College and Association of Registered Nurses of Alberta (CARNA) Discussion Forum: General Discussion: Nurses who eat their young:"In response to Nurses eating their young. Unfortunately this issue is universal. I trained and worked in the Canadian system for many years. I now live and work in Australia. The same issues arise downunder. What are the characteristics of a nurse? Is it something learned by the level of education? I know many well educated nurses who have graduated from university programs many have the same identified traits you have described. I know it is easy to blame increased work loads and staff constraints or lack of education. Mentoring, respecting,supporting and valuing each other irregardless of work or educational experience are the beginnings of finding a resolution. Whether you are a graduate from a 2 yr or 4 yr program then becomes irrelevant." http://www.nurses.ab.ca/discus/messages/1/30.html?1017629135
Do Men Have a Role in Maternal-Newborn Nursing? The Male Student Nurse Experience, Gayle Cudé, PhD, RN:"The well-discussed nursing phenomenon known as "eating our young" refers to the lack of support provided to new graduates by experienced nurses. Is there also a phenomenon of "eating our young male students" in the obstetrics rotation before they graduate? Such gender issues became acute in one nursing research seminar in which half the enrolled students were male. Three of these men expressed interest in careers in maternal-newborn nursing. This article offers personal insight from these male students in addition to a summary of the literature."
Lifelines@awhonn.org
Patricia Chojnicki
Sage Publications
2455 Teller Rd.
Thousand Oaks, CA 91320
Phone: (805) 499-0721 X7160
Fax: (805) 499-8096
E-mail: advertising@sagepub.com http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/abs/10.1177/1091592304269633
Frances Johnson, ND, RNC, NNP, Andrew's University:"All of us had to learn the ropes sometime. Nursing is sometimes acused of "eating our young" because we are not very patient with the novice.
When students complete our program I hope they can say they went to a school where Jesus was present in every class and clinical, and in the manner of each faculty."
Frances Johnson, ND, RNC, NNP
Assistant Professor,
Director of Undergraduate Programs
Marsh Hall (Second Floor)
Office: 211
Phone Ext. 3192
Berrien Springs, Michigan 49104 francesj@andrews.edu
1-800-253-2874 http://www.andrews.edu/NRSG/fjohnson.html
Do Nurses Really Eat Their Young? by Donna Cardillo, RN, MA:"I'm as mad as hell, and I'm not going to take this any more. This famous line was spoken by Peter Finch in the 1976 movie classic Network. It also conveys how I feel about the fact that some of my colleagues love to perpetuate the notion that nurses eat their young. This vile expression implies that experienced nurses do not treat new nurses kindly. My first problem with the statement is that it's a generalization implying that all nurses are like that. Interestingly, whenever I hear someone utter the expression, I always say, "I don't do that. Do you?" The person making the statement always says, "Oh no, I don't, but many others do." I've never heard even one nurse own up to doing this, although some nurses are willing to indict the entire profession. Every time that statement is repeated, it causes harm and casts a dark shadow on every nurse. Say anything enough, and it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy."
Cardillo & Associates
PO Box 15, Sea Girt, NJ 08750 USA
Phone 1-732-449-9666 / 1-800-801-5796
Fax: 1-732-556-0386 http://www.dcardillo.com/articles/eatyoung.html
Students' Corner: Nurses eating nurses: The caring profession which fails to nurture its own! Leanne Davey, Contemporary Nurse:"Experienced nurses who are already working in stressful conditions with continuous staff shortages and poor recognition of service see the student nurse sometimes as an extra hindrance to their already increasing workload. Student nurses are theoretically competent but lack the clinical expertise and experience to complement this knowledge which can also add to the professional pressure that experience nurses encounter. Most nurses would like to see themselves, as promoters of nursing but are frustrated and disillusioned with their profession. It would seem then that student nurses as a result of this dissatisfaction are often devoured by some nurses instead of being encouraged and nurtured in their enthusiasm for nursing." http://www.contemporarynurse.com/13-2p192.htm
Taking "bold voices" home—and to heart - In Our Unit
Critical Care Nurse:"Because of the nursing shortage, nursing must depend on new or less experienced nurses for staffing. Our unit wanted to provide an atmosphere that transitioned the newer staff in a safe, nurturing way. We wanted to ensure that nursing's reputation for "eating their young" didn't carry over into our unit and that new nurses wouldn't be allowed to simply "sink or swim." We wanted our new colleagues to be recognized immediately as a part of the team." http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0NUC/is_6_23/ai_111697013
Singular Outlook, Barbara Sheeler, John Hopkins Nursing:"I was scared as a new grad going on that unit," admits Sheeler. "It's intimidating. You know nothing. School is not anything like the real world. And you hear all these stories about nurses eating their young, that it's sink or swim, and pay your dues. That it's very cut-throat and make-you-cry time."
