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

georgiajayne · Oct 7, 2012

Im 25 and look 16, but usually its not a problem. I'm a nicu nurse though so my patients don't care, and many of the parents are around my age anyway. Parents do ask me sometimes how old I am and comment on how young I look but usually its just because they are curious. They see I am confident and take good care of their babies. Usually when I say how old I am and how long I've been working they just say "wow thats great you figured out what you wanted to do so young and went for it!" I only really have had one dad who made a big deal about it and kept asking me if I was old enough to drive, but eventually he shut up because I took really good care of their baby and he was really appreciative of everything I did for them.

HippyDippyLPN · Oct 7, 2012

I feel your pain! I was 19 when I started nursing school, 20 when I graduated. I always got the " are you old enough to do this?" I always want to say no I am not but they were really desperate and needed someone to play nurse and I was available so it worked out lol. I am 25 now and still get it because I look 18. Honestly I am competent and feel secure in my role as a nurse so even if they think I am too young after awhile they forget about because I know what I am doing and I think that shows.

FlyingScot, RN · Oct 7, 2012

I'm pushing 50 and most people think I'm in my early thirties (they must be blind) some have even said 29 (I hope they don't drive). When I first started I looked about 12. Never had a problem with patients or staff. I'm kind of no-nonsense so I was never giggly. Just know your stuff and act like a professional adult and you won't have any problems.

redhead_NURSE98!, ADN, BSN · Oct 7, 2012

Wait a few years. Then you'll complain about how old you look, like me.

Inori, BSN, RN · Oct 7, 2012

enjoy it while it lasts looking younger than one's years is a blessing. Would you rather be 20ish but look like 40ish? I think not. Anyways always dress neatly, clean, ironed uniforms, hair conservative no loose strands, light make up, know your stuff so you can be confident, act mature. Less talking more observing your coworkers to see what body language cues give you way as a youngster. Learn to exude confidence.

Shoot my first month on the job I had patients questioning if I was a student, was really a nurse, what was my citizenship status, when did I "arrive", was I a volunteer. One patient as I leaned over to give him a shot he read my ID, "Registered Nurse". He said, "you're a registered nurse ... ". Me, "Indeed I am". Now lets see what can we do about your problem. End of conversation. Its been a few more weeks since then and you know what? not one person asked anymore if I am a nurse and its because I am the nurse.

guest64485 · Oct 7, 2012

A friend once suggested that when a patient asks me if I'm old enough to be a nurse, I should do this: Look them in the eye and ask with all seriousness "Have you ever heard of Doogie Howser?" I haven't actually gone on to do that but it gave me a good laugh!

NurseDirtyBird · Oct 7, 2012

This may seem like common sense, but don't wear pigtails in your hair. The one time I did, I ran behind all day because just about every patient questioned my qualifications. It also made the male patients think it was ok to sexually harass me. So, consider yourself warned!

citylights89, BSN, RN · Oct 7, 2012

Yep. I just graduated this past August and people still don't think that i am old enough to even graduate from nursing school. I always get asked "So, you are a real nurse?" Yes, a real nurse! Makes me wonder what they thing "real nurses" actually look like...

LaceyRN12 · Oct 7, 2012

Wow!! This sure became quite a popular post. Thanks everyone for your responses. :cat:

This only concerns me as far as GETTING a job

It might explain why it took me a VERY long time to find a job... people didn't take me seriously.

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.

No, I don't. I don't think I look young at all. It's how people treat me. I constantly have strangers coming up to me asking how old I am. They always guess an age like 13 years old (***, SERIOUSLY?!). I don't see why I should place so much emphasis on how old I look when no one else notices... but that's the problem... everyone notices and repeatedly rub it in my face. I've gone through this for years. Having people look at me with disgust and tell me, "You look too young" to be doing this and that is absolutely unnecessary and RUDE. It's not just an observation; it's an insult. Observations are noted to yourself. And you'd know what it feels like if you looked 13 years old when you're almost 30.

GeneralJinjur · Oct 7, 2012

I guess it struck a chord with some of us since we have been there. I remember shopping for a wedding dress with my soon to be SIL and my youngest baby. When the store employees heard me mention that she was my third child, they had to drop everything and gather round to find out how old I was. They were guessing 18 at the oldest when I was 32 at the time.

I don't find it insulting, but it does get quite tedious that others make a big deal out of it.

LaceyRN12 · Oct 7, 2012

I guess it struck a chord with some of us since we have been there. I remember shopping for a wedding dress with my soon to be SIL and my youngest baby. When the store employees heard me mention that she was my third child, they had to drop everything and gather round to find out how old I was. They were guessing 18 at the oldest when I was 32 at the time.
I don't find it insulting, but it does get quite tedious that others make a big deal out of it.

Yeah, it's nice to see that I'm not alone. But it's insulting when people question your capabilities and skills and judge you so quickly. And it's people's reactions and disgusted looks I get.

It's like asking an obese person how much they weigh and getting a look because you look "too fat" to be doing what you're doing. And I can't even help the fact that I look young.

Peppermintcake · Oct 10, 2012

In reply to citylights89 - I know exactly what you are saying. When I graduated (a few years ago!)' I was asked if I was a "real" nurse a lot - I did have a baby face. I had one lovely senior lady ask me if I was a nurse. When I said yes, she grabbed my hand and said "are you sure"!! When I said yes, she patted my hand and said "if you say so dear"!!