Why do We eat our young?

JKL33 · Aug 23, 2017

Second thing:

When there is so much "crying foul", or when it is done with such gusto, now you really have a problem, because others recognize that is not a normal, healthy, well-adjusted reaction.

So say I make a recommendation (lets just say it is unsolicited) and the inexperienced nurse then runs around saying, "what's up with this JKL witch?? Why is she nit-picking the way I do X, Y, Z?? I think I know how to do XYZ very fine, thank you very much; I went to nursing school too, you know!" - - - Guess what??? Your more experienced peers know that JKL (or more experienced nurse) is probably right. Now what was a very small issue of general nursing inexperience is going to become an issue of people making a mental note of your interesting judgment and insight. Now you have a problem that is going to grow. Instead of just originally saying, "Oh, yeah. That makes sense!" and having it be an interaction that no one else even knows about...

Ruby Vee, BSN · Aug 23, 2017

Looks like the majority of you are the example to which the original poster refers. So many snide and sarcastic remarks for somebody asking a simple question. If you didn't like the question or think it's invalid, why not ignore it? All these corny jokes about new nurses being more tasty and crunchy. Apparently this person has felt intimidated by more experienced nurses, has witnessed it, has done it, or fears it exists. The best answer from many of you could have been that this is a myth and you haven't witnessed it in your career.
To the original poster I would say if you have witnessed or experienced this, there are people out there who feel empowered by belittling others. This practice isn't limited to nursing. You may see this happening in other fields where the inexperienced is among the experienced.

Oh, for pity's sake. Nurses don't eat their young. And if you don't like the jokes, just ignore them. You are going to find that nursing -- indeed LIFE -- is going to be a whole lot less fun, interesting and pleasant if you can't locate your sense of humor.

cardiacfreak, ADN · Aug 24, 2017

What about NETE, Nurses Eating Their Elders? Does anyone CARE to discuss that? I once had a manager that told the seasoned nurse (who had trained practically the whole unit) she should consider LTC, because she wasn't keeping up with the fast pace of the unit.

Not only did she disrespect all LTC nurses with that statement she disrespected a 25 year experienced nurse who had the utmost respect of all her peers INCLUDING the doctors.

pixierose, BSN, RN · Aug 24, 2017

Looks like the majority of you are the example to which the original poster refers. So many snide and sarcastic remarks for somebody asking a simple question. If you didn't like the question or think it's invalid, why not ignore it? All these corny jokes about new nurses being more tasty and crunchy. Apparently this person has felt intimidated by more experienced nurses, has witnessed it, has done it, or fears it exists. The best answer from many of you could have been that this is a myth and you haven't witnessed it in your career.
To the original poster I would say if you have witnessed or experienced this, there are people out there who feel empowered by belittling others. This practice isn't limited to nursing. You may see this happening in other fields where the inexperienced is among the experienced.

Oh, goodness gracious.

The topic of NETY not only gets dredged up every few weeks (sometimes even multiple times within a week), it is so often used as a scare tactic that new grads like myself are looking over our shoulders the first few days expecting it.

The OP merely needs to type in "NETY" in the search box and voila, a sea of threads emerges.

Despite constantly looking over my shoulder for those biter nurses, I've still yet to be chewed up. Maybe it's because I'm humble. Maybe it's because I'm old and not so gosh dang adorable.

Or maybe it's because I take criticism constructively from the nurses who have been there for 17 years and know wayyyyyy more than I ever could from my limited clinical and book knowledge. I don't get offended when one doesn't give me a bright cherry "g'afternoon!" or if I'm not invited out to dinner with the AM staff.

Not to say that lateral violence doesn't happen. But NETY minimizes it, and the term is a tremendous disservice to *actual bullying* within the work environment. It brings away attention to our older nurses who are driven out of the workforce, for example.

Now if the OP said, "hey, let's talk about lateral violence and (insert specific instances)," the jokes might have been fewer and farther between.