But her fears were quickly calmed. "Honestly, I was embraced, I was nurtured," says Sheeler. Her preceptors even wanted to cut short her 12-week orientation.
The Johns Hopkins University and Health System
720 Rutland Avenue, Baltimore, Maryland 21205 USA careers@jhmi.edu http://www.hopkinsnursing.org/meet-nurses/singular.html
Choosing Nursing, Anne Katz, RN, PhD, Editor, Lifelines:"We talk glibly about nurses eating our young—but why do we not try to stop these behaviors? When we focus exclusively on the negative aspects of the workplace, are we destroying the spirits of our young colleagues?
Yes, there are problems in our hospitals and clinics. Many of these have been created by forces over which we as nurses have no control. By complaining without working toward the solution, we become part of the problem. How could we possibly expect our sons and daughters to be interested in becoming nurses if all they hear is how terrible it is?"
Lifelines@awhonn.org
Patricia Chojnicki
Sage Publications
2455 Teller Rd.
Thousand Oaks, CA 91320
Phone: (805) 499-0721 X7160
Fax: (805) 499-8096
E-mail: advertising@sagepub.com http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1552-6356.2004.tb00178.x
Why Do Authors Eat Their Young? Commentary by Laurel Johnson, Funeral Associates:"How can we hope to continue attracting nurses to the field when nursing has such a history of 'eating their young'?"
By that, the nursing hierarchy meant that historically, experienced nurses do not nurture and mentor new graduates. Instead, inexperienced nurses were the object of gossip and ridicule, to their faces and behind their backs. Already insecure new graduates were often devastated by such treatment and moved from job to job or left the field altogether. That had not changed when I retired from Nursing and moved on to literary pursuits. My thinking at the time was that at least writers would be supportive of each other and share their experiences in a positive way, give new writers a leg up so to speak. In many cases, I was wrong. Many in the literary field are no more inclined than nursing to nurture their young." http://www.authorsden.com/visit/viewBlog.asp?authorid=5792
Interior Rededication Rita H. Losee, RN, ScD, NursingSpectrum.com:"Recently, I spoke at the Nursing Spectrum Career Fitness® Expo in Boston. As part of the session, I asked participants to name the number one problem that they saw in nursing. The responses were almost evenly divided between those who saw the staffing shortage as primary and those who saw the “nurses eat their young” attitude as being the most problematic. My own response to these perceptions was that these problems are the ying and yang of the nursing shortage. One feeds the other in an ever-downward spiral."
Nursing Spectrum- Continuing Education
2002 Renaissance Blvd. #120
King of Prussia, PA 19406
(610) 275-4100 http://nsweb.nursingspectrum.com/cfforms/GuestLecture/InteriorRededication.cfm
Things You Can Do to Help Relieve the RN Shortage
Rita H. Losee, RN, MEd, ScD, NursingSpectrum.com:"Stop denigrating nursing and nurses. Many nurses focus on how terrible nursing is as a career. Even worse, they bad-mouth other nurses, spreading a virus of disrespect and dishonor to the profession. Yes, there are huge problems that need to be overcome, but the energy expended in denigrating others could be positively focused. Comments like “Nurses eat their young” — often uttered with a perverse sense of pride — deter others from entering the profession. We nurses have spent far too much time arguing about issues dividing us and too little time learning how we can support and encourage one another."
Nursing Spectrum- Continuing Education
2002 Renaissance Blvd. #120
King of Prussia, PA 19406
(610) 275-4100 http://nsweb.nursingspectrum.com/cfforms/GuestLecture/ThingsYouCanDo.cfm
The Spirit Within, Cynthia Saver, RN, MS, NursingSpectrum.com:"Despite all the talk about nurses “eating their young,” I’m optimistic that we’ll pick the nurturing over the destroying option. Once again I trace my optimism back to our nominees for Nurse of the Year. It’s as easy to catch the spirit that they, and many other nurses, show as it is to catch a cold in a roomful of people with the sniffles and a raspy cough."
