What's wrong with kids today? (and I'm not even that old)

Nurses General Nursing

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I'm in my mid twenties and I'm just shocked at how kids my age are acting. It's not just one or two experiences that have made me :uhoh3::confused::rolleyes: - but several, here are the ones that stand out:

  • 21 year old who left AMA in the middle of the night because I would not let her boyfriend sleep over in a 4-bed room. She claimed that she needed him to sleep or she would 'freak out'.
  • 24 year old who would whine and cry and writhe on the bed while her family was there and act ok when they left. She liked having them coddle her and hover over her in concern.
  • 18 year old who wept so much upon admission that I thought something was wrong. When I questioned her - she was crying because this was her first time in the hospital and she was 'scared'. She came in with abd pain NYD - current pain 3/10, walking independently, absoultely fine, no horrific injuries or crazy stuff that would warrant a freak-out.

I don't know. What's going on? Why are these supposed adults so immature? Maybe it is how I was raised, but I would be embarassed to cry in public if I was not in great physical or emotional pain. I would not dream of insisting people to sleep over just so that I would 'calm down' and 'sleep better'. I would not endanger my health just because my boyfriend could not sleep over. WTH????!!!

Agree- but, LOL, I grew up with indoor plumbing, a heater, and AC....and I still learned to do things to make me a more productive part of the family. :) If I wanted to use the car (I wasn't handed a new one on my 16th birthday, and didn't own my own until 7 months after moving across the country 2 weeks after my 22nd birthday- I used the bus :)), I had stuff I had to do to get the keys. I got an allowance before I was old enough to work, and I was expected to do my part around the house.

Thank God my parents didn't think that I was supposed to just find out how to navigate in simple situations after I left home.

A lot of things have gone down the tubes over the last 30 years. The best of this nation is done unless something forces people to have to make do, appreciate what they do have, and treat each other how they'd want to be treated. I've seen some things on TV about some amazing kids doing some great things-

And then there's the kid this week in FL who butchered his parents, tucked them away in their bedroom, and had a party with their dead bodies in the house.... a kid in CA this week killed his mom (a veteran child abuse detective) and sister, and was found with the sister's body out in the yard. And don't get me started on that idiot Casey Anthony (and I realize that none of us knows what went on in the house when she was growing up- I've dealt with a lot of incest survivors, and they don't have a membership card to prove their history)...not reporting her kid gone for a month??? That's inexcusable no matter what else she did- or didn't- do.

I also learned that work is a verb, not a destination on its own.

I don't have kids- have taken care of several over extended periods of time (not the same, but I'm not totally unaware of how kids 'work'.... I thank God a LOT that I don't have kids or grandkids growing up with the morons I see on reality TV, or the news. It's horrifying.

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Specializes in Emergency Dept. Trauma. Pediatrics.

How do you think I now get by without having to clean. Between paying someone to come and deep clean when I can, and 4 kids, the cleaning is taken care of ;)

I have 3 sons and a husband. The yard is taken care of.

The boys do their own laundry, I do mine and my daughters and make my husband do his own. (he has a clean and dirty pile also).

Husband grocery shops and cooks.

My daughter and I take care of the Mic. Shopping. you know, clothes, shoes ;)

I might fail at my domestic duties (had nothing to do with my childhood though, unless it's because I was made to do so much growing up) but hey, I can help save a life and take care of people when they need it most. I figure it's pretty even. :p

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Specializes in Emergency Dept. Trauma. Pediatrics.
Agree- but, LOL, I grew up with indoor plumbing, a heater, and AC....and I still learned to do things to make me a more productive part of the family. :) If I wanted to use the car (I wasn't handed a new one on my 16th birthday, and didn't own my own until 7 months after moving across the country 2 weeks after my 22nd birthday- I used the bus :)), I had stuff I had to do to get the keys. I got an allowance before I was old enough to work, and I was expected to do my part around the house.

Thank God my parents didn't think that I was supposed to just find out how to navigate in simple situations after I left home.

A lot of things have gone down the tubes over the last 30 years. The best of this nation is done unless something forces people to have to make do, appreciate what they do have, and treat each other how they'd want to be treated. I've seen some things on TV about some amazing kids doing some great things-

And then there's the kid this week in FL who butchered his parents, tucked them away in their bedroom, and had a party with their dead bodies in the house.... a kid in CA this week killed his mom (a veteran child abuse detective) and sister, and was found with the sister's body out in the yard. And don't get me started on that idiot Casey Anthony (and I realize that none of us knows what went on in the house when she was growing up- I've dealt with a lot of incest survivors, and they don't have a membership card to prove their history)...not reporting her kid gone for a month??? That's inexcusable no matter what else she did- or didn't- do.

