How do you cope with looking "too young" to be a nurse? - Page 4

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  1. Oct 7, '12 by
    This may seem like common sense, but don't wear pigtails in your hair. The one time I did, I ran behind all day because just about every patient questioned my qualifications. It also made the male patients think it was ok to sexually harass me. So, consider yourself warned!
    FlyingScot likes this.
  2. Oct 7, '12 by
    Yep. I just graduated this past August and people still don't think that i am old enough to even graduate from nursing school. I always get asked "So, you are a real nurse?" Yes, a real nurse! Makes me wonder what they thing "real nurses" actually look like...
  3. Oct 7, '12 by
    Wow!! This sure became quite a popular post. Thanks everyone for your responses.


    Quote from squidbillies
    This only concerns me as far as GETTING a job
    It might explain why it took me a VERY long time to find a job... people didn't take me seriously.


    Quote from imintrouble
    I never considered that I worked in a progressive area, but I can't remember hearing a young looking nurse's ability linked with their appearance.

    Is it possible YOU place more emphasis on your appearance than patients and co-workers? "You look too young to be a nurse", is not an indictment on your abilities, but simply an observation.
    No, I don't. I don't think I look young at all. It's how people treat me. I constantly have strangers coming up to me asking how old I am. They always guess an age like 13 years old (***, SERIOUSLY?!). I don't see why I should place so much emphasis on how old I look when no one else notices... but that's the problem... everyone notices and repeatedly rub it in my face. I've gone through this for years. Having people look at me with disgust and tell me, "You look too young" to be doing this and that is absolutely unnecessary and RUDE. It's not just an observation; it's an insult. Observations are noted to yourself. And you'd know what it feels like if you looked 13 years old when you're almost 30.
  4. Oct 7, '12 by
    I guess it struck a chord with some of us since we have been there. I remember shopping for a wedding dress with my soon to be SIL and my youngest baby. When the store employees heard me mention that she was my third child, they had to drop everything and gather round to find out how old I was. They were guessing 18 at the oldest when I was 32 at the time.

    I don't find it insulting, but it does get quite tedious that others make a big deal out of it.
  5. Oct 7, '12 by
    Quote from GeneralJinjur
    I guess it struck a chord with some of us since we have been there. I remember shopping for a wedding dress with my soon to be SIL and my youngest baby. When the store employees heard me mention that she was my third child, they had to drop everything and gather round to find out how old I was. They were guessing 18 at the oldest when I was 32 at the time.

    I don't find it insulting, but it does get quite tedious that others make a big deal out of it.
    Yeah, it's nice to see that I'm not alone. But it's insulting when people question your capabilities and skills and judge you so quickly. And it's people's reactions and disgusted looks I get.

    It's like asking an obese person how much they weigh and getting a look because you look "too fat" to be doing what you're doing. And I can't even help the fact that I look young.
  6. Oct 10, '12 by
    In reply to citylights89 - I know exactly what you are saying. When I graduated (a few years ago!)' I was asked if I was a "real" nurse a lot - I did have a baby face. I had one lovely senior lady ask me if I was a nurse. When I said yes, she grabbed my hand and said "are you sure"!! When I said yes, she patted my hand and said "if you say so dear"!!
    Last edit by Peppermintcake on Oct 10, '12 : Reason: Forgot to hit reply button
    citylights89 likes this.
  7. Oct 10, '12 by
    Keep smiling, be professional and be the best nurse on the floor.