Nurse Bullying! Why Do Nurses Eat Their Young?

After going through fast-paced and strenuous hours in nursing school, new nurses tend to breathe a sigh of relief that all their sacrifice will finally be paying off. Once they graduate and they pass their exams, most nurses are ecstatic at the thought of finally being able to get into full-time nursing. They know the hard hours they will have to work, the night shifts they will need to cover, the overtime they will need to pick up and the holidays they will probably miss with their families. What they did not know, however, was the bullying that they would encounter from their fellow coworkers.

Does that surprise you? Well, it should not. If you have ever spent some time around nurses, you have probably heard the phrase, “nurses eating their young”. The phrase was first coined by Judith Meissner, RN, MSN, in a 1986 article about hostility among nurses. This is not a new occurrence, rather one that has been around for quite some time. According to a study done by RNnetwork, 45% of nurses have been bullied by other nurses and 38% have been verbally harassed or bullied by physicians. This statistic is surprising considering the nursing profession is known for having individuals who care and show compassion on a daily basis. Why then, do these same individuals practice bullying of newer employees day after day?

Building Resiliency

Many nurses feel that although nursing school was challenging, the real-life of nursing is even more challenging. These nurses feel like bullying the new nurses may help them in becoming stronger, more resilient nurses in the long run. If a new nurse can handle some adversity in the workplace they should be prepared for anything that comes their way.

Competitiveness Among Nurses

A career in nursing is one of the most intensive careers that exists. It is a female-dominated profession and it should be unsurprising that nurses tend to be some of the most competitive people out there. New nurses can be seen as competition, which could bring about the aggressiveness against them.

Breaking the Mold

If this is the way that things have been since the beginning of time, this does not mean that is how it must remain. As nurses, we have the power to stand out against bullying and help our inexperienced cohorts in their new careers. As more experienced nurses, we have the possibility of being a mentor to new nurses and instead of putting them down. We can educate them on the ins and outs of nursing and provide them guidance on their daily activities.

If we see that nurses who have been in the workforce for longer periods of time are being uncivil to new nurses, it is our duty to stand up against this. Our role as more experienced nurses to new nurses should be to include others, make sure assignment distribution is fair and educate them when needed.

How New Nurses Can Prepare Themselves

New nurses can prepare themselves for difficulties in their new careers by conveying confidence, working as a team and practicing utilizing an assertive communication style. This does not mean that as a new nurse they should be aggressive, rather, it should keep the new nurse from responding defensively. They should be able to specifically state that they need someone’s assistance in an issue and not their criticism. Knowing when to stand up for themselves is essential to their career.

If bullying continues to be a pattern at their new place of employment, they can start a documentation trail to keep track of when and how often this occurred. They should make sure they take note of specific details and witnesses who were present.

New nurses should also focus on their professional development, as they grow in their careers, they will feel more confident in their work experience and decisions. As a new nurse, they should also seek a mentor who can guide them through their initial years as a nurse.

A career in nursing is one of the most fulfilling careers that exists. Although it can be physically and mentally draining, the assurance that we are making a difference every day in people’s lives when they are most vulnerable is what keeps us going. Do not let adversity in the workplace discourage you from a job in nursing. You just need to be aware that these issues may emerge and decide if this is the career for you.