This is said by lazy, mean bully nurses who do not want to share their knowledge and prefer to stress out the new nurse with a workload that can be unsafe. This philosophy should never be perpetuated. Keep the faith because our patients need us.
I always picture a cannibalistic ritual with a screaming young nurse being devoured by a cranky, crotchety old woman. Real life: I love new grads, some are humble and others are arrogant. I have watched a wise old nurse put an arrogant young nurse in his place. I have also witnessed arrogant young nurses treating seasoned nurses with no respect. I think this is just workplace culture no matter where you go. There are surgeons and docs who treat everyone like trash, it may just be ‘eating their young’ as another misogynist narrative by a patriarchal society towards a mostly women dominated profession.
Purely mean older nurses that don't want to teach new nurses, share their knowledge and experience. They forget that they too were once new nurses. Don't take it to heart, find more approachable nurses to teach you.
This is purely coming from a male RN of 42 years. To answer your question the nursing field is predominantly female. I challenge you to find a male nurse that treats their peers that way.
