Problems with an "Old Battle Axes"?

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Specializes in Med surg, cardiac, case management.

My brother-in-law was telling me that he sometimes gets flack from some of the more senior female nurses---or as he calls them, "the old battle axes"---and that they seem to strongly dislike any questioning, especially by a male nurse (on the other hand, he says he gets along with the MDs better than the female nurses).

Have any of you had this sort of problem?

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Specializes in Neonatal ICU (Cardiothoracic).

Yeah, I got some flack for a while, but I attribute that to me being a new grad in the NICU. Once they trusted me, they were my best friends!

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

It is easy to generalize. I would suggest that your brother either discuss one on one with each of these nurses what their problem is or report it to the nurse manager. Complaining about it without taking a course of action is not good for anyone.

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Specializes in Rodeo Nursing (Neuro).

I found that I began getting along better with experienced nurses when I stopped calling them old battle axes.

Just kidding--sorta. I was never that stupid, and I don't suppose your brother is, either--but:

Yesterday, I reported off to one of our "older" (i.e. my age) nurses who has lots of experience and is a little notorious for having lots of questions--and usually not real easy ones--after listening to taped report. Actually, my assignment was split up, so I reported a couple of pts to another, much younger but more experienced than me nurse who also tends to ask tough questions. Actually told my CN, "You have me reporting off to X and Y...oh, someday, when you least expect it, you're gonna pay!"

Anyway, after about thirty "uh, I don't know" answers to a nurse who probably wouldn't argue with being called a battle axe, she said, "I'll bet you just hate giving report to me." And I answered, truthfully, "But you know, I always learn a lot from you." And it's true. I suppose it has to do with being 51, myself, but I have a lot of respect for some of our "old school" nurses. Say whatever else you might, they're damned good nurses, whereas I'm still working my butt off to be adequate. So I listen, and I think, and I learn.

Which isn't to say I didn't learn anything from my younger colleague, who started a lot younger than I did, and is well on her way to being "old school," too.

My point--and I'm pretty sure I have one--is that I enjoy kidding around, and of course there are some co-workers I feel closer to than others, but I generally do respect the people I work with, and I think they know that. Women are notoriously intuitive, and if you're going around thinking of them as "old battle axes," they'll probably pick up on it.

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I work surgery so this may be different than on the floor. I have also found that you have to earn their respect and trust more so than a female nurse (for whatever reason). Just show them the respect they deserve for their years of experience and do the best job you can do, and you will see a difference. At least it works here.

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I'm a student Rn and the older nurses are great...very helpful and informational.

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Maybe he's the one who needs an attitude adjustment. Calling his co-workers "Old Battle-Axes" is sexist and offensive. I'd bust him to HR for that if I heard him making that sort of comment about my co-workers.

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Specializes in Med surg, cardiac, case management.

Just to clarify, he didn't use the term "old battle axe", it's something I heard on this forum.

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Okay I am a girl, and yes maybe I shouldn't be here. But, I have been a nurse 17 years in a ICU and I love having men working with us.

I can't stand when pts have a cow about a man taking care of them. I have to say I have never witnessed our older nurses mistreat the men. Our guys are including in everything. From going out after work, to christmas activities and in some of our nasty night shift talk. Oh well we can be bad.

So, don't take attitude from the older staff. Just remember there are others that love working with you guys.

Doris:trout:

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I would have to agree that men are not treated well by some older nurses. I work with a male RN on Baylor, I personally enjoy it. As he is much more laid back than the females. By that I mean, he don't let situations get to him. Even the emergencies. I have worked weekdays which has no male nurses and this male nurse gets talked about unmercifully. He is a 30+ year nurse and don't deserve it. It is just the "Male Discrimination" thing going on. It's just like the "New Nurse" discrimination thing that goes on. I was a CNA for 17 years before I graduated nursing school in August. I've only had my license since December. In this short time I have had "Older Nurses" tell me to my face, how new nurses have no judgement and that they are not competent. Which is cruel and an insult. New nurses already know that we have alot to learn and don't need older nurses telling us. So yeah, some can be and are "Old Battle Axes." But I just take the abuse and think to myself. " hope I get to intubate you one day, I'll use the biggest tube we have. It's no wonder there is a nursing shortage. Who want's to be abused?

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I find that male nurses often get along with male docs better than female nurses do.

I think that the main reason for this is that docs are rarely verbally abusive towards male nurses.

I personally enjoy working with a mix of male and female.

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Specializes in ER.

I've butted heads with the senior "day queens" a few times. The majority of the times was to keep from getting abused (i.e bad assignments consistantly, expected to cover meal breaks and not getting covered myself, etc).

and no, I don't think its a gender thing because my female co-workers who are on the same shift as me get treated the same.

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