Why are nurses so sanctimonious.

[K9lover, ASN, RN]

I've pondered this since I was eaten for lunch as a new grad upon discovery many fellow RNs just rejoiced at new grad mistakes. I loved school; very intelligent and aced everything from my degree through the RN program however RN program did not leave me feeling very well-prepared for the actual position nor did my 30 days with preceptor. My prior work experience was not in healthcare and I felt ill-prepared for the level of responsibility. Actually that is putting it mildly, I was absolutely overwhelmed with both the job and the abject exhaustion working night shift and scraping by on 3-4 hours sleep. Now, previous work experience if I did not know something I'd ask and my fellow bartenders or waitstaff would just tell me, show me how to make a Long Island etc...not so in nursing, asking was per se considered evidence of my ignorance and my colleagues superiority. Actually the mere fact that I was a new grad was 'evidence' of their superiority thus I learned early on to figure it out, it gave colleagues cause to feel superior when mistakes were made; never mind patient welfare, that was secondary to the boost other RN's received to their egos. God, I was so stressed and depressed I felt as if I had made the most massive mistake of my life for that first year! I was so grateful I had others' on my life who cared although they could not relate so much to work-related issues. I thought this was a new grad phenomena until, with much experience, I did a bit of traveling. Some facilities were good @ staff helping out re where to find items etc...last travel assignment @ facility starting with 'K' and ending with 'aiser' I had actually been warned was hideous toward travelers; fellow RNs @ that facility went above and beyond eating their travelers! They'd assign based upon traveler availability, i.e. if they had a traveler they'd give them the'd highest acuity patients; traveler would arrive and, if unexpected, they'd change the 'fair' assignment to meet this end. I'd add that I spoke with other travelers and they all experienced this. if one had the temerity to ask where a blood warmer was they'd tell you 'regular staff' may need it @ some point that day so go to another unit and see if you could scrounge one up. It was nearly as bad as new grad. I swore I'd eat out of dumpsters before ever taking another travel job and got out of hospital nursing completely. Last/current position working in custodial setting @ jail wonderful, even if there were travelers/young/old/PD to eat they wouldn't have need to because they treat the patients with such patronizing contempt they have no need. I get along with colleagues, am kind to patients, do my job and go home, with exception of long-term friend from college and an RN who actually protected me from the hateful ones I do not socialize with other nurses reason twofold, all events colleagues attend or create involve copious amounts of alcohol & I prefer keeping professional life separate. My last post on this site only confirm that many RN's just derive great joy from witnessing others RN's fall/fail and appear to derive the same joy out of this which others' derive from taking a walk in the spring and seeing the Lilacs begin their bloom. I do not pretend to understand this; is it lack of overall intellectual capacity in non-nursing balliwicks' of life? Is it fragile ego or massive ego? not spending time on this...happy to have an accommodating job, happy my issues were resolved after CHP misconduct was established which results in no case. One RN pleasant...the remainder served to remind me that RN's still eat their young, old, travelers et al.

[allnurses Admin Team]

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