“Nurses eat their young” is one of the most repeated phrases in the profession. Many newly qualified nurses describe being ignored, criticised in public or left without support. Others say the phrase is unfair to experienced nurses who are stretched to breaking point.
The question: Is bullying of new nurses a culture problem within nursing, or a symptom of understaffing?
It’s a culture problem
- Hierarchies and “I suffered, so should you” attitudes get passed down.
- Bullying is often tolerated because it comes from respected, skilled nurses.
- Gossip, exclusion and sabotage are behaviours, not workloads.
- Changing culture requires leaders to name and challenge it.
It’s a staffing problem
- Senior nurses have no time to teach when they carry heavy patient loads.
- Stress makes everyone less patient and kind.
- The label unfairly blames individual nurses for system failures.
- Wards with good staffing and preceptorship report less incivility.
What the evidence says
Surveys in many countries find that a large share of nurses have experienced bullying or incivility from colleagues, with new graduates especially affected. Research links workplace bullying to burnout, sick leave and new nurses leaving the profession early.
Structured preceptorship and supportive leadership are consistently associated with better retention of newly qualified nurses.
The bottom line
Both are probably true: pressure creates the conditions, but culture decides whether stressed nurses lash out or pull together. Good staffing helps, but so does every nurse deciding not to pass it on.
Related: Bullying in nursing: 12 signs and how to report it
Where do you stand? Tell us in the comments. We read every one, and the best answers may feature in a follow-up article.
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