a critical remark is valid. Valid criticism helps you grow. Honestly thinking through why a criticism is not valid can help you grow, too. There may well be times when a recent grad may be more up-to-date, and there are likely to be times when a thing can be done right in more than one way. But it's still important to respect traditional wisdom, even when you choose a more modern approach.

To summarize: if you find yourself swimming with sharks, be a sponge. Sharks don't eat sponges.

nursemike - Your gonna be great RN!

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Specializes in Telemetry, OR, ICU.
I have seen this in some places........I think that some older nurses feel threatened by new nurses because of many reason including technolgy and new developments........and we're taught to do things differently than they were taught and some may feel as if we are "taking over". Just some thoughts......

:lol2:

:stone

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

I am a new nurse who encountered an older nurse with a rude attitude when I started my first job. I was not behaving in an overly confident manner or anything of that sort.

As the weeks progressed, I learned of this middle-aged nurse's personal problems. She had a great deal of debt, remained embittered from a divorce, commenced living from paycheck-to-paycheck, and was an unapologetic racist. This nurse would make racially-charged comments with no inhibitions, so I concluded that she disliked me solely due to my racial background. I don't think this older nurse was jealous of me; conversely, she was 'testing me' to see how I'd react to her terrible attitude.

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Specializes in Day Surgery/Infusion/ED.
I completely understand that people can sometimes internalize things but nursing is a profession dominated by women and women can be catty at times......I've seen nurses be downright catty. Some of the older ones feel as if the newer nurse are "taking over". I cant wait until I get past the "new nurse syndrome" and be confident and comfortable but I have ran into some more seasoned nurses who are impatient, vindictive, and downright mean. New nurses are there to bring something to the table that the more seasoned nurses have done s a superb job of creating. This post wasnt meant to sound immature or anything.........its an issue I have seen and I just wondered if anyone else has also dealt with this..........I am a new nurse and I look to my more seasoned nurses for guidance,wisdom, and intution.

And I have worked with some very intolerant, catty new nurses.

Please, please do not perpetuate this cliche. There are mean people in all age groups. If you knew how many threads have been devoted to "hapless new nurses under the thumbs of mean old nurses" you would understand why this is so offensive.

There is no room for ageisim in this profession. (I wonder how many times that will have to be said before it will start to sink in?)

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Specializes in Telemetry.

Just wanted to share a quick related story....I'm rounding out my first year in nursing and there was one nurse in particular who (20+ years experience) gave all the new grads a hard time. She'd roll her eyes during report and thorw her arms in the air with fusteration if you didn't know something, refer to doctors by their first names then snicker when you had no idea who she was talking about, complain at meetings that the new people "don't know anything"...etc... I definatly don't act like a know it all and I really tried my best. I think those kind of people youre referring to just have ugly personalities to begin with which just in combination with having lots of experience, gives such impression......

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Specializes in Oncology/Haemetology/HIV.
Perhaps the aggression and internilization of things has nothing to do with gender or age, but stems from the fact that some people just insist on the perpetuation of stereotypes, and by God it's gotten old.:idea:

Hoooollly Moses!

Some days, I just could count the number of posts from the words "jealous" and intimidated" to the posts that blame the problem on women.

It took a whole 6. Amazing!

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I think those kind of people youre referring to just have ugly personalities to begin with which just in combination with having lots of experience, gives such impression......

Tis sad but you will find that mix with young and (ughhh) old alike.

The best form of revenge is success; you can hold your head high and know you would never treat people poorly.

I do not know if this was touched on but I have to share that any really good hospital will have yearly strong competencies of new technology, equipment review, and updates in drug and other info.

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