Why do nurses eat their young?

Specialties Ob/Gyn

Published

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

Thanks for responses, please keep them coming. I guess it also has to do with working with all women, and we all know how we can get at times. I LOVE what I do, I can't imagine doing anything else right now, I just wish I could do it at different hours, but I am BLESSED to be given the chance, but on the other hand, please don't make me feel like I should kiss the floor you walk on. I am the first to ALWAYS take a patient, even if their are 6 nurses on, and only 1 patient, at change of shift I jump at the chance for more experience. I am a team player, and am in someone else's delivery to just be an extra set of hands, even if it's just to write the baby bracelets, because I know how it feels to be all alone. Nobody does that for me, and I can't help that. I feel like everyone is so burnt, and I am sure that I will get there someday as well, but right now, please, let me revel in this beautiful time in a person's life, and so what if they are needy, and so what if they thought their would be no pain involved, and so what if I had to push with them for 3 long hours, if I changed just one person's life, then I have made all the difference.

Jennie

Specializes in ED, Cardiac Medicine, Retail Health.

Myself and other newbies on the floor wear bright colored scrubbs that mimic a poisonous species which keeps seasoned nurses from sampling the cuisine. Camiflauge and trickery are a beautiful thing!

Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.
The younger one always "tastes" better....welcome to the real world!

Hang in there!

And Good luck!

They're more tender.

Specializes in Ortho, Med surg and L&D.
..

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...

Hi,

As SmilingBlueEyes wrote, "you can't be eaten if you have a tough outer shell".

My program is not entry NP but entry masters and an entry NP who worked as an RN for a few years while also working as a new NP told me that it isn't a concern for her if people get all hot and bothered about her degree route.

She made it very clear to me that it isn't going to be a concern for me either. If someone wants to choose to be fodder for gossip or to care about it then it is their perogative. To me it isn't an issue any more.

Different routes for different reasons and worrying about someone else's gossip isn't interesting to me.

Something else that may help is to not allow people to "fish" for information or fuel to flame the gossip with from you either.

Gen

Specializes in Ortho, Med surg and L&D.
Thanks for responses, please keep them coming. I guess it also has to do with working with all women, and we all know how we can get at times. ...Jennie

Wow, thread title AND posts perpetuating stereotypes...

As is well noted, "Be the change you want to see" M. Ghandi

Why exactly is it that this thread title and stereotype is so perpetuated?

And, no actually I do not know how "we all" can get at times.

I do think I know what you are trying to say but...no I am choosing not to disrespect other cultures, genders and others who do not fit into this box by saying they all are the "we" you are mentioning.

Gen

Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

Having a military background, I can say with complete confidence and conviction, it's not just women "eating" their young. I worked in a jet engine repair shop with about 150 men (and only 3 other women). Want to talk young-eating?????!

Grow a thicker skin. And learn to laugh at yourself and have good humor. Have a sense of gratitute for those who do help you on your way. And finally, forget hateful stereotypes that won't solve the problems you may have.

I really do wish you the best. Good luck.

Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.

Thanks for responses, please keep them coming. I guess it also has to do with working with all women, and we all know how we can get at times.

We? Heh, i'd never attempt to speak for a gender, it tends to inflame that gender.

Specializes in Licensed Practical Nurse.
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.

People act in the wierdest ways, why only God knows. There's nothing wrong with wanting a more comfortable time of day to work! Some people r like that, when u do everything their way it's smooth sailin but as soon as you decide to make a move all hell breaks loose on ya! u did indicate beforehand that if there was an opening u would like to have it. Nurses do eat their young, like their really young I experienced it when I was a student on a psychiatric unit the nurse refused, I mean REFUSED to show us patients meds, this is a problem that starts and has to end with us nurses as individuals!:idea:

Nurses eat their young because they are powerless, and it makes them feel better. Of course this is at the expense of the nursing profession. Really, it's that simple.

Specializes in Day Surgery/Infusion/ED.

No, really it's a worn out cliche that needs to be ended. I wonder why some people are so invested in keeping this hateful stereotype alive?

Specializes in MS, Hospice, LTC.
Why do nurses keep asking why nurses eat their young?

Because it keeps happening. It's unfortunate, but it's the truth. Luckily, I had a really good preceptor, and a positive experience for the most part over the past year. However, I've been witness to some out right meaness and cruelty. In fact, one of my former classmates experienced something very similar to cinthern's situation in the NICU, and after expressing the desire to go on days, was constantly mistreated by a few coworkers who made his evening/ night shift miserable; he eventually ended up leaving. I don't see why anyone would be offended b/c someone would prefer to work days. Geesh! Cinthern, I'm sorry for what you're going through. Just hang in there and know that not every nurse "eats their young ( no matter how sweet and tender, hehe!) Good luck to you and I hope that something opens up on days soon.

Specializes in Day Surgery/Infusion/ED.

Then I guess it would be equally OK for experienced nurses to continually ask why new nurses are so "needy/insecure/unconfident/disorganized/self-centered/(insert your negative stereotype here)?

Hurts, doesn't it? How about seeing it over and over, thread after thread, week after week. It would get pretty old having to defend yourself and your new nurse colleagues. You'd start to feel like people didn't appreciate you, like they had it out for you.

Notice that there are few, if any, threads with negative slants against new nurses, but the threads against older nurses are TNTC. Just remember new nurses, you may revel in bashing us now, but you'll be older too someday, and you'll be the ones the new nurses complain about. What goes around comes around.

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