I look 15 when I'm 22 and I'm about to start my job as a nurse!

Nurses General Nursing

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So I'm about to start my first post as a newly qualified nurse... I'm scared and not for the usual reasons. I'm 22 years old and even with makeup on I apparently look 15. On a couple of a occasions people have even claimed I "look about 12." I'm petite and skinny with a baby face even with makeup so this probably adds to the problem. I don't want patients and family members to think I'm incompetent. It was soul breaking as a student and often knocked my confidence; now I'm going to be THE qualified nurse and I don't know how I'm going to cope. People say it thinking it's a compliment when in actuality you're telling me I look like a little girl opposed to a women so no not a compliment ? (although I am aware not many people do this on purpose).

I suppose I'm just seeing if anyone else has had or is having this experience so I can feel a bit more excited rather than terrified for starting my career??

I’ve gotten that a lot, you can’t let it affect you. Show them you have confidence and know what you’re doing and you’ll do great. You completed your degree and are now a nurse, you’re competent! I’ve had multiple people ask me if I’m “old enough to be a nurse”. I’ve also had one patient tell me that a bunch of “young kids” are running the place (younger nurses and doctors). It’s unfortunate that people see age as competence, there are many nurses in their second career and I train them! Looking young is a good thing though, take it as a compliment ?

2 Votes
Specializes in mental health / psychiatic nursing.
7 hours ago, FacultyRN said:

"15, really? People usually give me credit for looking at least 17! Haha... But to put yout mind at ease, I'm in my 20s. Everyone tells me I'll appreciate looking so much younger as I age. (Change subject)"

....

Let your professionalism, clinical abilities, and ability to form a rapport with your patients and healthcare team speak for themselves. (And it's ok that these things will be wobbly your first year. You're new! Every day is a growth opportunity.)

I love this response! I've had to learn to give similar responses of "I wish I was still that young!" Or "One day I'm really going to appreciate the fact that I'm assumed to be at least a decade younger than I actually am." And move on with my job. Also yes - professionalism, clinical abilities and rapport with patients and coworkers go a long way. Learn to carry yourself with quiet confidence and even if you look young you are less likely to have staff/patients/families doubt your care.

Also sometimes you've got to just let it slide - in my late 20s I had a patient who was convinced I was 16 and still in high school. She had no issues with me caring for her, but really wanted to make sure she gave me some good life advice - which was very well meant even if she was giving it to me over a decade later in life than she thought. If she was okay with a "such a sweet high school student" caring for her for the shift I wasn't going to expend my energies in fighting her on it.

1 Votes
Specializes in Private Duty Pediatrics.

Been there, done that. You are not alone. As a new nurse, I looked like a High school student, and could have passed for Jr High.

It didn't bother me when patients asked if I was old enough to be a nurse. I knew I was.

I had this problem all the time. I graduated with my diploma of nursing (RN) right after turning 20. I looked like 12 to most people. I often had patients ask me what high school I went to, when I would graduate nursing school, and other like questions. I clearly stated my name and my title to each patient multiple times, each shift. It bothered me at first, but as my confidence grew, the less it bothered me. I remained professional yet friendly with my patients. Many years later, my youth still shows on the outside, but I have become too ill to continue to work as a RN.

Specializes in OB-Gyn/Primary Care/Ambulatory Leadership.

Imagine how the physicians feel. We have an anesthesiologist who looks like he's about 17.

1 Votes

In the Miracle Worker film, Anne Sullivan informed Helen Keller's family that she was in her 20's.

I was in your shoes. I've been a nurse for a long time now. These days when patients ask me how long I've been a nurse or how long I've work at my hospital and I tell them, they say " Did you start when you were 10 years old?" It never was a real issue in my career.

1 Votes
Specializes in Psych/Mental Health.

I understand you're frustration but can say eventually you will become more confident in handling that issue. Once in nursing school I was actually told by an instructor to maybe cut my hair or wear makeup cause I looked like I was fresh out of high school "which does not give patients or family confidence in their care"....I was 29. I have to say confidence is actually what makes others confident in you/the care they receive. I've actually used it playfully as a tool to encourage healthy living with the adolescents when I shock them with my age. You will do great... just worry about the nursing part and everything else will follow.

2 Votes
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