How do you cope with looking "too young" to be a nurse?

SweettartRN · Oct 6, 2012

It depends on who says it and how they say it. If its a 90 year old little old woman I smile and say thanks. If it's a co-worker or supervisor, I politely but firmly remind them that I am capable of doing my job, and that any implication otherwise is discrimination and I will not stand for it.

crn26 · Oct 6, 2012

I get this all the time. I laugh it off and tell them my real age. I am 28 and people ask if I am 18. I then ask if they would want a teenager being a nurse. The best thing is to not take it personally and feel happy that you look young and not old.

grev · Oct 6, 2012

I know exactly how others perceive you! Im 27 but look like a fresh from the schoolroom starry-eyed little girl! Sometimes I experience some people who would eye me warily when I come in weilding a syringe or a tube set. There are times when they would say straight to my face that they would like a more experienced (meaning older) nurse to give them the shot. But once I do my job, they look at me with new respect. Just do your job well and no one will dare question you! :)

lockheart678 · Oct 6, 2012

People have always thought I'm way younger than I really am all my life. By the time I actually became a nurse, I was so used to it, I didn't really care what people said. Even though I look young, my coworkers can see how competent I am, and they all respect me for the job that I do. I do get patients quite a bit who ask me how long I've been doing my job, and even a few have wondered how old I really am because I don't look old enough to do my job, but I just answer their question and move on. It doesn't bother me one bit.

squidbillies · Oct 6, 2012

This only concerns me as far as GETTING a job :nailbiting:

RNperdiem, RN · Oct 6, 2012

My brother taugt me a fun way to deal with this. When he was in residency, and a patient would say "you look too young to be a doctor!" My brother would look at them innocently and say "I don't think 19 is too young to be a doctor at all!" and pause to see the reaction. He was a man in his early 30's, and that line almost always got a laugh.

ChaseZ · Oct 6, 2012

Personally, I grew a beard. That option may not work for the majority of nurses. I have never really had a problem......all the little old ladies love me

Quit Floating Me, BSN, RN · Oct 6, 2012

I just respond that I am old enough to know what I am doing!

JZ_RN · Oct 6, 2012

I look very young (I am young but look about 15) and yesterday a girl asked me how old I was, very rudely, before I was about to give her her birth control injection. I should have said, if you don't trust me to do this you can wait for someone else to come back for lunch... in an hour.

It happens all the time.

Guest343211 · Oct 6, 2012

Hi everyone. I'm Lacey, and I'm new to this forum!
Anyways, I look young for my age. And being short as well doesn't help. I've had people beat me up emotionally for looking "too young" to be a nurse. They think I'm a teenager. People don't take me seriously at all, and it's hard to feel like an adult because of it. What are some ways to help me cope with this?
Thank you.

I have always been cool with it. You show competence and confidence, but don't overcompensate, as some may, with an attitude.

"I'm blessed with good genes and clean living." That's my bit and I say it with a smile. 20 some years later, it isn't so much of an issue, but people still can't guess my age. I just had a group of people ask me this the other day. Some people are fixated on age, and I can't understand why. Just smile and be confident.

Regardless, people always have to get to know you and your work, and it ends up being OK. So be glad for your genes and do well. :)

imintrouble, BSN, RN · Oct 7, 2012

I never considered that I worked in a progressive area, but I can't remember hearing a young looking nurse's ability linked with their appearance.

Is it possible YOU place more emphasis on your appearance than patients and co-workers? "You look too young to be a nurse", is not an indictment on your abilities, but simply an observation.

RNRAC · Oct 7, 2012

Glad I am not the only one that has this issue! I dont actually have a job yet, but clinicals were always fun :) alot of the older patients always assumed I was a candy striper or a high school volunteer...