Being Managed By Someone Younger

[Apple-Core]

So this question is primarily for the nurses who are older and perhaps just entering the workplace, for example as a second career (as I will be), or have been in this position when they first started out.

How do you/did you handle being managed by someone much younger? Does it bother you, or do you not give it a second thought because that person, despite their age, has much more experience? How did they handle the situation?

Just interested in different perspectives. I'm not trying to start an argument or say that younger nurses can't be great at their jobs, can't manage, or anything along those lines. I'm simply wondering if it has, or has the potential to, cause friction and how that is handled?

[3ringnursing, BSN]

My current supervisor was 16 years old when I graduated from nursing school, and she does a much better job as a manager than I could ever do.

[Ellie G]

It has never bothered me. I did management once early in my career and it wasn't for me. I'm a hands on kind of person. Most of my bosses have been younger than me or of a similar age. I've never thought any demographic that a manager may belong to to make a darn bit of difference in how good that manager was. There are good ones and bad ones. I am blessed enough that the vast majority of my managers have been the good ones.

[elijahvegas, ASN, RN, EMT-P]

It's simple. Drop the ego and think of it in terms of work experience. Who is really the elder when comparing someone who has 5-10-20 years more experience than the newbie to the floor ?

[jaderook01, BSN, RN]

This is a second career for me too. I don't care if they're younger. As long as they know what they're doing then I'm good. I tend to have good rapport with my co-workers. I ask questions and learn from anyone that has experience, no matter their age.

[lavenderskies, BSN]

I could not care less about a charge or manager being younger. I'm just glad someone wants to do those jobs :) As long as they are good at it and professional I'm all for them.

[NotYourMamasRN]

I am in my mid 30's and have had managers that were younger. I did not mind, but I did mind when working PRN in an SNF and they were putting new grads in management positions to fill holes. Thankfully I left before the adverse and sentinel events.

[Avid reader]

Personally, I do not care about age, attitude or demeanor. Only ability. The job is extremely demanding having been there myself. Poor attitude and demeanor generally brings its own problems and is a symptom of Insecurity.. Lack of fairness and objectivity is my pet peeve. I'm one of the lucky people who do not require another's person behaviors to influence my mood unless there's obvious bias and injustice being perpetrated. Most young people are generally competent and if not, should be given the opportunity to learn and be assisted.

[cyc0sys]

The question is a bit ironic for me as I left my second career as a project manager partly because I was done with managing employees. This is my third career and I'm completely new to nursing.

Managers typically handle the day to day fire drills best suited for the young, those possessing more ambitious energy than common sense, and a high tolerance for drama. Although age, experience, and communication skills are all factors that influence how good a manager you are, ultimately your ability to grow wings to fly above the ever surmounting BS that stacks up from the top and bottom will dictate your career longevity in the role.

My greatest understanding of management and being a manager can be most accurately summarized by the Peter Principle- Everyone rises to their own level of incompetence. Ergo, if something works e.g. policy, procedure, etc… but it's stupid. I don't have a problem. If something doesn't work, it's stupid, or causing problems which are not being addressed, I try to give my manager a ‘nudge' by kicking into leadership mode.

Leadership involves looking further down the road than the day to day. Understanding internal challenges that impact the organization, how to improve long term outcomes while offsetting risks, and planning past the latest revised work schedule because 25% of the staff called out.

My new role, as a simple minion, affords me plenty of time for the long view. While I don't begrudge younger managers even when they are making bad decisions that effect me. I do delight in the freedom to drop truth bombs and walk out the door at the end of my shift as their lack of planning and insight hits the fan.

[LessValuableNinja]

When I was 22, I had people working for me in their 40s and 50s. When I consider those that I remember fondly to this day, it's those who respected both my position and inexperience, and appeared to know that I had everyone's best interests at heart, even though I was still learning. I have mentors who I supervised, and one of my best friends was one of my first bosses. He jokingly said to my supervisor, "Be careful. He's going to be your boss in a year." And then I was. And I treated the supervisor who I worked for, who now worked for me, with respect.

As others have indicated, respect is important. It occurs or does not, regardless of age. I've done a lot of things in life, and nursing isn't my first career. Something that is consistent is that respect is important. Something I find interesting about nursing is that managers and supervisors often have neither the experience or personality to be naturally good at it. But they all are capable of being good at it. If something is a bit off, there's nothing wrong about asking to talk to them alone, then being both honest and respectful.

[Guest957596]

Age has nothing to do with it. Not an issue. It's experience and leadership.

[yourshoesareuntied]

Seems the older I get and with this being my second career this is going to be normal...considering I was the same age or older then many of my professors I don't think it will be an issue.

Side note: Being manager isn't always worth the title .... sometimes it takes someone younger to learn that for themselves.

[NursePoboy]

The way I look at it, I'm younger in experience when it comes to nursing. I'm 39, 13 months experience RN, sometimes I have a 24yr old charge nurse with 3 yrs experience. I have life experience, (not that young people don't), but she's older nursing wise. As long as they are mature and good leaders, who cares?