Older nurses vs younger nurses

[Girlygirl69]

I'm sick and tired of the older nurses vs younger nurses crap. We all have the same damn degree and we do the same damn work. I was at work the other day and two senior nurses were in the break room bragging about how when they were in nursing school they had to work so much harder than nowadays and yadda yadda yaaaa. In my head I said, " whatever *****, I worked hard for my degree. Please don't discredit me, and just because my NCLEX test was computerized doesn't make it easier. Half of these old broads in my facility can't even charge their cellphone without my help I could imagine them taking the boards using a computer" sry people I just needed to vent. We nurses can sometimes be our own worst enemy. Forget the docs and administration, we love to knock down the newbie so that we can feel better about ourselves. Stop the madness people

[pedicurn, LPN, RN]

Lol pedicurn, not all of the young ones are slim and beautiful, see what I mean about everyone being snarky? No wonder nurses have a bad rep and have trouble gaining respect as a profession, It is what it is, anyone is welcome to pick things apart on these posts to feel better or smarter or gain whatever satisfaction they need, I however like to offer a lil empathy or help if it is in my ability to do so:)

I think it would be a better environment if we all had some more tolerance for differing perspective .... including the generational differences.

The first post came over as really snarky. I have heard young nurses speak about older nurses in that way .... including the jealous bit. Not cool

[vanburbian]

Ummm....wow. Not sure how to respond to this. I'd fall in the "old *****" category, I guess.

I do recall being a new grad, and having a couple of "older" nurses around who had attitudes. I also experienced the same thing in my previous job in Landscaping. The veterans knew more, and ribbed the newb's.

And, truth be told, many things likely were harder 20 years ago than they are now.

At the time, I never thought it was about me, specifically. Maybe my ego was trying to protect my fragile sense of "nursing self" until I had gained some confidence and experience, I don't know.

I never once thought their actions were because they were "old, ugly, miserable or unhappily married" though.

Also, nursing is a job where senior is still a dirty word.

Now, with 22 proud years of nursing, and 51 years of life experience, I simply realize you don't know what you don't know, until you know.

Ya know?

[mikesgirl1]

hoopschick, I like what you say about not knowing what you dont know til you know it, reminds me of my dad lol he has forever said to me "I have been 20, you havent been 47" or whatever age I am at the time and whatever age he is lol, very good point you make spoken as a true elder:)

[vanburbian]

Thx mikesgirl....I don't know everything, by any means. I can always learn something new. Be it from someone who is still a student, a new grad, or an on call 70 year old semi retired person.

It is too bad any of us still practice discrimination and group everyone into a negative category based on either age, or years of experience.

We all bring something to the table.

And I LOVE potlucks..

[rn/writer, RN]

I'm sick and tired of the older nurses vs younger nurses crap. We all have the same damn degree and we do the same damn work. I was at work the other day and two senior nurses were in the break room bragging about how when they were in nursing school they had to work so much harder than nowadays and yadda yadda yaaaa. In my head I said, " whatever *****, I worked hard for my degree. Please don't discredit me, and just because my NCLEX test was computerized doesn't make it easier. Half of these old broads in my facility can't even charge their cellphone without my help I could imagine them taking the boards using a computer" sry people I just needed to vent. We nurses can sometimes be our own worst enemy. Forget the docs and administration, we love to knock down the newbie so that we can feel better about ourselves. Stop the madness people

You're complaining about the way older nurses speak to younger ones, all the while engaging in demeaning dialogue in your head? Calling your older co-workers names, even in your imagination and referring to them as "old broads" appears to be just the flip side of the disrespect you're saying you dislike.

Your statement, "Sometimes we can be our own worst enemies," is all too true. But it isn't only the newbies getting knocked down.

A little more kindness and decency from every age group would be a good thing.

[dthfytr, ADN, LPN, RN, EMT-B, EMT-I]

Now I'll be afraid to share the knowledge gained from all my errors and years for fear of being branded condescending or a know it all.

[caroladybelle, BSN, RN]

I read the first post and thought, "pot meet kettle".

Enough said.

[Girlygirl69]

You're complaining about the way older nurses speak to younger ones, all the while engaging in demeaning dialogue in your head? Calling your older co-workers names, even in your imagination and referring to them as "old broads" appears to be just the flip side of the disrespect you're saying you dislike.

Your statement, "Sometimes we can be our own worst enemies," is all too true. But it isn't only the newbies getting knocked down.

A little more kindness and decency from every age group would be a good thing.

Whatever I say in my head is my flipping business, what matters is the words that come out my mouth.

[Girlygirl69]

Please people stop behaving like the world is against you. The knowledge that a more experienced nurse is always welcomed and your stories from past experience is always appreciated, but the disconnect comes from demeaning statements which imply that your generation was made up of better nurses, just because. I can tell that some of you have been wounded before because you came on here stating that "'we're not jealous or bitter", but I'm not sure that this statement is totally false because not once have those words ever come out in my original post. I'm one of the nurses who gets along well with all of my coworkers while I watch some of the newbies struggle with being accepted by the staff. It's funny how the older nurses spend time laughing at how a newer nurse gives report, makes stupid mistakes, or is less competent than everyone else. I wonder if they remember what is was like to be new. I wish we could place eveyones early mistakes on a big ass board so that as soon as they're ready to talk **** we can all refer to their **** list.

[mikesgirl1]

The thing I never ever could understand in this profession is why the nurses are so rotten to the new or new hire nurses...... I mean isn't having more staff a good thing like now you all don't have to work 60 hrs, but um I guess sometimes common sense isn't so common anymore. I really wish that more of the wonderfully experienced nurses weren't so burned out by this profession that they could sure their expertise with kindness not snarky im a better nurse than you because I am old attitude, I truly admire the older generation nurses that have endured all the massive changes in healthcare and are still rocking, I honestly just wish they would welcome new nurses the way they wanted welcomed way back when. The job of being a nurse isn't so tough your patients are sick and in their worst possible state they have a good excuse for there attitudes, so what's the nurses excuses I have wondered, I mean if your really miserable find another job or put on a happy face and frigging fake it for your coworkers like you do with your patients lol..... end of rant

[rn/writer, RN]

Whatever I say in my head is my flipping business, what matters is the words that come out my mouth.

True, to some extent. But the things you shared with us indicate a judgmental mindset and the very same lack of respect you are complaining about. The fact that you keep it under wraps doesn't make it go away.

[Forever Sunshine, ASN, RN]

How did you surmise all of that from a differing opinion ?

You didn't mention the jealous thing because the young nurses are slim and beautiful

Sheesh

You mean I'm slim??? I don't think I've ever been called slim. lol