Why do nurses eat their young?

caroladybelle, BSN, RN · Apr 2, 2007

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?

I don't know.

WHEN DID YOU STOP BEATING YOUR MOTHER????

WHEN DID YOU STOP SLEEPING AROUND ?????

WHEN DID YOU STOP LYING/CHEATING/ETC???????

To pose these questions to you would be just as unfair as you posing the question, "Why do nurses eat their young?'

It basically accuses all of us nurses as though it were a fact. When we could easily say the same about you, just as mistakenly.

I suggest that you rephrase your question.....or it will be obvious why YOU are being possibly eaten (a clue is that it has nothing to do with being amongst nurses or being young....and everything to do with YOUR behavior).

And I don't see where "nurses" are the problem....it sounds like management is the issue, as they handle who has seniority and gets a preferred position. The average "nurse" is that in charge of that.

anne74 · Apr 2, 2007

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.

Totally on the mark! Plus, toss in many years of being overworked and disrespected, and you have the perfect recipe for eating young. From psych nursing - isn't that called "projection" - projecting frustrations onto a totally uninvolved group? Watch out newbies - you're about to receive the wrath of years of mistreatment of nurses- even though you had nothing to do with it. I think it's also the attitude, "I had to suffer so now it's your turn" or "I never got that opportunity so neither should you." A bit juvenile, don't you think?

Right now I'm encouraging and supportive of students and enjoy helping them learn. But most likely if I stay in an inpatient setting for decades, I'll become a meanie myself. I hope I'll be able to recognize when I start acting this way, because then I'll know it's time to leave.

Regarding those straight to NP/masters programs - that's cool to get an advanced degree - I probably will eventually. But NP's write orders and scrips - I wouldn't feel comfortable doing that fresh out of school. It puts these unseasoned NP's in a dangerous - and unfair - situation. And I thought coming out of school that I was fairly prepared, but I soon learned I had a long way to go before I could feel competent.

Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN · Apr 2, 2007

I don't know.
WHEN DID YOU STOP BEATING YOUR MOTHER????
WHEN DID YOU STOP SLEEPING AROUND ?????
WHEN DID YOU STOP LYING/CHEATING/ETC???????
To pose these questions to you would be just as unfair as you posing the question, "Why do nurses eat their young?'
It basically accuses all of us nurses as though it were a fact. When we could easily say the same about you, just as mistakenly.
I suggest that you rephrase your question.....or it will be obvious why YOU are being possibly eaten (a clue is that it has nothing to do with being amongst nurses or being young....and everything to do with YOUR behavior).
And I don't see where "nurses" are the problem....it sounds like management is the issue, as they handle who has seniority and gets a preferred position. The average "nurse" is that in charge of that.

YES!!!!!!!

LydiaNN · Apr 2, 2007

Because we're big ole meanies...

Tweety, BSN, RN · Apr 2, 2007

Because you taste good.

Just kidding.

First of all if you are allowing people to "bite your head off" then you are part of the problem and need to learn some skills to nip this kind of stuff in the bud. No one bites my head off....ever.

Mistake number two was going to your peers about a position you wanted. It's none of their business. You should have went to your manager and asked for the job. Let the cards of their resentment fall where they may, what they think of you wanting days shift and going to day shift is their problem and not yours. You're going to pay your own dues your own way.

Good luck to you. Nurses as a rule don't eat their young. It sounds like it's just one issue, because you said they were supportive and thought you a good nurse. Why brand the whole profession and them as a group over this one issue?

PANurseRN1 · Apr 2, 2007

Why do new nurses seem to think they should get whatever they want handed to them on a silver platter?

I agree 1,000 million percent with carolladybelle's post. Good Lord, this topic is so nauseating, it ought to come with a complimentary dose of Zofran every time someone starts another thread about it. If new nurses wonder why there is hesitation by some older nurses to precept, they have only to reference the plethora of anti-older nurse threads and posts to find out why.

cinthern · Apr 2, 2007

Thanks again, I appreciate both sides of the coin. I can totally tell who has been a nurse for a long time and who are newbies just by the responses. No need for any hostility, it's just an observation I have made from being where I have been for the last year, and the nurses who have been around for a long time are definitely more impatient, nasty and downright mean to me, but that's there problem.

