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Nurses Eating their young
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Posted 2 months ago I heard the phrase of ' nurses eating thier young' for the first time when I was an Aide. At the time I wasn't sure what it meant then I became a nurse and started my first job. I quickly found out what it meant. I worked at a unionized hospital for my first job. As soon as the clock hit 3:25 they were all gathered around the time clock ready to go. If they had work that wasn't done they left it for the next shift because overtime was frowned upon. I worked the float pool I was med-surg/ pediatrics. I ended up having literally 12 different nurses as my coach for orientation. Which really confused me I must say. The enviroment and atmosphere was every man for themselves. No one helped anyone else unless they would get something in return. I ended up losing that job ,why, well they said that I was doing paper work wrong. When did they tell me this and show me what I was doing wrong? The day they fired me. No one had taken me aside and said ' Hey look Laurie I know you are new to nursing and to this hospital so I thought I would sit you down and show you what you are doing wrong here.' No one cared about me enough to do that. I have since been working at a hospital where we care about our coworkers and we help the new nurses to succeed. We show them in a kind way what they are doing wrong or where they can improve. I am still a fairly new nurse myself and need help sometimes and I get it freely. We never eat our young on our unit and we help each other without expecting something in return. Has anyone else experienced this nurses eating their young problem? I would like to hear your stories. |
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| Posted about 1 month ago Yes, I've had this happen to me my second semester of nursing school. I was working with a patient that had acute renal failure (ARF), a colostomy pouch, and a fistula that prevented normal BMs. Looking back I would probably say that patient had an opiate seeking tendency, but the primary care nurse was not by my side to address this, let alone anything else about the disease process faced by the patient. I think the only time she came into the room was to verify the blood for transfusion, then she went to the lounge to read a magazine. I found that semester very devistating and my professor didn't even step in to help with the situations. Now I am a bit leery of returing to that hospital, but I am planning on doing a summer externship there so I maybe I can find a better floor to work on. Now that it has received magnet status I am also trying to remember the positive, and I have grown a whole lot too, now that I am almost in my last year of school. You can't always count on others to help you, even if it is there JOB to do so, but working in a team oriented environment is key to success for everyone, including the patients! That is why I am friendly to everyone, so they know I would like to be treated the same way. It is never fair to toss some one down like a doormat, and I will never become a cannibal!! Your previous job wasn't even worth keeping- no one should have to put up with that, unless you enjoy leaving work each day frustrated. What I found to move past it was... cry so I could release the emotions that were lingering, and now I am stronger. Maybe knowing you have to start somewhere, and everyone's been there at some point if they are a nurse now! So with a grain of salt, I have moved on, and the best way to overcome this is to stay assertive, and know that you deserve respect no matter who you are! |
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| Posted about 1 month ago The topic of "Nurses Eating their Young" is so complex. There are many great articles about lateral or horizontal violence. In the United Kingdom they call it by it's real name "Bullying". All describe the same problem. There are so many problems within nursing that nurses often take their frustrations out on each other. This happens in any "oppressed population." The nurse gets caught in power struggles between physicians and adminstration. This can lead to a sense of learned helplessness. I am not making excuses for this behavior. It is absolutely wrong! I have seen the nursing student or nursing assistant who complained the most about this behavior, turn around after graduating and do the same to someone else. Each of us can decrease this phenomenon by refusing to participate. " Be the change you wish to see in the world." Mohandas Gandi |
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| Posted about 1 month ago Maybe, eventually, nurses in general will realize they're crippling themselves with this sort of welcome. Luckily, what I see most at work is a desire to ensure the success of new nurses. If they fail, they don't become a part of the solution to better patient care. |
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| Posted about 1 month ago I have seen this behavior over and over in my >20 years of being a nurse. Then we turn around a complain about "THE SHORTAGE". We all need to be more aware and be more responsible with training and accepting new grads and their nurturing rather than devouring them.Let's be a part of the Cure..not part of the problem..:) Drew |