Alright... so my eight year old son has been in the hospital for the past three days after an episode of non responsiveness and seizure. He had never had this happen before and the docs are trying to figure out what happened.
He is in a children's hospital which is attached to a large university teaching hospital.
My son is doing well and so I've had more of a chance to observe what is going on around me. The doctors and nurses here have been wonderful and I can't complain about the care.
But my goodness... I feel OLD being here. I mean, are hospitals these days pretty much only hiring the youngest, prettiest nurses? Seriously... I have seen maybe two nurses who look like they are over 30 and most of the nurses are skinny and blonde.
Look.. yeah I'm old and heavy. And yeah at this point in my career maybe I should be settled into a place and not thinking "gee I like this place I would kinda like to work here".
I think it's just due to yes, I've watched my nursing career go down the toilet mostly and wish I could go back to being that fresh faced young nurse again.
I kinda feel bad for older new nurses who would maybe want to work in a place like this, though.
Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.
And yeah at this point in my career maybe I should be settled into a place and not thinking "gee I like this place I would kinda like to work here".
I think it's just due to yes, I've watched my nursing career go down the toilet mostly and wish I could go back to being that fresh faced young nurse again.
I know how you feel. Although when I've taken my son to the doctor's office or the hospital I guess because I live in Texas, no one is super skinny. I just miss being the fresh faced nurse & I caused my career to go down the toilet. I wish I could do it all over again. If I ever get my RN, I know what not to do.
Specializes in Med/Surge, Psych, LTC, Home Health.
Eh... I'm not really all that caught up in looks... I'm just making an observation and acknowledging the fact that I could likely never ever work here were I interested in doing such.
My checkered resume would likely stop me before my looks would though. I have made one heckuva mess of my career.
Why are you so caught up in looks? I don't care what a nurse looks like as long as they are competent. Just because you are old and heavy doesn't make you a better a nurse.
Wow-that was kind of harsh and insulting to the OP.
I haven't seen my twenties in a while, but patients still think that I'm in the 18-24 range. So it's quite possible that some of them are older than they look.
I hope your son makes a full recovery and you get some answers. I could only imagine how upsetting it is to see your son like that.
But I agree with what one of the PP said about the Peds and ED nurses. Our ED is full of young women who look like they stepped off a runway. And the Peds nurses...they are all pretty much petite blondes. Then there's that one guy;)
I have also noticed with the Physical Therapy department...all the men are muscular and the women are tall and thin.
But I don't think they are hired for their looks. I too think that certain people (that seem to have the same features, etc.) and drawn to certain specialties. To me, it makes sense that the muscular guys are interested in PT and the petite young women are attracted to Peds.
Everyone in my Utah hospital looks gorgeous too and it's a bit distracting
Patients have actually asked, "do they only hire models here?"
I know which hospital you are talking about. I took my sister in law to the ER there when she lived in Salt Lake. It felt like walking on to a TV medical drama set. Every single staff member from nursing to doctors to security staff was model beautiful! Despite their great looks, they were all very competent and friendly.
It was however my first experience with the hospital scripting I keep reading about on AN. Sorry to say the scripted stuff sounds as silly hearing it as I am sure it feels saying it. Made me glad I don't work in a setting that requires me to spout off that nonsense.
Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
I mean, are hospitals these days pretty much only hiring the youngest, prettiest nurses?
This comes as a surprise?
Compelling research has proven that conventionally attractive people are more likely than their homely counterparts to obtain offers of employment after interviews.
Other assets in the employment marketplace include height (tallness is preferred) and body habitus (thinness is preferred). Studies indicate that tall, thin, really good-looking people have an easier time in the job market than short, pudgy job seekers who are not conventionally attractive.
High turnover units get a lot of green nurses that stay for a minimum amount of time before branching out. I think a lot of it has to do with burnout. Peds can be very demanding, just like stepdown. I know stepdown nurses come and go with the wind (I feel like not many nurses would subject themselves to such torture for decades )
High turnover units get a lot of green nurses that stay for a minimum amount of time before branching out. I think a lot of it has to do with burnout. Peds can be very demanding, just like stepdown. I know stepdown nurses come and go with the wind (I feel like not many nurses would subject themselves to such torture for decades )
Must be true or there would be a significant number of tall thin 40 somethings, they don't turn short at the stroke of 35 yrs.
It really is just a matter common sense. Young and pretty beats old and worn any day of the week.
The one edge old and worn has is experience, and young and pretty can be taught. Not much of an edge.
I was young and pretty. I've journeyed half a life time in this body, and I can tell you first hand, young and pretty has more opportunities. It's the way things work whether we like it or not.
OrganizedChaos, LVN
1 Article; 6,883 Posts
I know how you feel. Although when I've taken my son to the doctor's office or the hospital I guess because I live in Texas, no one is super skinny. I just miss being the fresh faced nurse & I caused my career to go down the toilet. I wish I could do it all over again. If I ever get my RN, I know what not to do.