Nursing Spectrum- Continuing Education
2002 Renaissance Blvd. #120
King of Prussia, PA 19406
(610) 275-4100 http://nsweb.nursingspectrum.com/cfforms/GuestLecture/TheSpiritWithin.cfm
National Council of State Boards of Nursing, Inc.:"The following narratives have been written by individual state boards of nursing regarding the significant activities in their respective states related to the nursing shortage. These excerpts do not provide a comprehensive update of the nurse shortage in these states or nationwide. The information is simply intended to share information among Member Boards."
National Council of State Boards of Nursing, Inc.
676 N. St. Clair Street
Suite 550
Chicago, Illinois, 60611-2921
Telephone: (312) 787-6555. info@ncsbn.org http://www.ncsbn.org/news/stateupdates_state_shortage.asp
Nursing Shortage Serious For Seniors, About.com:"As the population ages the impact of the nursing shortage will be even greater.
There is a threat to the health of every older adult in the United States and Canada looming on the horizon. It is not a virus or new type of bacteria that is causing this threat. The threat to health is a result of the increasing shortage of nurses in both countries.
Over the last couple of years there have been numerous stories in the press about the magnitude and causes of the shortage. So far solutions for this situation have been few. Additionally this nursing shortage will impact the oldest of citizens the most. Older adults use health care services at a higher rate than do younger people. Advances in medicine and improved nutrition and lifestyle have added years to the average life span. With this longer life comes higher needs for medical services, especially the services of professional nurses." http://seniorhealth.about.com/cs/prevention/a/nurse_shortage.htm
The Nurse/Patient Ratio by Genevieve M. Clavreul RN, Ph.D.:"The New Year heralds many things, and this year brings legislation mandating a patient/nurse ratio in California. But after the confetti stops falling, did we get what we want? We now have a panacea for thousands of nurses in California, however, the ratio really can’t be enforced. (At the writing of this article the companion bill for enforcement is stalled in the legislature, having been defeated at least once already).
As my children are fond of saying, “why am I not surprised?” Having been a nurse for almost 30 years, most of those years spent in the NICU/PICU, I am used to working with a strict nurse/patient ratio. ICU’s and a few other areas of nursing have always been under the control of an “acuity” system. Actually, all nursing is supposed to be, but we all know this isn’t always the case. For this reason, I knew in my heart that legislating a nurse/patient ratio was probably an exercise in futility."
Working Nurse, Working World Magazine
3600 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 1526
Los Angeles, CA 90010
Tel:(213)385-4781,
Fax:(213)385-3782, WorkingNurse@WorkingWorld.com http://www.workingworld.com/magazine/viewarticle.asp?articleno=254&wn=1
Nursing: A Medical Emergency, and Opportunity, hits home by Ronald A. Reis and Karen F. Reis RN:"You're an RN, and you've been at it, administering to the sick and wounded, for months, years, maybe even decades. You've got your hands full with 12-hour shifts, high turnover, an often less than supportive work environment, and a stressed-out health care system that is, in places, itself on life-support. What to do? How to keep going? How to make this job, career, meaningful again? How to get out of nursing what you went into it for? How to avoid adding to the national nursing shortage by short-circuiting your own involvement in a noble profession?"
