Nurse's getting younger

ChristineN, BSN, RN · Dec 6, 2011

I think bemoaning the fact that nurses are younger than they were "back in the day," is silly. I got my RN at 20, so now at 24 I have 4 years experience, where as most young'uns my age are just getting started working as an RN. I feel I am strong in my clinical skills, and tend to pick up on things that even more experienced nurses sometimes miss. I appreciate the skills that experienced nurses can bring to the table, but not all of them are stellar nurses.

leslie :-D · Dec 6, 2011

maybe i'm wrong, but the op likely associated older nurses with more nsg experience...

which we know is not always, or now, even usually the case.

however, and this is to you young whippersnappers (:)), don't automatically negate the life experience of an older nurse.

it is this specific type experience that allows us to deal with certain types of pts/outcomes/familes/employees, that a young nurse may struggle with.

yes, we can always learn from each other, agreed.

but let's not automatically beat an old/er person down.

they still have much to contribute to nursing, even when it's not something taught in school.

leslie

MinnieMomRN · Dec 6, 2011

maybe i'm wrong, but the op likely associated older nurses with more nsg experience...
which we know is not always, or now, even usually the case.
however, and this is to you young whippersnappers (:)), don't automatically negate the life experience of an older nurse.
it is this specific type experience that allows us to deal with certain types of pts/outcomes/familes/employees, that a young nurse may struggle with.
yes, we can always learn from each other, agreed.
but let's not automatically beat an old/er person down.
they still have much to contribute to nursing, even when it's not something taught in school.
leslie

Yay Leslie!!! Well put.

noyesno, MSN, APRN, NP · Dec 6, 2011

Bunch of youngsters on my floor. A few days ago, it was quite the scary scene. They put one of my fellow new grads as charge (who is awesome but she's 23 with 9 months of experience). The only experienced nurse on the floor that night was a new hire, with a couple years of ER experience, and it was her first night on her own off of orientation. Everything went fine but it's scary to think what would have happened if the poop hit the fan.

I have had two patients tell me they prefer us younger nurses to the older ones and it surprised me to hear this. They said we are more energetic and caring. Probably because we've been trained to bend over for Mr. Press Ganey and his giant...

OCNRN63, RN · Dec 7, 2011

I will be 22 with the bsn and if I were to go straight through, 25 with a masters. Have a problem with it? Your issue, not mine. Some people know what they want and don't take years to get onto a career path.

I don't have a problem with your educational plans. It's your hostile tone that's bothersome.

OCNRN63, RN · Dec 7, 2011

I'm confused. What exactly is it that belongs to the nurse that's getting younger?

LOL. That makes me ant to get out my red pen and circle it.

atcha67 · Dec 7, 2011

i know what you mean, my supervisors are half my age...i feel like their mom @ work, but they're my superiors...

Jenni811, RN · Dec 7, 2011

well, i will say it. "the elephant in the middle of the room" money.
plain and simple, they cost less, god help us all.

What do you mean by "God help us all?" Just because a nurse is young doesn't mean they are a bad nurse and need god to help them.

i do just fine on my own without God's help.

xtxrn, ASN, RN · Dec 7, 2011

My take: (and not ALL newbies- but a noticeable number) :igtsyt: :spbox:

= inadequate clinical skills

= not given realistic expectations (i.e.- time management, people skills, etc)

= generation that "knows everything" because there's an "app for that" (not all- but enough)

= the concept that work is a VERB is lacking (it's not a destination)

= minimal initiative to find things on their own (note constant threads about "what should I do even though I don't know you and my life will be decided by strangers")

= inadequate interpersonal interactions d/t constant use of texting/cell phone/e-mail for socialization. When something answers back- and can't be turned off- it's "bad" and almost overwhelming.

= NO clue about what the older nurses have seen in their careers that could be incredibly helpful in crazy situations- because they don't have a 'concept map' for older nurses :eek:

Yadda, yadda, yadda.....

There are a LOT of sharp newbie nurses here....but they get overshadowed by the ones who frankly make me wonder how they get out of the door each day; there was literally a post around here somewhere ("what are we doing to our kids?" I think) where a 9 year old didn't know how to use a sink to wash her hands..... :down: That's something that is taught to a 2 y/o.....and it doesn't seem to get better.

Public education is pathetic....and unless there is a lot of initiative to get all they can out of what is offered to them, we're graduating incompetent BASIC skills into the next level of education or the workforce. I now understand all of the HESI, ad nauseum tests- they have to be sure the instructor before them gave them enough education. THEN the hospital has to do internships/preceptorships or have the dedicated unit to essentially FINISH nursing school. If nursing school asked for more than a Soc Sec# and credit card, it would be nice. :)

I get frustrated with the nurses coming up- but I'm not sure that it's their "fault"... I haven't worked in 7 years (do keep CEUs and license active)- but I've seen a LOT from the other side of the bed- including nursing students.... they DO nothing when with the assigned staff nurse (which used to be the clinical instructor who DID have 8-10 students with her- and she was the primary source of information). And they have no frame of reference about what us older ones are talking about - it's totally foreign to them.

IDK. It's scary....the "younger" part (to me) means I'm getting older Nursing education is going the way of public educaiton- sad.

OK...be mad :) :chair:

Fribblet · Dec 7, 2011

What do you mean by "God help us all?" Just because a nurse is young doesn't mean they are a bad nurse and need god to help them.
i do just fine on my own without God's help.

*Facepalm*

She's bemoaning the edging out of experienced nurses by employers eager to hire newer nurses who are more desperate for work and willing to work for less, thus driving down wages and driving out older nurses.

It wasn't a commentary on your nursing ability.

Sheesh.

xtxrn, ASN, RN · Dec 7, 2011

what makes you think that us "younger nurses" need to learn something?? i'm not saying we know everything. but honestly, some of the younger nurses are just as good as the old seasoned nurses. and if anything....a lot of the seasoned nurses can learn a thing or two from the younger nurses (i.e. how to turn on a computer...).
not trying to start anything here, but im just trying to make a point that "young nurses" are not the only ones who need to learn things.
i got hired with a nurse who is, i'd guess 36-40, somewhere in there. she has been a nurse for 6 years. i was a new grad. she had no clue what she was doing, and still doesn't. i get report from her, and i cringe because i know im going to find things wrong and i always do. so age doesn't always mean experience or expertise in the field
im 23 years old, youngest rn on my floor,and i think im a good nurse. do i have thing to learn? yup. but does my colleague who is in her mid 40's or 50's still have things to learn? yup!

anybody can learn from anybody if they are willing. when any nurse stops learning s/he is absolutely useless.

i think the issue is that the experience and application of knowledge isn't fully developed in younger nurses (and it shouldn't be- that comes with experience). and the refusal to consider learning from someone who has a lot of applicable skills. (not saying it's you). it's a tone with a lot of people in the same age range, regardless of the job... and it's sad.

about the computer? who do you think was working when the hospital changed from paper to emrs? :confused:

all nurses can learn from each other....and all have areas where attitude can be tweaked.

the more i "hear" on this forum, the more i see how nursing education is really going downhill- and the younger ones have no frame of reference for that. not their fault. jmo :)

morte, LPN, LVN · Dec 7, 2011

What do you mean by "God help us all?" Just because a nurse is young doesn't mean they are a bad nurse and need god to help them.
i do just fine on my own without God's help.

my punctuation could have been better, but i didn't think it was that hard to understand. Fribbet understood......