Why do nurses eat their young?

[cinthern]

I received my DREAM JOB last June in L&D as a new grad and was basically taught everything I know from my wonderful preceptor. I was hired for nights, because that was what was available at the time of hire, but let the nurse manager know right then and there that IF EVER a day time position opened up, and nobody else wanted it, I would be very interested.

I oriented on days for 8 months, and started the night shift about 8 weeks ago. Right before I was going to nights it was clear that days were being shorted, and they were going to open up a day spot. NOBODY FROM NIGHTS WANTED THIS POSITION, and I inquired about it with my "fellow coworkers". Well, what I got was the complete opposite of what I expected. These "fellow coworkers" who complimented me on a daily basis of what a great learner I was, a team player, and a wonderful DR nurse turned on me so fast that my head was spinning. When I privately asked my preceptor what everyone was so upset was, she pointed her finger in my face and sternly said "I SAT IN ON YOUR INTERVIEW 8 MONTHS AGO, AND YOU CLEARLY STATED THAT YOU WWOULD WORK NIGHTS!" She then went on to say that people would be very angry if I went to the day shift being a brand new grad and all. Again, let me remind you, NOBODY WANTED THE DAY POSITION. Then, a per diem day person decided to take it.

2 months later, in walks a nurse from another hospital who was hired to work days, never saw her before, no job was posted, nothing. Just came out of the blue. Again, I questioned it, and had my head bit off from many people who think I have no right to inquire or even desire a day shift so soon in my "career".

Anyway, just wanted to vent, can anyone explain why this occurs? All input is greatly appreciated.

TIA!

Jennie

[SmilingBluEyes]

Do not let them worry you. If you said you wanted a day position if no one else wanted it....and nobody does, then you should go for it. You have to learn early-on, not to let naysayers stymie or worry you so. Only YOU can take care of yourself, after all. If the position is there and no one else wants it, then you should go for it (if such a chance comes up again). Nightshift is not for everyone and it can be YEARS before another such opportunity comes along. Take it if you can, next time around. And do not look back. Forget what these others say and do what is best for you.

Good luck and welcome to OB nursing. Remember: You can't be "eaten" if you are protected by a tough outer shell.

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

i received my dream job last june in l&d as a new grad and was basically taught everything i know from my wonderful preceptor.

anyway, just wanted to vent, can anyone explain why this occurs? all input is greatly appreciated.

you're asking "why do nurses eat their young?", but your entire vent didn't even allude to being "eaten." why do you assume, from one bad experience, that nurses eat their young? you aren't being eaten. you're getting attitude from senior staff about applying for a day position after less than a year on nights. either they don't understand the whole story, you've related it less than completely factually, or you don't understand their point.

nothing wrong with applying for a day position if you want it -- usually they're assigned by seniority or there's a waiting list. it could be that the "new person" they hired wasn't willing to work nights and rather than let an experienced nurse get away, they hired her into the day position. if you think about it, you can probably understand why they'd be reluctant to forgo hiring an experienced nurse go in order to placate a newbie who has been there less than a year and did agree to work nights. it may not be strictly fair, but lots of things in life, business and nursing aren't.

you had a wonderful preceptor and a good working relationship with your peers . . . sounds like you have a job many would envy. as to why they passed you up for day shift, it could be that your manager thinks you have more to learn on night shift before you'll be up to speed for the pace and visibility of days.

have you asked your manager why they hired this relative "stranger" into a day position when you had already expressed an interest?

[Hollywood RN]

wow.. of course your headline caught my eye being a new grad myself.. and although i haven't "worked" yet.. i am just floored at your story. i leave the advice to the experienced ones.. but will be interested to see the outcome because I can imagine this happening. I too love L&D. I'll be sure to subscribe. Keep your head up!