Working Nurse, Working World Magazine
3600 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 1526
Los Angeles, CA 90010
Tel:(213)385-4781,
Fax:(213)385-3782, WorkingNurse@WorkingWorld.com http://www.workingworld.com/magazine/viewarticle.asp?articleno=253&wn=1
4nursinguniforms.com:"Choose from Top Nursing Uniform Companies. All sizes, styles and popular name brands available. Large selection of accessories as well: Accessories Blood Pressure Cuffs, Sphygnomanometers Nursing Tote Bags, Carry-Ons, Medical Bags Clinical, Medical Supplies, Nurses Discount Outlet: Angels, Books, Clothing , Equipment, Figurines, Holidays, Home Decor, Jewelry, Nurses, Office Decor, Scrubs, Shoes, T-Shirts Footwear, Shoes, Sandals, Discount, Bargains Gifts For Nurses (Nurses Week) Hosiery, Socks, Stockings Hats, Jackets, Jumpers Jewelry, Earrings, Necklaces, Watches Luxury Spas, Facials, Manicures, Pedicures Perfumes, Fragrances, Phermones Shoes, Boots, Sandals, Footwear, High Heels, Slippers Stethescopes, Nurse Kits, Replacement Parts Swimwear (Tan-Through) Women's Lingerie " 4nursinguniforms.com
Nurses' Station:"The idea for the Nurses' Station Catalog was conceived in 1989. After searching the marketplace in response to customer inquiries, it became obvious that there were no catalogs of this type serving the nursing profession. To be sure, there were several catalogs offering nurse's uniforms and a smattering of professional items. But there weren't any catalogs at the time offering a range of gifts, clothing, professional items, name badges, shoes and scrubs for nurses. It took two years of hard work to gather samples and put a together a catalog of the most unique and high-quality items for nurses."
Nurses Station
P.O. Box 388
Centerbrook, CT 06409-03881 http://www.nursefriendly.com/station/
Choose Nursing Uniforms, Shoes, Scrubs, Accessories By Brand:
ER:"Media products under your influence, particularly the NBC/Warner drama "ER," are harming the profession of 2.7 million American nurses by giving the public an inaccurate and inadequate account of what nurses really do to save and improve lives. Research suggests that "ER" strongly and negatively influences the way children view nursing. These products contribute to the nursing shortage, a public health crisis that threatens millions worldwide." http://www.truthaboutnursing.org/letters/er/
House, MD:"The main patient in tonight's episode of Fox's House was a nurse who believed that a cat tended to sit with those who were about to die--including, recently, the nurse herself. That may not sound like a promising vehicle for House to improve its abysmal portrayal of nursing. But the show actually presents the nurse as someone with health knowledge. And her search for meaning in faith, for some reason in tragic events, is a real counterpoint to House's cold rationality. Indeed, despite the obvious potential for mockery in the cat angle, the mighty House treats the nurse with considerable respect--he seems to care what she thinks, or at least to find her views unnerving. Of course, the nurse plays no real clinical role in the episode, and no other nurses do either. So the episode suggests, as usual, that physicians provide all important care in hospital settings, including all meaningful psychosocial and physical care. Still, any suggestion that intelligent life resides in a nurse is a welcome departure for House (and for the episode's writer Peter Blake, who also penned a November 2005 House episode that was notable for its physician glorification and its casual contempt for other health professions). Tonight's episode, "Here Kitty," drew 13.1 million U.S. viewers. more... see the relevant film clips... and please join our letter writing campaign!" http://www.truthaboutnursing.org/letters/house/
Private Practice:"ABC's Private Practice, whose season ends tomorrow, April 30, may be the only broadcast network show with a major nurse character to return next season. In the February 5 episode (Mike Ostrowski's "Acceptance," 13 million U.S. viewers), lone nurse character Dell Parker, who is studying to be a midwife, shows some tentative clinical aptitude and knowledge to go with his boyish eagerness. Under the close supervision of OB/GYN Addison Montgomery, Dell ably performs a vacuum-assisted delivery. Later he haltingly guides the baby's parents toward breastfeeding. Dell also performs an assured solo ultrasound of pregnant psychiatrist Violet Turner, calming her panic attack and eliciting her agreement to his own suggestion that, though he's "not a doctor," he will likely become a "pretty good midwife." The show still condescends to Dell, who is also the office manager/receptionist at the LA clinic where the show is set. In the March 26 episode (Craig Turk's "Do the Right Thing," 10.1 million U.S. viewers)," http://www.truthaboutnursing.org/letters/pp/
"Scrubs" defines nursing:""Scrubs" defines nursing: it's all about shutting up and following physician "orders. " Tonight's episode of NBC's "Scrubs," which purports to teach nurse Carla Espinosa that nursing is all about doing what physicians tell you, is one of the most virulently anti-nurse prime time television episodes the Center has ever seen. more..." http://www.truthaboutnursing.org/news/2009/may/06_scrubs.html
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