I also learned that work is a verb, not a destination on its own.

I don't have kids- have taken care of several over extended periods of time (not the same, but I'm not totally unaware of how kids 'work'.... I thank God a LOT that I don't have kids or grandkids growing up with the morons I see on reality TV, or the news. It's horrifying.

In reality though, all these terrible things or ways people act, are not the Norm. It's what is publicized the most because we feed off these terrible things. In Medford, OR a few days ago an older man that was a sex offender killed his 4 kids and his wife and then set his house on fire to try and cover it up.

Terrible and disgusting and made national news. This is NOT the norm though when you take into consideration the amount of people in this country. I think child molestation is probably a little more common. That is my own guess by the number of people I have met that have been victims of sexual abuse or forms of physical abuse and I don't think that is reported near the amount it happens.

But as far as the kids you see on reality TV and stuff, not the norm.

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Specializes in Emergency/Cath Lab.

I used to work at a summer camp. You want to see a group of whining teet suckling kids, go work there. I had never seen so many kids homesick and wanting to go home. I relished the chance that I could be away from my parents for a week at a time.

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Specializes in New PACU RN.

You guys gave me a lot to think about, thanks. I won't be too harsh in my judgement next time :) (I always remained professional and caring - just kept those thoughts in my head).

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I'm female, and had to do the yardwork, family laundry,as well as the indoor stuff...... your daughter has to do nothing? Is Paris Hilton her idol??? LOL (if so, my condolences :))

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I was with you until you expressed such a lack of caring about your patients. :eek:

Maybe you could try a little kindness and some sympathy, some teaching, some humor, some encouragement instead of just figuring that your load will be lighter if they leave.

Don't worry in front of them I teach until I am blue in the face and page up to the attending to come talk to the pt who wants to eat 3 dinner trays right before their colonoscopy.......My load will be heavier, as a I will have to deal with a discharge and a new admission......

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Specializes in Med/Surg, DSU, Ortho, Onc, Psych.

I've noticed today that 'kids' - in their 20's - do act more childish and babyish. I, very much accidentally, pushed my trolley/shopping cart into the back of a 20-something's heel today and apologised, then walked on - mind you, this 'girl' stopped dead right in front of me, so a collision was inevitable. Well, this woman/girl abused the hell out of me and I was thinking as I was walking away: how freekin childish! I was called every name under the sun and verbally abused in a crowded shopping centre, so I turned back and told this girl to GROW UP and that she wouldn't get anywhere in life acting like a baby. Of course, she abused me more, even though I did say it was an accident. She was literally crying and I didn't even hit her that hard; hell, my trolley had one very light item in it! Get over it already.

My niece is nearly 26 and still hasn't grown up. They all live in what I call 'La La Land'. La la land is a wonderful place, where you flirt and live in a magical world, where no-one should EVER be nasty to you, everything is everyone else's fault, and you don't have to be responsible for anything. These girls are babied by mummy & daddy from the day they are born, and it shows nowadays, big time.

Yeh some of these new, young nurses really, really annoy me too.

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It's sad. I'm sort of slow from mobility issues, and now shop at 3-4 a.m. to avoid being 'tailgated', or having people sigh heavily if I can't get out of the way fast enough. I stay to the sides of aisles, but there are always those who can't get past me fast enough. So, to avoid the hassle and nastiness, I just go in the middle of the night on my monthly shopping day. :uhoh3:

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Specializes in Geriatric nursing.
It's sad. I'm sort of slow from mobility issues, and now shop at 3-4 a.m. to avoid being 'tailgated', or having people sigh heavily if I can't get out of the way fast enough. I stay to the sides of aisles, but there are always those who can't get past me fast enough. So, to avoid the hassle and nastiness, I just go in the middle of the night on my monthly shopping day. :uhoh3:

That's sad! I'm in my early twenties and even I don't like many people in my age group (those I know). The good thing is that not everybody is rude :)

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Specializes in Acute Care Cardiac, Education, Prof Practice.

Three whiny patients do not a generation make.

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