Nobody "handed" me this job, I worked my ass off for it. I went back to school later on in life (I am in my 40's) to only do L&D nursing, even after everyone I ever met told me I would never be able to get a position as a new grad in L&D, I was determined, and I did it. I will be damned if someone tries to take that away from me. I LOVE what I do, I am sorry that I didn't have to do 1-2 years of med-surg, but I thank God for where I am today.

Again, thanks for the responses, and keep them coming!

Jennie

LydiaNN · Apr 2, 2007

Thanks again, I appreciate both sides of the coin. I can totally tell who has been a nurse for a long time and who are newbies just by the responses. No need for any hostility, it's just an observation I have made from being where I have been for the last year, and the nurses who have been around for a long time are definitely more impatient, nasty and downright mean to me, but that's there problem. I chalk it up to jealousy.
Nobody "handed" me this job, I worked my ass off for it. I went back to school later on in life (I am in my 40's) to only do L&D nursing, even after everyone I ever met told me I would never be able to get a position as a new grad in L&D, I was determined, and I did it. I will be damned if someone tries to take that away from me. I LOVE what I do, I am sorry that I didn't have to do 1-2 years of med-surg, but I thank God for where I am today.
Again, thanks for the responses, and keep them coming!
Jennie

Me think thou protesteth too much...

I very much doubt anyone is jealous of you.

Ruby Vee, BSN · Apr 2, 2007

Me think thou protesteth too much...
I very much doubt anyone is jealous of you.

I have serious questions about anyone who thinks they're being "eaten" because everyone is jealous of them!

cinthern · Apr 2, 2007

OK, I took the part of jealousy out of there, poor words on my behalf. My bad, don't shoot me.

I do need to acquire a hard shell if I am going to survive in this profession, and that is something I think takes years to acquire. I am sorry if anyone got insulted in any way from this post, that is not my intention, I am just curious as to why newer nurses are treated a certain way by the more seasoned nurses. No harm, no foul, just an observation AT MY HOSPITAL, doesn't mean it happens at every hospital.

At any rate, any other newbies out there who feel the same way, please let me know what your experiences have been. Thanks again!

Jennie

caroladybelle, BSN, RN · Apr 2, 2007

I suggest that you rephrase your question.....or it will be obvious why YOU are being possibly eaten (a clue is that it has nothing to do with being amongst nurses or being young....and everything to do with YOUR behavior).
And I don't see where "nurses" are the problem....it sounds like management is the issue, as they handle who has seniority and gets a preferred position. The average "nurse" is not in charge of that.

I think that I will repeat this and leave at that.

The OP has closed her mind and not even C4/TNT is likely to open it back up.

Tweety, BSN, RN · Apr 2, 2007

I'm not quite sure I see any "hostility" on this thread, but perhaps you're way of looking at things is a bit more sensitive. I do think the more sensitive among us see more "eating of our young" than some of the rest of us.

You're experience, is your experience. If it's nurses eating their young, then it's nurses eating their young and we need to be supportive.

Ten years from now when your being nice to new grads, precepting them, showing them the ropes and you hear "why do nurses eat their young", surely you're not going to think "nurses eat their young, but of course I'm one of the few expections". You're going to look around you and say "well, perhaps some do and that's a big problem, but as a profession I see that it's not everywhere and everybody.".

I also see the post where you're asking only to hear from new people. But I'm ignoring that. LOL

Obviously I'm not a new nurse, but when I was I was lucky and no one ate me. The older folks, treated me well and I transitioned from school to nurse with the normal stresses and insecurities, but never felt like anyone was mean or catty. This is also what I see where I work.

I'm sorry you're having such a hard time with the experienced nurses eating their young. I hope you can look beyond the presumed hositility and learn something about not being eaten and not generalizing the entire profession, if not, leave it in the trash can. Also, I encourage you to remember what you said in your original post, that they were supportive. It's easy to feel support 90% and focus on the 10% of the time someone isn't supportive. If it's truly a toxic environment, full of mean nurses mistreating you, that you can't handle, then it's time to leave