Tippyrn · Aug 24, 2017

I think we eat our old. I feel agisim in that places don't want to hire older nurses.

jive turkey · Aug 24, 2017

Oh, goodness gracious.
The topic of NETY not only gets dredged up every few weeks (sometimes even multiple times within a week), it is so often used as a scare tactic that new grads like myself are looking over our shoulders the first few days expecting it.
The OP merely needs to type in "NETY" in the search box and voila, a sea of threads emerges.
Despite constantly looking over my shoulder for those biter nurses, I've still yet to be chewed up. Maybe it's because I'm humble. Maybe it's because I'm old and not so gosh dang adorable.
Or maybe it's because I take criticism constructively from the nurses who have been there for 17 years and know wayyyyyy more than I ever could from my limited clinical and book knowledge. I don't get offended when one doesn't give me a bright cherry "g'afternoon!" or if I'm not invited out to dinner with the AM staff.
Not to say that lateral violence doesn't happen. But NETY minimizes it, and the term is a tremendous disservice to *actual bullying* within the work environment. It brings away attention to our older nurses who are driven out of the workforce, for example.
Now if the OP said, "hey, let's talk about lateral violence and (insert specific instances)," the jokes might have been fewer and farther between.

So you disagree that NETY exists that's fine. Not sure y why people couldn't just say that.

Oh, for pity's sake. Nurses don't eat their young. And if you don't like the jokes, just ignore them. You are going to find that nursing -- indeed LIFE -- is going to be a whole lot less fun, interesting and pleasant if you can't locate your sense of humor.

I have a great sense of humor, those were bad jokes. If I had a tomato to throw.....lol

But seriously you know good and well many of you are annoyed by the question. If people are asking it more than once, perhaps it's a real experience. But carry on with how much better new nurses taste

ItsThatJenGirl, CNA · Aug 24, 2017

Looks like the majority of you are the example to which the original poster refers. So many snide and sarcastic remarks for somebody asking a simple question. If you didn't like the question or think it's invalid, why not ignore it? All these corny jokes about new nurses being more tasty and crunchy. Apparently this person has felt intimidated by more experienced nurses, has witnessed it, has done it, or fears it exists. The best answer from many of you could have been that this is a myth and you haven't witnessed it in your career.
To the original poster I would say if you have witnessed or experienced this, there are people out there who feel empowered by belittling others. This practice isn't limited to nursing. You may see this happening in other fields where the inexperienced is among the experienced.

Making jokes/using sarcasm/snide remarks aren't bullying. The fact that someone would label behavior as such is a big part of the problem.

JKL33 · Aug 24, 2017

If people are asking it more than once, perhaps it's a real experience.

Oh, I very much believe that feeling bullied/disrespected/intimidated/eaten is a real experience. And exceedingly common.

NuGuyNurse2b · Aug 24, 2017

I think we eat our old. I feel agisim in that places don't want to hire older nurses.

It's not agism, it's budgetary. They'd have to pay you your equivalent years of experience and they'd rather just hire a new nurse for much much cheaper instead. Trust that they want your experience; they just don't want to pay you for it.

Ruby Vee, BSN · Aug 24, 2017

It's not agism, it's budgetary. They'd have to pay you your equivalent years of experience and they'd rather just hire a new nurse for much much cheaper instead. Trust that they want your experience; they just don't want to pay you for it.

While this is true, it's short sighted. Soon you have an entire staff who has been trained by nurses with 1-2 years of experience who believe that they're competent . . . and they're not.

JKL33 · Aug 24, 2017

While this is true, it's short sighted. Soon you have an entire staff who has been trained by nurses with 1-2 years of experience who believe that they're competent . . . and they're not.

You are 100% correct. And if you say that out loud, you will soon discover who ELSE is promoting this NETY thing.

CrunchRN, ADN, RN · Aug 24, 2017

I think the problem is that when no actual details of the situations that cause this feeling are given it is impossible to respond to seriously. One persons "being eaten" may not be that at all, but who knows? So with no details how can any appropriate response occur?