Would you prefer a younger nurse to an older nurse?? (pls don't take to offense)

NephroBSN, BSN, RN · Mar 24, 2006

Okay so maybe the title of this thread sounds kinda prejudice in someway, but please don't take this to offense...
So the other day I had taken my son to the doctor's and overheard a very interesting conversation between a couple about "if you were to choose between a young nurse who just graduated from college and an older nurse who's had a lot of experience to take care of you, which would you choose?"
Well the guy said he would choose the older nurse because of the long time experience that they have and that they would, of course, get more respect because "the older the age the more mature" and the girl disagreed and said she would choose the young nurse because they seem to be more energetic, and therefore is more fit for the job than the older nurses and the knowledge and skills that they learned in school are still fresh in their minds.
Now in my opinion, I feel that age wouldn't matter in nursing. Sure newly graduates would still have the knowledge learned from school still fresh in their minds, but it doesn't mean that an older nurse doesn't still have knowledge learned from school (that stuck with them) still fresh in their minds either. And as for younger people being more energetic.... I know some older people, for example my grandfather, who is very active (loves hiking, biking, whatever it takes tokeep fit..etc.) and has a ton of energy, and some younger people who are not active or energetic at all. I just think all ages in nursing work well together, because then they can learn more from eachother.
But what do you think??

Being older I am biased . But I will say this a young nurse may have lots of knowledge but unless she knows how to apply that knowledge it's all just facts.

sunnyjohn · Mar 24, 2006

As with most professions, I think consumers prefer experience. That is just the way we think.

Hmmm, what about the young/old nurse? Ya know what I mean? The 55 year-old new nurse graduate? If a 50 year young man/woman came into your room and introduced themselves as "your RN" wouldn't most people assume he/she had been a nurse for at least a handful of years? Who would guess that the person may be a new grad?

Young/old nurse are getting to be very common these days.

Kinda' throws a monkey wrench in the train of thought, doesn't it????

JVanRN · Mar 24, 2006

Please no one slam me for this. I am a "young" nurse myself. I believe in my skills and feel I am competent. I also work with many "young" nurses and they are also great. I know the frustration of being doubted by a family member when you are caring for thier loved one because "you don't look old enough to be a nurse". I don't know it all, and if there is something I don't know, I ask one of my more experience co workers. I know my limitations, but I'm also reasonably comfortable with myself.

However...if it were my family member I would probably feel better if I knew the nurse caring for them had some experience under thier belt. I don't necessarily mean a nurse of a certain age. I just think I would be nervous if I knew my dad was in ICU and was being cared for by a GN. I would not raise hell and request a different nurse just because of that though. Most likely I would not say anything at all. Just because a nurse is new doesn't mean they are stupid. We've all been new at one point and the nurse deserves a chance. I would just hope that they were a consciencious nurse and not the type to let thier ego get in the way. Those are really the type that worry me and those come in all shapes sizes and levels of experience.

Idealy I would perfer a competent, compassionate nurse that has dealt with the sort of problem I or my family member was facing. But new, nurse doesn't automatically mean incompetent and experienced doesn't automatically mean competent. So I guess it just depends on the nurse.

wildcats · Mar 24, 2006

I don't think that older vs. younger really matters. There are older people in my nursing program but just because you are older doesn't mean you have a lot of experience. Personally, I don't really care if a nurse is young/old or new/experienced as long as the nurse knows what they are doing. :wink2:

Antikigirl, ASN, RN · Mar 24, 2006

I am like you...to me it makes no difference on age, but experience is a nice thing! LOL!

Now me, I am 36 and been a nurse for 6 years. I am not the most experienced like my collegues, but their stories and my own very diverse exprience has really made me a strong and knowledgable nurse (okay one that can't spell worth a darn...LOL!). I have suprised many with my skill and knowledge being as I have only been a nurse 6 years...but I have a daily goal..."learn something each day...make it two!".

BUT...when I worked at my last job at an ALF...the residents first preferred the more matronly looking nurses vs me by a long shot! I noted that right away and learned as much as I could from them and pretty well established myself quickly as a top notch nurse :). I already had the common sence approach so many other newer nurses I saw didn't quite have down yet...and challenge...I loved those! Creative nursing time...love it!

The plus side for my collegues was new theories in nursing care and practice, more emergency training (I was an ED gal), knew my meds and newer ones, new the latest in skin care products and txs, knew the newer Docs (some personally some profesionally) and since my husband is a paramedic...I was basically the PR person for them and got our facility and their company as well as the fire department on the same page and working like a team!

So both learn from eachother and make a wonderful whole! And I have explained this not only to healthcare providers..but patients too!

Age..ehhhhhhh that is a number...experience and how you apply it...that is the trick!

palesarah · Mar 24, 2006

I think the question of age is not as releavant to that situation as the people having the conversation thought it was! Considering how many nursing students are non-traditional students- older (as in not straight out of high school), second or third careers... I've worked with nurses who are twice my age but are new grads, and nurses younger than I was when I graduated who already had several years experience and were confident, competent, knowledgeable nurses. Age itself, is not that significant, in my mind.

RN and Mommy · Mar 25, 2006

It all depends, I wouldn't mind a young nurse, say around 25 or so, but I go to school with some YOUNG women and we are going to be graduating in May and they are only 20 years old. Personally, I wouldn't want that young of a nurse, but it depends on their maturity level. I would hope that being in a profession such as nursing, they would grow up fast, but I don't know...

vloho · Mar 25, 2006

Depends on the attitude curtesy with which the nurse spoke and responded to my questions and willingness to lend a hand jmo

RNLisa · Mar 25, 2006

I am 36 years old, and will be a new grad in June. Does that mean I am neither a young nurse or an "older" nurse since I really am not a nurse yet?

laura.lynn_rn · Mar 25, 2006

These are very interesting viewpoints. I began nursing school @ age 18 and graduated an LPN @ age 19. I got soooo many people asking me- "are you old enough to be a nurse?" I would smile and say "yes sir/mam"

Even now, I'm 23, an RN of 2 years and 2 yrs LPN exp. I occasionally get a comment of how young I am.. I simply say that I've been a nurse for 4 years and that puts people's minds at ease- it seems. My good friend graduated from nursing school and became an RN @ 20 yrs old... and she looks about a day over 12- she has had patients (who were confused) yell her out of rooms saying she is a child, not a nurse. But we all know that the new nurse young or old has to start somewhere.

That said, knowing what I know now, and more importantly what I DIDN'T know then, I agree that a young/new nurse is a bit of a scary thought. As TriageRN_34 said- common sense and life experience plays a big part. When I was a "baby nurse" I was still a new adult with not a lot of common sense or life experience with adult issues... and I'm still learning.:offtopic:

All of THAT said, I think that these concerns are good reasons to focus on precepting your new nurses- and mentoring. "when I grow up" I want to be a nurse manager and take a lot of the ideas I have and put them into place such as nurse mentors and other incentives at work... that's another thread though....:typing

laura.lynn_rn · Mar 25, 2006

sorry, that "off topic guy was supposed to go where I said "when I grow up":imbar