So tired of crappy treatment by seasoned nurses!

[Blackheartednurse]

This is a vent,nothing personal...

Dear experienced nurse

1.I'm so tired of the shock on your face when I tell you I'm a new nurse and I'm planning to work with you administering flu shots,no I dont need tons of experiences,I might be a new nurse but I have some experience with IM injections,been working home health for 3 months now,now I really regret telling you that I'm a new nurse,sorry to share this enthusiasm,you taught me to lie about my experience even though I hate lies!!

2.I came to observe you so the next time I have to close the flu clinic I would know what the heck I'm suppose to do.Dont stand there and just do your thing and ignore me.Yes,I know you have been working whole day and you are tired,have a long ride home but little courtesy wouldnt hurt.

I'm so sick of more experienced nurses treating new grads like the worse evil.

On days like this I really wonder why did I chose a career that that is flooded by such vicious people.

[SummerGarden, BSN, MSN, RN]

op: i agree that being a new nurse can be hard at times because the learning curve is great. i also agree that it can be made worse if others are not willing to help or who wish to eat-their-young. however, i agree with the others that your posts read that you may be apart of your problem.

i think you give off i'm-weak-and-helpless-because-i-am-a-new-nurse vibes to others, which in turn irritates the more experienced nurses. fyi, some new nurses never experience being eaten or treated like garbage. such new grads exudes self esteem, which causes the more experienced nurses to forget that they are new nurses (it always amazes me when i see this happen).

by the way, asking a lot of questions is not the problem. even the confident new grads do so. the problem is that you may be asking questions in such a way that you are looking for reassurance or that you lack confidence in your own skills or judgment. no nurse (experienced or not) wants to babysit or hold the hand of another nurse! i was a new grad a heartbeat ago and recall my needs at the time. on the other hand, i now understand the perspective of the more experienced nurses who do not wish to engage with new grads that lack confidence in his/her nursing because they are too draining!

thus, unless you want to continue to be perceived negatively by other nurses, you need to become more confident in your own ability to grow as a nurse by teaching yourself the things you need to learn. for instance, when you observe a nurse closing down a clinic, arrive having already learned the closing policies and procedures so when you watch the other nurse close the clinic, you sound informed when you need to ask questions. gl!

[BrnEyedGirl, BSN, MSN, RN, APRN]

Wow,...sorry you feel that way,...maybe you've just had some really crappy jobs?? I've been in nursing for most of my adult life and have seen only a few sharks.

Perhaps the experienced nurse at the flu clinic was experienced enough to know that giving flu shots is nursing 101 and that you shouldn't need her help, therefore she didn't hold your hand.?? Just a thought

[N2NRSING]

I NEVER thought that my only reservation on becoming a nurse would come from seeing so many people eat new nurses alive. Sorry but it just seems like this forum is just like walking into the lions den. I dont understand it.

[nursel56]

Sorry they treated you that way, Blackheartednurse. That was completely uncalled for. Even a nurse with tons of experience is not going to know the routine of each place she goes, where things are located, etc. Giving a flu shot is something I'm sure you can handle easily.

After reading all these stories from newer nurses I try to be extra inclusive when they are new because although I never intend to be cold or stand-offish I do get involved in my own thing and it could appear that way. I've learned through the years that there will come a time when they need you. Not saying vengeance is OK but people who are rude to newcomers at some point will get bit in the backside themselves.

[N2NRSING]

Sorry they treated you that way, Blackheartednurse. That was completely uncalled for. Even a nurse with tons of experience is not going to know the routine of each place she goes, where things are located, etc. Giving a flu shot is something I'm sure you can handle easily.

After reading all these stories from newer nurses I try to be extra inclusive when they are new because although I never intend to be cold or stand-offish I do get involved in my own thing and it could appear that way. I've learned through the years that there will come a time when they need you. Not saying vengeance is OK but people who are rude to newcomers at some point will get bit in the backside themselves.

Thank YOU so much for that post. It is SO refreshing to see a seasoned nurse with SO many years of experience with such a positive attitude. I think most of us understand you have a job to do and we cannot expect you to not do your job to teach new nurses all day long but a good attitude shows! That makes all the difference in a person. Again, thank you and I hope when I am there I am lucky enough to have people like you around.