What I can relate to is being in an Entry-Level Masters Program and having RN's be so irrate about my class ending up with MSNs and/or NPs. Preceptorship was especially hard at times. I did have a Wound Nurse who was working on her NP but dropped out, find out about the program we were in and just went to town on me saying I can't believe these people will have their NPs! I thought to myself, well you can go back to school too. That's what post-grad is... There is also another nurse in my classes that stereotypes all ELM students as, "idiots!" I don't know.. Maybe it's related to the "crab mentality" theory for those who react in such a way to others. There's something they want to achieve so when someone else does it and tries to climb out of the boiling pot, they use their claw to pull them back down.

[PANurseRN1]

Agree. I think this is another example of "I didn't get what I wanted, therefore I am being eaten." Wonderful preceptor, wonderful co-workers, dream job? A lot of new grads would be thankful for half of that.

Ruby said exactly what I was thinking. The new employee may have a lot of experience, something the manager would be hard pressed to turn away. Who knows? Until you ask your manager directly, you won't know. Maybe your co-workers were frustrated having invested so much effort into orienting you only to have you turn around and want to go off to another shift. Who knows? You'll have to ask them.

But it really is unfair to say you are being eaten. By your own account your co-workers have been very good to you so far. How quickly we forget, eh?

[student_nurse_8700]

I have had many clinical experiences where the the staff nurses treated, we the students, like crap. Don't complain about how understaffed you are when you don't want to participate in the teaching and training of new nurses. The majority of RN's were helpful or at least civil...but there are a lot of RN's out there who have definitely forgotten that they too were once a "lowly" nursing student. I have taken a position as a PCA here in my last few semesters of school and am very glad I have done so as I have had the opportunity to see how non-RN's are treated by the RN's.....I will strive to be friendly to everyone....regardless of their title....that is one of my goals....say what you will.

[PANurseRN1]

Let's stay on topic. This has nothing to do with the OP. Please do not turn this into yet another generalized rant against experienced nurses. There are countless threads already in existence on that topic. This is about the OP feeling she has been "eaten" because she didn't get the shift she wanted and feeling that her co-workers were upset that she'd applied for a different shift.

[DusktilDawn]

I have had many clinical experiences where the the staff nurses treated, we the students, like crap. Don't complain about how understaffed you are when you don't want to participate in the teaching and training of new nurses. The majority of RN's were helpful or at least civil...but there are a lot of RN's out there who have definitely forgotten that they too were once a "lowly" nursing student. I have taken a position as a PCA here in my last few semesters of school and am very glad I have done so as I have had the opportunity to see how non-RN's are treated by the RN's.....I will strive to be friendly to everyone....regardless of their title....that is one of my goals....say what you will.

When you become an RN, you will also see how badly they can be treated by "non-RNs." In any facility, bad behavior can come from anywhere and anyone, it's not strictly one group that is "more guilty" than another. A huge part of the problem is a lack of comprehension about another person's position.

Don't complain about how understaffed you are when you don't want to participate in the teaching and training of new nurses.

In an environment where the unit is understaffed and the nurses are overworked, do you not think adding the teaching and training of student nurses adds to that stress? It does actually take longer to teach someone than it can be to do it yourself. There can be two sides.

I actually enjoy the opportunity to interact with nursing students and enjoy facilitating their learning experience. I remember all too well how stressful it was being a student. I think when we have our own stress to deal with it makes it harder to see how we impact others and perhaps add to their stress.

[Hollywood RN]

i guess communication is key. if it is possible for the rn to tell the student nurse up front, today is going to be a rough day as soon as they realize it, that can give a heads up to just hang on for the bumpy ride. but there are really some nurses that do not want a student nurse. luckily i have had some teachers that were able to note that and make the adjustments by immediately assigning another preceptor.

[nj1grlcrus]

You could look at your situation another way. Your preceptor was so proud of what a great nurse you have become, and wanted to hand you off to nights where they would have been so happy to get a skilled member of the team. We never know all the politics involved, maybe it was something like that. Keep positive, and do your best!!

[rngreenhorn]

Why do nurses keep asking why nurses eat their young?

[chuck1234]

The younger one always "tastes" better....welcome to the real world!

Hang in there!

And Good luck!