immature nursing students

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I saw a comment from a 21 y/o nursing student to another 27 y/o nursing student on a webpage. It really bothered me because the 21 y/o pretty much stated "you're 27? what were you doing all this time? I already took my pre reqs blah blah blah." This bothered me because the commenter is a future nurse. She supposedly is in a nursing program and look at how judgmental and ignorant she is being! I think her comment shows a lack of maturity and is so rude. Honestly, I wonder how many students are really at this level of maturity. How are they going to react when they have to deal with an older patient and bodily functions? Will they be able to handle that? And if they do succeed in passing nursing school what type of nurse will they be? This just bothers me and I really don't need comments but I guess what I am trying to say is I like to hold a lot of faith in the integrity of medical professionals. I expect them to be just that, professional . If I recognized a nurse or doctor or PT/Ot/Rt/CNA etc at a random location acting like a 12 y/o I would just wonder how they got to their position. I think admission committees should do character background checks. There are so many good students being turned away and unfortunately some bad appels being accepted.

I don't think it was an immature or rude question. Remember when you were 21? You didn't have much life experience yet and you were genuinely curious what the "adults" were doing so you could get some ideas on how to make a living and still have fun. I started the nursing program at 30 (I'm 32 now) and I've been asked that question. I just tell people the truth - I was working corporate desk jobs I didn't like, travelling, partying, living on my own, and doing some securities trading. Even though I didn't like the jobs I held, I probably had funner 20-something years than most people (I didn't have any responsibilities and was financially independent so didn't live with parents). And I assume people's reaction to that was envy, not "wow you're so old" ;)

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Specializes in Acute Rehab, Progressive Care.

Anyone can be immature regardless of age. As another poster said, its about life experience - and empathy. Do you understand what goes on for others, and can you put yourself in their shoes? People rarely mean to offend, sometimes they forget themselves because they want to joke around or blow off steam. I am sure if you think about it, you might be able to remember a time when you might have done something similar. We can take our profession seriously and still be at varying levels of maturity - I mean, I hope so! :D

I do think some people have more at stake than others, fwiw. If another nurse in my program has 4 kids and I only have one, or none - in a way, her success impacts more people than mine does. That doesn't mean a person w/ children is any better or any more mature than a person w/o children - but their decisions do impact the quality of life of several people, nonetheless. Same for a young person who cares for elderly parents, or someone who is heavily involved in charity.

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Specializes in RN.

Having NOT read through the entire "thread" I would like to give my input...I think that the real question, or tragedy is, is that too many folks are getting into nursing for the wrong reasons. Old, young, mature, immature, it's all a mixed bag. Ummm, I am a little older and even though I KNOW there are many younger people that would be considered more "mature acting" than I, my life experience is way beyond many of theirs and my interaction with people is far more diverse and developed. So the topic is big and terms need to be "qualified" in order to break it down effectively...IMHO there is a huge number of people who now look at nursing for its "income appeal" that really should not be going into the biz, THIS is my biggest concern!!! Finally, I know nurses/nursing students of all ages that are wonderful! and others that are just not so good at all...

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Actions speak louder than age! We have a few 30yr old's acting immature than some 20yr olds!

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Specializes in LTC.
I don't know that you can judge someone's character or call them a "bad apple" for that comment - that's rather judgmental of you... :)

21yo's are notoriously immature, it's not really a surprise. It's also difficult to read people's tone of voice over the internet - maybe he/she didn't realize you could do nursing as an older student etc etc.

The worst interpretation is not necessarily the true one.

Um I'm a little offended by this statement:

21yo's are notoriously immature, it's not really a surprise. It's also difficult to read people's tone of voice over the internet - maybe he/she didn't realize you could do nursing as an older student etc etc.

I became a nurse at 20 y/o and I'm very mature for my age. So I have to disagree with this comment.

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Um I'm a little offended by this statement:

21yo's are notoriously immature, it's not really a surprise. It's also difficult to read people's tone of voice over the internet - maybe he/she didn't realize you could do nursing as an older student etc etc.

I became a nurse at 20 y/o and I'm very mature for my age. So I have to disagree with this comment.

Why are you insulted? No one said all 21 year-olds are immature. Certainly no one called you immature. 21 year-old individuals are young, and often haven't yet matured; this is not uncommon.

What part of this statement is offensive? Even you stated: "I'm very mature for my age" which implies you realize that all 20 year-olds were not as mature as you.

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Have you guys realized how old this thread is?

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Have you guys realized how old this thread is?

Oh my...:eek: LOL... :lol2: Hopefully no one else notices... :o

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Specializes in Emergency Dept. Trauma. Pediatrics.

It will be our little secret, no one has to know ;) :p

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Specializes in Emergency, MCCU, Surgical/ENT, Hep Trans.

2 years, still immature...I've replied to these without looking at the dates, kinda funny

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Specializes in Trauma, Teaching.

I finished my BSN at 21, not immature so much as totally naive! Oh my did I blush a lot my grad year (yes I'd been an LTC aide, but still).

Classroom dynamics are very interesting to watch. My younger students are not always the problematic ones, I've found that age has less to do with it than attitude does.

Funny how old threads pop up like this, wonder how people find them to respond to?

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i am not saying anyone between a certain age group is immature. At that age I had a lot of growing up to do. I am not here to stereotype so please don't take it that way. I just don't like when older students are discriminated against because of their age. Honestly some of them might feel uncomfortable at first because of their age and seeing/hearing someone react like that bothers me.

A lot of the people I know who are nurses started nursing school in their mid to late 30s.

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