Ageism in Nursing School..

MQ Edna · Nov 21, 2006

I have to add. This isn't just happening to me, there are others who are older that get a lot of crap in our class. I'm telling you, it is really aggravating...especially when you are trying to study before class starts.

Also, a couple of younger students (the ones that are probably chiefly responsible for this irreprehensible behavior IN class) actually made fun of a couple of elderly patients in our clinical setting!! SOME, not all, need to seriously GROW UP.

UM Review RN, ASN, RN · Nov 21, 2006

I have to thank a really bad clinical and a couple of extremely stressed, insecure instructors for giving me a chance to bond with my clinical group.

Those talented students were being told nothing but negative things about themselves. Everyone was feeling the strain, morale was in the pits.

One night I was angry because yet another talented student was torn to shreds and made to cry in front of the group.

I decided to fight back. I wrote one nice thing, one note of encouragement, about each of my classmates. I put on a fancy border, added some color, and printed it out on glossy photo paper--one for each of them.

You would not believe how many of them came to me after that semester and told me how that little note kept them going. One said she hung it up on her wall!

UM Review RN, ASN, RN · Nov 21, 2006

Oh yeah, my point.

My point is that you might be facing some "discrimination" because you lack healthcare experience right now, but later on, your life experience can help you to become part of the team.

Study hard, take it seriously, and you'll do fine. Best wishes to you!

jemommyRN · Nov 21, 2006

I feel so bad that they are doing this to you. Just really try to focus on the task at hand because you can't change other people's minds or actions. I wouldn't worry about it. (i know, I know, easier said than done).

anonymurse · Nov 22, 2006

My whole class is old, I mean everyone has kids or jobs or both. I love it. Nobody wastes time. We get a lot done. All questions are profitable. We help each other out. No backstabbing. Best class of my life.

WDWpixieRN, RN · Nov 22, 2006

We are near the end of our first semester, and the students that have dropped or doing the worst tend to be the younger ones....I think a certain amount of maturity is a real asset in this career....not saying that there aren't young ones who aren't or can't be excellent nurses, I'm just pointing out an observation from our particular class...hope things are going better!

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Diahni · Apr 13, 2009

Hey, you never know who is going to decide to use you to vent about their own frustrations. I had a handful of experiences in school, but this one was actually funny. There was a guy about my age, late 40s, whom I had heard was once a prison guard. Once when I was walking into a class, he stood back and said, "Age before beauty." The funny part is this guy has a pot belly, balding with grey hair, and looks like he was never a handsome guy at any age. So from then on, my friends and I referred to him as "Beauty." Then a Russian student was always snotty to me. When I said the clinical classroom was hot (and it was) she made some crack about hot flashes. Why do some people need to act like this? For the brief time they are putting somebody down, they're pumping themselves up. I'm one to enjoy a snappy come back, but in school, I just ignored it.

Blueorchid, ASN, RN · Apr 13, 2009

I would say immaturity and shenanigans can occur at any age. OP I'm sorry to hear that your classmates sound like they belong in high school and that they're giving you a hard time. However I've seen people in their 20s show a great deal of maturity just as well as people in their 40s and vice versa.

I see alot of "oh they're immature" comments here which should be noted is ageism in itself. As a 21 year old, just because I'm not married, have children, or have loads of life experiences to share doesn't mean that I don't treat people with respect. Or that I lack common sense for that matter. Mom always said you don't stop learning till you're dead (not entirely optimistic...but to the point) so I really could care less if my classmate is 20 or 55. Regardless of age I'm willing to hear what you have to bring to the table.

Diahni · Apr 13, 2009

Funny, isn't it? Even though we're supposed to grow and mature, it seems that some people never do. Meanwhile, some people are born mature. I'm not sure where "horse sense" fits into this equation! But you're right - the "mean" thing that goes on in high school is something that many of us, but not all, outgrow. I would think that when people realize, or are taught what's motivating them to say mean things to other people - shouldn't that stop them from revealing that they have low self-esteem? Nah, self-awareness is part of that pesky growing up business that not everybody achieves.

Deb Laf111 · Apr 13, 2009

I hope your next semester will change things for the better for you. I am hoping to be accepted in nursing school this fall and I am "older" too. The comments from everyone here are helpful and may help me to focus on having a good rapport with the "younger" ones.

~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN · Apr 13, 2009

I would say immaturity and shenanigans can occur at any age. OP I'm sorry to hear that your classmates sound like they belong in high school and that they're giving you a hard time. However I've seen people in their 20s show a great deal of maturity just as well as people in their 40s and vice versa.
I see alot of "oh they're immature" comments here which should be noted is ageism in itself. As a 21 year old, just because I'm not married, have children, or have loads of life experiences to share doesn't mean that I don't treat people with respect. Or that I lack common sense for that matter. Mom always said you don't stop learning till you're dead (not entirely optimistic...but to the point) so I really could care less if my classmate is 20 or 55. Regardless of age I'm willing to hear what you have to bring to the table.

Not exactly, being mature doesn't always have to do with age. Some of it does come with age with MOST people. You can also have a high level of maturity at a young age as well. From life experiences I was forced to be mature beyond my years at an early age. At 18 I had been through a lot of things in life that people twice my age never had to endure, I also had a child and a different set of priorities. No doubt I was mare mature on a certain level then a lot of my peers my same age. I had to be, had nothing to do with me being any better then them, and although I was pretty mature at that age, 10 years later I can see I wasn't as mature as I thought I was.I can remember being 19 and I can remember my mind set at that point. It has changed a lot. Your mom was right, you never stop learning. I wouldn't always though take immaturity as an insult or having to do with age. My 13 year old son is immature, I expect him to be. An 18 year old can be pretty immature, again, I expect them to be. My thirty year old husband who is married, has 4 kids and a lot of life experiences is VERY immature. I wouldn't expect him to be. Maturity and Immaturity does not discriminate

mmmc2 · Apr 18, 2009

That is too bad you are encountering that with your classmates. On the bright side, patients will be more likely to respect you because of your age. So will the physicians. I'm older and I get a lot more respect and cooperation from patients and Physicians than some of my younger classmates.