[nursel56]

Thanks for the kind words-- but I've been reading posts here for 6 years and there are lots of us! Some fly under the radar and some get peeved by one post and dump hearts n' flowers on the next. Some sound like the afore-mentioned bee-otches and have hearts of gold. I think all of us want to be judged as individuals on a case-by-case basis-- sometimes that takes time.

[canesdukegirl, BSN, RN]

Getting into the nursing profession is tough, no doubt. I remember when I was a new nurse and I met some nurses that clearly did not want to deal with teaching me anything...this may be in part because your clinical instructor did not do a wonderful job in assigning you to a nurse that DOES like to teach. There are some that love to teach and some that do not want any part of it...nothing personal to you, so make sure not to take it personally. Here is how I dealt with the first day of clinicals on a new rotation:

Keep it lighthearted. Ask questions, but make sure you do your homework and your questions are pertinent. Don't go in to your assigned area with the attitude that you already know everything (I am not saying that you do, but I have run into some nursing students like this, and it immediately makes me shut down). It is a fine line that you must walk, and sometimes you will feel awkward and out of place. This is normal. You will feel this most of the time in clinicals. Let it roll and learn as much as you can just from your environment. It is human nature to be uncomfortable in new situations where you are being graded and measured. Recognize that for what it is and furthermore, recognize that it is oftentimes painful to grow; but growth and learning are your goals.

I have found that I am most receptive to nursing students who come in confidently, introduce themselves to me, are a bit humble but inquisitive and ask me specific questions about what I am doing. You will quickly develop a rapport with them if you are confident and lighthearted but with focus on the task. If you are finding it difficult to break the ice, ask them what their experience was when they first became nurses. Make sure your timing is appropriate because nurses are incredibly busy and have a ton of stuff to accomplish in a small amount of time (you no doubt know this already). If you see that the nurse is obviously behind, step back and give them some space to think through what they need to do. Then ask them how they keep up with everything...most nurses have a "personal notebook" that they refer to. Ask them how they came up with it-most of the time they will gladly show you how they organize their day and they will be glad to share.

Keep you head up! It is hard, I remember. Be positive, as they can see when you are not, and will automatically dread having to teach. I am speaking simply from my experience. Lean on your instructor when you are feeling frustrated, because part of your tuition is to have them LEAD you. Make sure that you are doing everything you can to be prepared, first and foremost. You will get through it!

[caroladybelle, BSN, RN]

I NEVER thought that my only reservation on becoming a nurse would come from seeing so many people eat new nurses alive. Sorry but it just seems like this forum is just like walking into the lions den. I dont understand it.

Part of it is that many experienced nurses hear nonexperienced nurses say that they get eaten for "being too cute - being too young - being too nice - being too helpful" etc. When there are actually many more issues at work, that the one venting does not acknowledge.

We also, as experienced nurses, have fortunately or unfortunately, earned not to always take words at face value - most issues are more complex that are presented.

[pinkfluffybunny]

On a lighter note......

Maybe you could just season them for real, a little meat tenderizer, pepper, salt, a little seasonal, an apple in the mouth. Then fire up the grill, open a nice chianti and put on some fava beans. Wait a minute, wrong movie. I say take it as a lesson on how you never want to be.

Good luck.

[SWS RN, ASN, RN]

Or maybe it's because you're too pretty. They're probably just jealous of you.

Oh, I see you read that former post too.....

[imintrouble, BSN, RN]

I NEVER thought that my only reservation on becoming a nurse would come from seeing so many people eat new nurses alive. Sorry but it just seems like this forum is just like walking into the lions den. I dont understand it.

Plain speaking does not equal shark. Nurses give their opinions here, and sometimes we don't agree with each other. My rule of thumb is: if I ask for advice I can't be offended when someone posts something I don't agree with. If I decide to wade into the fray, I better have my big girl panties on because sometimes it can get heated here.

[DizzyLizzyNurse]

Oh, I see you read that former post too.....

What former post is this? I've seen it mentioned a couple times today.