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

Nurses General Nursing

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Several times in the past few weeks, I have heard rather disparaging remarks about new grads all over the hospital. Maybe some of you veteran nurses can shed a little light as to what the issue is? I work as hard as the next nurse, and my actions and gestures are discounted because I'm a new grad? The sad thing is I worked with these nurses as a tech and they were all so excited when I passed NCLEX and got my job. Do they not remember that they once were new nurses too?

Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.

It's because we didn't have "evidence based practice" way back then. We'd stare at that pointy thing and wonder where we ought to put it. Made for some nasty consequences. I'm so glad evidence based practice was invented!

Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.

I think there should be a badge here for "Crusty Old Bats." I'd be proud to have one.

I think there should be a badge here for "Crusty Old Bats." I'd be proud to have one.

Can we get one for crunchy young batlings? All of us aspiring old bats in the making? What do we have to do to earn our wings?:specs:

Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.
Can we get one for crunchy young batlings? All of us aspiring old bats in the making? What do we have to do to earn our wings?:specs:

If you can figure out the secret handshake, we'll let you in.

If you whine that the crusty old bats won't show you the secret handshake, you're out. :)

Ironically, I've got nothing compared to the experience of the real crusty old bats here, but I was mentored by two nurses that make Ruby Vee sound like an entitled new grad's dream preceptor. I had the crusty by the time I managed to get off orientation. I'm working on getting the old bat part!

Specializes in geriatric.

Maybe the nurse simply had a rough day. I am often asked to orient new nurses at my facility. Most days are great experiences and I often learn a little more about myself in the process. I do occasionally have a bad day and unfortunately it may "rub" off the wrong way. We are all human and dont intentionally take it out on new nurses. Also remember that it is a change in our routine and it generally takes a lot of effort to mentor.

It's a right of passage. I'm a new grad.

yeah..it sucks.

Specializes in Med Surg.

I'm another new nurse who's sick of this topic. I've been a nurse for almost 7 months now (woo hoo!) and love the crusty old bats I work with. I ask questions, take notes, listen to all the tips and tricks the bats have up their sleeves. I volunteer to help others when I have time and ask for help and advice on patients when I need it. Never had anyone chew me up and spit me out yet. If I do, I probably deserve it. Sure there are some nurses who can be cranky, but sheesh, that's life. If you can't deal with the cranks, you're probably not going to make it very far in the real world.

Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
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.:D

quotes like "wow! hate for you to take care of one of my family members" are nonproductive, negative and may be perceived as bullying. how about them apples.

preceptors don't have it made. the new nurse doesn't "do all the work." new nurses are a lot of work. unfortunately, the new nurses who don't understand that make it tougher on everyone . . . on their preceptors, on themselves. on the other new grads.

as far as compassionate . . . don't go looking for your new colleagues to ooze with compassion for poor little you. grow up, take responsibility for your own learning and understand that wooh may be the very best person to take care of your family member, whether you like her or not. family members who choose nurses by the pillow fluffing factor get exactly what they deserve -- good pillow fluffers. that may not be what grandma needs when she's admitted to the er or the icu.

Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.

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.

i find it ironic that you can usually tell the new nurse who will complain of "nurses eating their young" on the very first day . . . she's the one with multiple scheduling requests and requests for changes of preceptor. other than that, i cannot find a thing to add to your post esme.

Specializes in Geriatrics/home health care.

Ugh, I have heard of this phenomenon in nurses and CNAs. And that bitterness even Carries over to this site too. It doesn't help that the mods go delete crazy and delete actually helpful posts either. No one wants to see you successful if it makes them more indispensable. With you there, they have Try harder to keep their jobs because they can be replaced. I figure that or, they think of you as incompetent because of your lack of experience. People need to stop taking their stress out on the people who are just as stressed as them and offer something besides cattyness for once.

I too am a new grad going thru orientation on a MS floor. I'm not a whiner. I have learned to keep my eyes open and my mouth shut, it's a right of passage. When I did "vent" it was a mistake that cost me. I'm just sucking it up because I'm almost done. And I don't think it is just nursing, hating on the newbie is everywhere, in any profession.

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