What's up with veteran nurses hating on new grads?

merlee · Jan 25, 2012

I think any employee at any new job has an expectation of being shown the ropes. And not being tormented because they are new. I have worked at a variety of places, and in a variety of types of employment, nursing and otherwise. And it does seem like there are too many nurses who are too quick to give newbies a hard time. As for orienting, there should be designated people to be preceptors, and their workload should be adjusted to reflect this. Some places are actually very good at this.

At one place where I worked, the clinical ladder reflected this ideal. If you wanted to climb the ladder, you asked to be a preceptor, or to be the charge nurse, or team leader. I loved taking new people on board, and my pay reflected my willingness to do this.

Not everyone is meant to be a preceptor, but I believe everyone should try it. And yes, there is something to be said for compassion, as well. We are stronger when we stand shoulder to shoulder, and support each other. Why is that so difficult for so many nurses??? WE WERE ALL THE NEW GRAD AT ONE TIME. Why is that so hard to remember??

allnurses Guide · Jan 25, 2012

WOW!!!!!!!! hate for you to take care of one of my family members!

Knowing most of the nurses who post here on a regular basis because I've read many of their posts on a variety of topics. I assure you, you would not hate for them to take care of your family members. In fact, you may end up being very grateful.for that. Your comment is just as personal to us as yours is when you hear some veteran nurses generalizing about new grads.

wooh, BSN, RN · Jan 25, 2012

WOW!!!!!!!! hate for you to take care of one of my family members!

Oops. Missed one. :uhoh3:

Circejane · Jan 25, 2012

WOW!!!!!!!! hate for you to take care of one of my family members!
"preceptors" usually have it made!!!! the hospital i work at = everyone jumps at the chance to have a new nurse do all the work, or they genuinely want to share their knowledge.
and yes, nurses ARE DEFINATELY WITHOUT A DOUBT SUPPOSE TO BE COMPASSIONATE.

If a preceptor is doing the job right, the new nurse is NOT doing all the work. He/she's going behind the orientee and doublechecking everything. It's the preceptor's license on the line if the new nurse screws up.

caroladybelle, BSN, RN · Jan 25, 2012

As someone who has been bullied by younger newer nurses, I will say it is the Nurse, not the age or experience level, or the gender, color or orientation, that determines whether they are a bully or not.Let's focus on the person not the details as the issue.

KelRN215, BSN, RN · Jan 25, 2012

WOW!!!!!!!! hate for you to take care of one of my family members!
"preceptors" usually have it made!!!! the hospital i work at = everyone jumps at the chance to have a new nurse do all the work, or they genuinely want to share their knowledge.
and yes, nurses ARE DEFINATELY WITHOUT A DOUBT SUPPOSE TO BE COMPASSIONATE.

Realize that it is not this way everywhere. Precepting a new grad at my institution is twice as much work with NO monetary reward in my institution.

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · Jan 25, 2012

WOW!!!!!!!! hate for you to take care of one of my family members!
"preceptors" usually have it made!!!! the hospital i work at = everyone jumps at the chance to have a new nurse do all the work, or they genuinely want to share their knowledge.
and yes, nurses ARE DEFINATELY WITHOUT A DOUBT SUPPOSE TO BE COMPASSIONATE.

Be very careful you don't throw the baby out with the bath water! :idea:

There are a good number of nurses on here that by their posts are excellent nurses, like nurse156 said, and are pretty tired of being abused buy administration and the "You're all winners" mentality that has become prevalent amongst new grads along with the prevailing belief amongst newer nurses that somehow the "seasoned" nurses education was somehow lacking when compared to the new nurses education. Many "veteran" nurses are weary of training the "accelerated" "fast track" graduate of today, who is lacking and unwilling to learn, the basic nursing skills that should have been taught in nursing 101.

It is exhausting to try to teach the basics on someone who feels they are completely competent and unwilling to learn all the while hearing how quickly they are leaving the bedside to "better" themselves. Not all hospitals are consistent with how they train preceptors and make them have assignments themselves while "training" the "newbie". Many facilities will decrease the amount of staff on the floor "knowing" there are new grads present....therefore increasing the stress of the unit as a whole. MANY nurses do not get one more dime in training new nurses and NEVER forget...you are leaning on her license.

While I agree there are some "mean girls" out there that feel obligated to carry on the the high school girl mentality.......the majority of nurses are trying their best and are tired of beating their heads against the wall:banghead:. I LOVE to teach.....with someone who's willing to learn. You get back what you give, or reap what you sow. If you want to be treated with respect.....be respectful. Remember the climate in nursing right now is tough on everybody except the CEO......have some compassion. Peace:D

Imafloat, BSN, RN · Jan 25, 2012

I don't have a problem with all new grads.

I was once a new grad too, a new grad who absorbed everything like a sponge, who didn't tell the veteran nurses that what they were doing was wrong, who saw things that were different than she learned in nursing school, who's preceptor took really long lunch breaks, and who had ideas of how things could be done better.

I just did my orientation, kept my mouth shut and once I had been there a year or two I saw how things were on the other foot.

I made my practice unique to me, and I can sleep well at night with the job I do.

I've seen a lot of self righteous new grads eating their veterans.

They don't usually last.

mazy · Jan 26, 2012

and yes, nurses ARE DEFINATELY WITHOUT A DOUBT SUPPOSE TO BE COMPASSIONATE.

This statement always ticks me off. Providing compassionate patient care is a full time job that consumes every ounce of time, energy, heart, and soul that a nurse has to offer.

The job of nursing is to be compassionate to their patients. Not the new nurse. Not the confused nurse. Not the nurse in training. Not the student.

Sympathetic, yes. Helpful, sure. But compassionate? If you are a working adult you need to stop expecting other people to take care of you.

This whole thing of "Nurses are suppose (d) to be COMPASSIONATE!!!!!" is what separates the newbies from the veterans. Because anyone who has actually worked long enough to know the ins and outs of this job knows that when push comes to shove, the patient always comes first.

And if some nurse is up on the floor expecting to be treated with compassion by a nurse who is supposed to be their COLLEAGUE, then they are in the wrong profession.

Nurse + Patient = Compassion

Nurse + Nurse = Collegial and professional RESPECT

Don't come onto the job demanding compassion. Come in and treat your co-workers with respect.

If you feel you aren't being respected on the job, look first to yourself.

OCNRN63, RN · Jan 26, 2012

Where is Ruby Vee when you really need her?

OCNRN63, RN · Jan 26, 2012

I have to laugh when new nurses suggest their knowledge is better than the experienced nurses' because they learned all the new procedures, disease processes etc. when they were in school. Really? You don't think experienced nurses don't have to keep up with new information as well?

I did the same thing as a previous poster when I was new. Kept my mind and eyes open, kept my mouth shut and learned as much as I could. Then I developed my own style when I had the knowledge and experience to do so.

wooh, BSN, RN · Jan 26, 2012

I have to laugh when new nurses suggest their knowledge is better than the experienced nurses' because they learned all the new procedures, disease processes etc. when they were in school. Really? You don't think experienced nurses don't have to keep up with new information as well?

Just the other day I had to stop another of the REALLY experienced nurses from sharpening her needles to reuse them... Thankfully a new grad told me that's not the best practice anymore!