How to deal??

[TraumaICURN]

Hello,

I am a new nurse working in a trauma ICU. I am 20 y/o with a BSN. The problem that I am having is that sometimes patients' family members have a habit of asking my age, and when I tell them, they express in a nice way that they feel that I am not adequate to care for their loved ones. There are plenty of new grads still in orientation with me that graduated with me, but are in their late 20's and early 30's and no one has problems with them. How would you all deal with this situation?? I feel as though even though I am younger, I still have went through the same training as nurses who may be older than I am. HELP!!!

[TazziRN, RN]

Simple....don't tell them! This is a very personal question, one you are NOT obligated to answer. You can answer respectfully, "I feel that is personal information and I do not give personal information out", or you can joke about it, "Old enough to graduate!"

[meownsmile, BSN, RN]

If you could please explain to me how you are a BSN graduate and 20years old? Not passing judgement here but something just isnt adding up for me. Please help me figure it out.

[Shamira Aizza]

Maybe it's because intelligence and achievement does not always equal maturity?

[TraumaICURN]

If you could please explain to me how you are a BSN graduate and 20years old? Not passing judgement here but something just isnt adding up for me. Please help me figure it out.

I graduated from high school at 16, just a year early.

[RNperdiem, RN]

I still get asked this at 33. Remember being a high school student and thinking of the teachers as all "old". Some of them were in their twenties. I think for some patient families they see the opposite. The nurses seem so young. Young is loosely defined.

Don't take offence at the families, any nonanswer is fine. A lady is allowed to be guarded about her age.

[TrudyRN]

Just say you do not divulge personal information and don't smile or try to be liked when you are saying it.

Learn to make the asker feel guilty for asking by you being serious in demeanor.

[cardiacRN2006, ADN, RN]

I get that sometimes too. Pts think I am early 20's. When I tell them my age, the do relax a bit. I don't tell them I've been nursing for 8 months, lol.

I agree with Tazzi, say something like, "old enough to be a nurse," or some comment like that.

[PralineLPN]

If you could please explain to me how you are a BSN graduate and 20years old? Not passing judgement here but something just isnt adding up for me. Please help me figure it out.

What's so wrong with being 20 and a BSN?? Are you jealous or something? I finished a BS in chemistry 2 years out of high school. I could be done with med school and halfway through residency by 25 if I wanted, is that OK by your standards??

PMD

[cardiacRN2006, ADN, RN]

Dang! Double post....

[cardiacRN2006, ADN, RN]

What's so wrong with being 20 and a BSN?? Are you jealous or something? I finished a BS in chemistry 2 years out of high school. I could be done with med school and halfway through residency by 25 if I wanted, is that OK by your standards??

PMD

Most schools now have such long wait lists, that it does seem odd to get accepted right away at age 16.

[neneRN, BSN, RN]

I'm 31, but look younger and I'm short, so get this question a lot; I just laugh and smile and say "I'm a little older than I look!" No one's ever pressed for a further answer than that. As long as you present yourself confidently and are a competent nurse, you'll be fine.

(As far as the OP's young age, many high school students now dual enroll at college at the same time. There's a community college in my area that works with local high schools and students are graduating from high school and receiving an associates degree at the same time.)