- Email: [email protected]
Do Nurses Eat Their Young?
LETTERS
LETTERS
TO THE
EDITOR
Submit all Letters to the Editor online at http://ees.elsevier.com/jen/ Do Nurses Eat Their Young?
Stop Eating Our Young!
Dear Editor: I read the article "Do Nurses Eat Their Young? Truth and Consequences"1 with considerable interest. I completely agree that nurses do eat their young. I have observed this over the years, both in a hospital setting and for years as a paramedic. It almost seems like nurses can act similar to a group of lions sitting in the grass and looking for a weak water buffalo. Once they pounce, they will never let up until that nurse quits or a weaker nurse comes along. As our nursing population grows older and closer to retirement, we will need these new, inexperienced nurses to care for us. In the article, the example of such a nurse is a character named Carrie. I found the story very plausible and realistic. I also think it was a reflection of a lack of communication and leadership. What is equally alarming is that other new nurses may join in the bullying, either in an effort to not become targets themselves or in an attempt to fit in.2 In your example, Carrie’s peers never attempted to help or defend her. It was, in my opinion, a clear failure of not providing an experienced nurse as both a mentor and a resource for situations such as these. No orientation, no matter how well intended, intense, or complete, can ever encompass every possibility. Do nurses eat their young? Absolutely, and it may be a while before it becomes completely unacceptable across the entire workplace environment.—Sean P. McDowell, BSN, RN, CEN, Graduate Student, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX; E-mail: [email protected]
Dear Editor: I would like to commend Penny Sauer for highlighting the problem of lateral violence in her article entitled “Do Nurses Eat Their Young? Truth and Consequences,”1 published in the January 2012 issue of Journal of Emergency Nursing. As the problem of bullying in schools makes headlines, it is easy to dismiss it as a problem of youth. As Ms. Sauer points out, this problem occurs in our nursing units among nurses who, as caregivers, should care for fellow staff members above all others. This problem was around when I started in the emergency department 24 years ago but is currently receiving more attention. The statistic of a 31% incident rate of bullying in the workplace should motivate us to take action! As nursing professionals, we abhor abuse directed at helpless victims. How many of us have angry feelings toward abusers of children? Yet, we fail to see the connection when abuse occurs with our young, new, inexperienced nurses. Kathleen Bartholomew, RN, MN, spoke at the ENA Leadership Conference in 2011 on nurse-to-nurse violence.2 According to her research, up to 60% of new RNs leave their first job after 6 months due to abuse from coworkers. It is time we open our eyes, recognize this problem behavior, and do not allow it to continue. Enough is enough! Bullying, intimidation, and incivility need to end; it destroys lives and careers. We need to create a safe environment to work in. We need managers to step up and create zero tolerance policies for lateral violence, and create environments of mutual respect and teamwork. We need to help new nurses, and pass on our knowledge and experience to help train up the next generation. If we see abuse occurring, we need to get off the sidelines and protect the victims. I agree with Ms. Sauer, we are professionals! It is time to grow up and start acting like it!—Brenda Fahlgren, RN, BSN, CEN, Member, California Mid-Valley 225 Chapter, Graduate Student, University of TexasArlington College of Nursing, Charge Nurse, Urgent Care, Sutter Gould Medical Foundation, Modesto, CA; E-mail: [email protected] [email protected]
doi:10.1016/j.jen.2012.03.015
REFERENCES 1. Sauer P. Do nurses eat their young? Truth and consequences. J Emerg Nurs. 2012;38(1):43-6. 2. Rocker C. Addressing nurse-to-nurse bullying to promote nurse retention. OJIN. 2008;13(3).
J Emerg Nurs 2012;38:209-10. 0099-1767/$36.00 Copyright © 2012 Emergency Nurses Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
May 2012
VOLUME 38 • ISSUE 3
doi:10.1016/j.jen.2012.03.016
WWW.JENONLINE.ORG
209
LETTERS
TO THE
EDITOR
Submit all Letters to the Editor online at http://ees.elsevier.com/jen/ Do Nurses Eat Their Young?
Stop Eating Our Young!
Dear Editor: I read the article "Do Nurses Eat Their Young? Truth and Consequences"1 with considerable interest. I completely agree that nurses do eat their young. I have observed this over the years, both in a hospital setting and for years as a paramedic. It almost seems like nurses can act similar to a group of lions sitting in the grass and looking for a weak water buffalo. Once they pounce, they will never let up until that nurse quits or a weaker nurse comes along. As our nursing population grows older and closer to retirement, we will need these new, inexperienced nurses to care for us. In the article, the example of such a nurse is a character named Carrie. I found the story very plausible and realistic. I also think it was a reflection of a lack of communication and leadership. What is equally alarming is that other new nurses may join in the bullying, either in an effort to not become targets themselves or in an attempt to fit in.2 In your example, Carrie’s peers never attempted to help or defend her. It was, in my opinion, a clear failure of not providing an experienced nurse as both a mentor and a resource for situations such as these. No orientation, no matter how well intended, intense, or complete, can ever encompass every possibility. Do nurses eat their young? Absolutely, and it may be a while before it becomes completely unacceptable across the entire workplace environment.—Sean P. McDowell, BSN, RN, CEN, Graduate Student, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX; E-mail: [email protected]
Dear Editor: I would like to commend Penny Sauer for highlighting the problem of lateral violence in her article entitled “Do Nurses Eat Their Young? Truth and Consequences,”1 published in the January 2012 issue of Journal of Emergency Nursing. As the problem of bullying in schools makes headlines, it is easy to dismiss it as a problem of youth. As Ms. Sauer points out, this problem occurs in our nursing units among nurses who, as caregivers, should care for fellow staff members above all others. This problem was around when I started in the emergency department 24 years ago but is currently receiving more attention. The statistic of a 31% incident rate of bullying in the workplace should motivate us to take action! As nursing professionals, we abhor abuse directed at helpless victims. How many of us have angry feelings toward abusers of children? Yet, we fail to see the connection when abuse occurs with our young, new, inexperienced nurses. Kathleen Bartholomew, RN, MN, spoke at the ENA Leadership Conference in 2011 on nurse-to-nurse violence.2 According to her research, up to 60% of new RNs leave their first job after 6 months due to abuse from coworkers. It is time we open our eyes, recognize this problem behavior, and do not allow it to continue. Enough is enough! Bullying, intimidation, and incivility need to end; it destroys lives and careers. We need to create a safe environment to work in. We need managers to step up and create zero tolerance policies for lateral violence, and create environments of mutual respect and teamwork. We need to help new nurses, and pass on our knowledge and experience to help train up the next generation. If we see abuse occurring, we need to get off the sidelines and protect the victims. I agree with Ms. Sauer, we are professionals! It is time to grow up and start acting like it!—Brenda Fahlgren, RN, BSN, CEN, Member, California Mid-Valley 225 Chapter, Graduate Student, University of TexasArlington College of Nursing, Charge Nurse, Urgent Care, Sutter Gould Medical Foundation, Modesto, CA; E-mail: [email protected] [email protected]
doi:10.1016/j.jen.2012.03.015
REFERENCES 1. Sauer P. Do nurses eat their young? Truth and consequences. J Emerg Nurs. 2012;38(1):43-6. 2. Rocker C. Addressing nurse-to-nurse bullying to promote nurse retention. OJIN. 2008;13(3).
J Emerg Nurs 2012;38:209-10. 0099-1767/$36.00 Copyright © 2012 Emergency Nurses Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
May 2012
VOLUME 38 • ISSUE 3
doi:10.1016/j.jen.2012.03.016
WWW.JENONLINE.ORG
209