Help! I look young!

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I guess I should be happy but I can't help but feel like looking younger than your age can be a disadvantage sometime. I've been a nurse for quite some time now and most people still ask me when I'm graduating. Patients and family members look at me and think I'm 18, when I'm not. I agree I'm young (late 20s) but I feel like people treat me different and I don't get the respect that I deserve. I also am down to earth and laid back, I like to make jokes and have fun while I'm at work, but I take my job seriously. I feel like because I'm so positive, people don't take me seriously. From patients, nurses, and most of all, doctors. I work in the ED and I find myself wearing my glasses often, which I hate, just to make myself look more mature. Should I change my personality? Just be quiet and focused? I feel like that would make my work day drag.

Your input is appreciated. Thanks!

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Help! I am an immature Millenial who is fishing for compliments on AllNurses because I am not getting enough of them on my Instagram!

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Specializes in ER.

I seriously doubt the OP came here fishing for compliments. Looking young can actually be an impediment, that's a fact. I've always looked young for my age and I very well remember the feeling way back when.

One nice thing is, I am now pushing 60 and still look young for my age. To the OP, act professionally and just tell folks your real age if they question you. When you get to be my age, you'll have the last laugh.

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My wife read my comment and told me I am wrong and need to apologize for it. She sends the OP a big hug and wishes you the best of success in advancing your career.

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I'm not sure the advice to add, but I can somewhat relate. I also get mistaken for being younger than I actually am. In addition I am 5 feet and weigh 100 lbs, which I have been questioned by patients regarding my ability to perform certain skills. One had jokingly suggested that I use a stepping stool. :/

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Specializes in Family Practice.

OP, I feel you on so many levels. I am nearing the big 30 and I often get mistaken for a high schooler if I'm not wearing makeup or college aged if I am wearing makeup. I'm certainly not complaining but you're right, people can treat you differently.

I've found really the best thing to do is just be knowledgeable and confident in your abilities. Look people in the eye, give firm handshakes, be strict in your boundaries. Some men like to play flirt with the young nurse and I would always shut them down immediately. You can be friendly without letting people take advantage of you.

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Help! I am an immature Millenial who is fishing for compliments on AllNurses because I am not getting enough of them on my Instagram!

I actually don't use social media (fb, Instagram etc.) I rarely even use all nurses. And no I'm not fishing for compliments, just wanted to vent after a very busy and tough shift and the doctor screamed and humiliated me in front of the nurses station.

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OP, I feel you on so many levels. I am nearing the big 30 and I often get mistaken for a high schooler if I'm not wearing makeup or college aged if I am wearing makeup. I'm certainly not complaining but you're right, people can treat you differently.

I've found really the best thing to do is just be knowledgeable and confident in your abilities. Look people in the eye, give firm handshakes, be strict in your boundaries. Some men like to play flirt with the young nurse and I would always shut them down immediately. You can be friendly without letting people take advantage of you.

Thank you. I will definitely try that. I think I slouch a lot too I've noticed so maybe I can try standing straight, might make me look a little taller :)

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Specializes in PACU.

I'm in the same boat. I'm 27, but a lot of people have a hard time believing that I've even graduated high school yet. It also does not help that I'm only about 5 foot 2. It really does not help people take me seriously. A couple years ago a new employee thought it was a joke that he was working under me and asked me if I had even finished high school yet, not realizing I was now his immediate supervisor. When I told him I was his supervisor he got this look on his face like he peed his pants. I've had rude people come in and as for a recruiter in my old job, and have then say "No, I meant someone who actually handles recruitng, not an intern."

Basically, in all my positions and professional conversations I try to sound and act as confident and knowledgeable as I can. It's the only way to combat it sometimes.

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I love the shock on most of my patients faces when we are chatting and if i happen to mention my daughters age (22). I have literally seen them do double takes at me. Faces full of surprise and mouth open. One even asked me to give my birth year quickly so to be sure I wasn't figuring out the year in my head. :) The vast majority think I'm in my very early 30s. Thing is...I was in my mid 30s when I had my last daughter who is now 13. My mom is 70 and people think she's in her early-mid 50s.

Add to my younger looking face, I'm quite short (just a tad under 5ft) and weigh 100lbs.

I get what the OP is saying. But don't change anything about yourself to appear older. I go about my job in a professional matter. Look people in the eye, be confident in what you say and do, keep boundries (as the other poster said, sometimes when they think your younger they begin to play flirty-flirt with the young nurse.)

Believe me, you'll appreciate that youthful look you have when your my age. I take every 'holy hell, how can you have a 22 year old, I thought you were only in your early 30s' as a compliment. Thank you mom for giving me your youthful looking face genes!

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Specializes in Mental Health Nursing.
I seriously doubt the OP came here fishing for compliments. Looking young can actually be an impediment, that's a fact. I've always looked young for my age and I very well remember the feeling way back when.

One nice thing is, I am now pushing 60 and still look young for my age. To the OP, act professionally and just tell folks your real age if they question you. When you get to be my age, you'll have the last laugh.

I cannot get promoted because of looking "too young". I would have been okay with "You're not there yet experience-wise" or "You're not ready for management," but instead I got "You're too young to deal with the nursing staff. They won't take you seriously as a supervisor."

Stupid age discrimination :sniff:.

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I get where you are coming from. Until recently ( I guess having a kid aged me) no body believed my age. I'm not short (5'8") but have always been on the thinner side. After I had been a nurse for four years I had a patient tell me I was too young to be a nurse and requested someone older. All I did was introduce myself as their nurse and I was turned away...so I swapped with the middle aged new grad just to stick it to them. Enjoy it while it lasts. I think eventually we all catch up at some point and when we realize it, it's a real bummer. I went to the grocery store to get medicine for my daughter a few months ago and the cashier said, "Hey, how's your day going?" I was purchasing all children's cold and fever medicine so I said, "Have a sick kid. I've been better". He then told me I should have her chew and swallow a hot pepper, wrap her up in a hot blanket, and she would be better in hours....what? I said, "Thanks for the advice, but since she's three I'll pass on traumatizing her."...."Oh, I'm sorry. I was thinking she was my age.".....I wasn't happy with that and went to the liquor store to by a bottle of wine for dinner (next to grocery store)....and I get carded. Go figure. One person has me in menopause the other thinks I'm underage for alcohol. There is no happy medium....the sad thing is, when I do the math I actually could be the cashier's mother....depressing.

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