dear patients, please quit saying that to me

Nurses General Nursing

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A little about me: I'm in my mid 20's, 5'1 tall, and petite with a baby-face look. Thanks to genetics, I look short and younger than I am. I don't like it when patients calls me "cute" and tiny, and if I'm still in high school.

I used to say "thank you" and ignore them and "I'm a lot older than you think". A lot of times my patients judge me as soon as I walk into the room and say "are you old enough to care for me?" and I tell them that I went through school, have 2 bachelor's degree and am a licensed RN....etc.

Don't get me wrong, I love talking to my patients and caring for them but sometimes it gets annoying when both female/male patients say "your hands are so tiny" and wants to compare hands. Then throughout the day they start saying stuff like oh you're the shortest nurse here, that's cute.... let me see your tiny hands again. At that point, I just ignore them and change the subject regarding their care.

Ugh. Dear patients, quit saying that I'm cute and tiny and just let me do my work.

sorry, just a vent.

Specializes in Ante-Intra-Postpartum, Post Gyne.

Get over it. You will enjoy it later, trust me. I am 5"1' , 29 and can get away with 23 and have gotten comments my entire life from everyone.

When I was 26 flying home from a trip to N.Y. the Flight Attendant questioned my age because she did not think I was old enough to sit at the emergency isle seat.

Everyone told me "you will enjoy it when you are older". Now that I am going to be 30 in six months I enjoy it. There are worse things people could say about you or things happen to you. Until you wear a badge that says how old you really are people are going to mistake you for younger and they can not help it; just as you can not help looking younger. Most people comment as a compliment and if they do not mean it as a compliment it is probably because they are jealous.

Find a way to take your young looks to your advantage. I get along great with the laboring teens because they think I am only a year or so older than them...no some old nearly 30 year old :clown:

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I could have wrote this. Nearly every pt asks me how old I am or "Are you old enough to be a nurse?" (I should just say, "Nah, but they let me work here anyway." :rolleyes:) Maybe when we're older we'll finally look like we're in our 20s and be thankful for it. And hey, they actually found a link between how old you look and how long you live. They found that, in general, people who look younger than their age actually live longer. So, it does have its perks. :p

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And hey, they actually found a link between how old you look and how long you live. They found that, in general, people who look younger than their age actually live longer. So, it does have its perks. :p

Ughhh! Looks like I'll be living to the ripe old age of 200!!

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Specializes in NICU.
[offtopic] You know, this can occasionally work to your advantage. One day I opened the door when a few missionaries knocked. They asked me if my parents were home, and I was so surprised I just said, 'No...' They replied, 'Okay, would you please give them this flyer and let them know we'll be back in the neighborhood on Thursday?' I said I would, and they left. I just laughed--I was 31 at the time, plus I'm the homeowner! [/offtopic]

LOL, OMG I've had that happen too. I actually answered the door holding my then 1 year old daughter. I'm not sure if they thought I was the babysitter, older sister or what, but they asked if my parents were at home. I was 29. I must say, I do appreciate it more as I've turned 30.

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Specializes in Med-Surg/urology.

Not only am I short (5'3'') and have a baby face..to make matters worse I have a very high pitched voice.. :(

I really get sick of people asking me why I'm skipping school. Um, yeah..I graduated high school 3 years ago. :rolleyes:

And I get tired of my residents asking me "Are you sure you're old enough to be doing this sort of thing (peri care)?" Why yes, I am. I'll be 21 this year. Having people say you look 14 does not boost my ego or flatter me one bit..Sorry.

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Specializes in Peds Medical Floor.
I really get sick of people asking me why I'm skipping school. Um, yeah..I graduated high school 3 years ago. :rolleyes:

When I was about 24, when I was still living at home, my parents' washing machine broke. So I carted some laundry to the laundromat. I got lectured by an middle aged man because he thought I was skipping school. I explained it was spring break. He said, "Yeah right. Spring break isn't for another few weeks." I tried to explain to him that I was in college and our spring breaks are earlier than high school. He didn't believe me. First I told him I'd show him my ID, then I just said, "If I was skipping school don't you think I'd find something more fun to do than laundry????" Then he laughed and left me alone. I'll be 28 in a few weeks and I still get id'd for EVERYTHING.

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Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.

I've never felt comfortable with pouffy hair or the feeling of foundation and powder on my face-- my make-up is understated. The only people who have ever commented were patients, saying,

"This isn't the '60s anymore, you know."

"You look like you just walked off "Little House on the Prairie".

"Are you SDA?" :confused: "Yeah, Seventh Day Adventist-- you look like a Seventh Day Adventist." Still not sure what she meant by that.

"For God's sake, would you please put some blush on your face, you look like you're heading out to work on a kibbutz!" (ok I cheated that was my mom:))

Some actually are trying to be helpful-- usually those older ladies who call you "dear". I was taking vitals on an elderly gent one day, and, turned around to see his wife fussing with the hem of my scrub top, give a little tug and smooth it out :lol2: "there, that's much better". What a sweetie she was, too.

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