I really AM the nurse!

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Specializes in Adolescent Psychiatry.

First job as an RN, at a very nice nursing home, been there about 3 weeks now; I'm learning fast and I feel like things are going well, except for this one silly thing, which I may be getting a little over emotional about...

No one believes I'm a nurse!

Doctors, nurses from other areas, administration, social workers, etc. will come to the nurses station to handle their business and ask me "Hey dear, do you know where the nurse is?" or a doctor looking down at a chart begins to ask me a question then looks up and says "Oh, nevermind, you wouldn't know, can you get the nurse for me?" Or when an administrative office type person visiting the ward tells me, "Oh you know, only nurses are allowed in the medicine room, don't want you to get in trouble now." :angryfire

I'm 25 years old, but I'll admit I look a little young. I'm very gentle and soft spoken with my coworkers and my residents. I'm one of the few nurses that will actually help with turns, baths, and feeding meals. I worked hard to get where I am, and I'm not trying to power trip or anything, but is there anything I can or should do to help with this first impression of me? Or am I just being silly? Thanks for reading :)

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Specializes in NICU Level III.

I get it, too. I'm 24 and I look 16...and EVERYONE tells me that, including the physicians. Sigh... I'll enjoy looking younger than I am later, but I'd like to be taken seriously now.

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This may sound silly, but sometimes it is the little things that may make a difference. Do you wear some white? Like a white jacket or white scrub pants? For many people, white says nurse. Other than that - just give it a little time. People will get to know who you are and it won't be an issue anymore.

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Specializes in Pediatric/Adolescent, Med-Surg.

I also look very young, and yet am a nurse. At the hospital where I work they have specific colors for PCT"s and other ancillary departments to wear, while nurses can where prints/solids. We also have "RN" in big bold letters on our name badge, which I think helps. You said you are soft spoken, and there's nothing wrong with that, but are you comfortable speaking to the doctors? I know alot of new nurse's aren't, and if you aren't very assertive with doctors, that could be part of it.

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Transplant, Education.

I feel the same way. Everyone on my unit has been very welcoming, but, with most people (actually...everyone in hands on pt care or administrative positions) being old enough to be my parent, I feel like there is going to be an age issue. People always are commenting on how I'm so young (I'm 22.), etc. I know we new grads have a lot to learn, but we did go to school for this, too.

It also doesn't help the cause that I apparantly look so young that I get carded buying scratch tickets because sales clerks won't always believe that I'm over 18!! :bugeyes:

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Specializes in LTC, Med-Surg, IMCU/Tele, HH/CM.

I wish I had the problem of seeming too young! People always think I look older than I am, and my co-workers ask me questions when I have no clue what the answer is. If I'm wearing a white lab coat sometimes physicians come up to me and start talking to me like a good friend.

One thing that I do thnk makes a difference though is how your dress or do your hair. Personally I only way one-color uniforms and they are usually dull tones such as blue. I feel as if bright colors are unprofessional, and a lot of young nurses wear bright patterns or bright pink which makes you look much younger. Also, having certain hairstyles like high poneytails that are curled makes you look younger. I have a short bob so perhaps it makes me seem older than my 25 years. I also don't wear much makeup.

Of course confidence is key as well. I dont' really have any, but I act like I do, which I guess helps.

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Transplant, Education.
I wish I had the problem of seeming too young! People always think I look older than I am, and my co-workers ask me questions when I have no clue what the answer is. If I'm wearing a white lab coat sometimes physicians come up to me and start talking to me like a good friend.

One thing that I do thnk makes a difference though is how your dress or do your hair. Personally I only way one-color uniforms and they are usually dull tones such as blue. I feel as if bright colors are unprofessional, and a lot of young nurses wear bright patterns or bright pink which makes you look much younger. Also, having certain hairstyles like high poneytails that are curled makes you look younger. I have a short bob so perhaps it makes me seem older than my 25 years. I also don't wear much makeup.

Of course confidence is key as well. I dont' really have any, but I act like I do, which I guess helps.

I don't really think uniforms have much to do with it, but that's just my take on it. Everyone at my facility wears brightly colored or patterned uniforms at times. I do have some days where I wear plainer colors like dark blue, or black, but also wear bright colors or patterns (and the days I wear those colors, my patients always comment on "what a pretty outfit/color" etc) Bright colors always seem to make my pt's day or at least give them something to talk about for a minute.

My hair is just past my shoulders, so I typically don't wear it down while at work because I feel it gets in the way, and I don't frankly want it hanging into someone's wound or something of the sort.

I don't wear any makeup at work, because I don't feel it's necessary. I'm there to work, not to go to a fashion show.

I do agree that you have to display some level of confidence, but some of us just look young. In my case, I work with a primarily elderly population on a sub-acute/rehab unit, so seeing as they are typically between 75 & 90+, they are going to think I'm "that young girl" no matter what.

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I'm only twenty and a new grad LPN. The staff is really nice to me at my job but it's a little weird sitting next to them at the station. People just breeze right past me until they look down on my name badge with my title.

The residents don't mind though. I think a lot of them appreciate my young energy and my joking and caring manner as opposed to the older nurses who are strict, firm and yell all the time...The DON there started the same time I did and she went around telling the nurses to wear white because then you will be looked at as a nurse not a waitress. I disagree. When you are able to express your personality in colors, the residents seem more comfortable in you giving care- in my opinion. They like to comment on my scrubs and sometimes tell me which ones to wear the next day!

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Specializes in Medical/Surgical.

Hey Kahlann! I am going to post a link to a thread I started over 1.5 yrs ago before I was an RN ( I was 21). I felt (and still do sometimes now at 23) regarding the whole young age thing. I KNOW I look really young...and don't mind admitting it. I used to be really unsure of what my patient's/family members will think but have NEVER had an issue about them trusting me. If my age is brought up, I always acknowledge that I do look young, that I still have lots to learn, BUT will do my best to provide them the best care I can possibly give them. I too have the quiet/shy type of personality but I feel the key is to act confident when you are communicating to your pts/co-workers/doctors. Oh...I have a habit where I always wear my RN badge front & center where everyone can see it. :nurse:

Another issue was that I was worried that I would have a hard time delegating to the techs on my floor (who are mostly older and could be my mother) but by offering to help change pts, draw labs, make an extra bed, or take vitals everytime I work has helped build good relationships with the techs where they rarely give me a hard time if I ask them to do something for me.

Anyways, this is the link I was talking about:

https://allnurses.com/forums/f50/looking-too-young-rn-201957.html#post2026248

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Specializes in Ortho, Neuro, Detox, Tele.

I went from being the CNA on the floor to being a RN on same floor...one or two docs remember seeing me as the cna...so when I'm asking for orders, they look at me and i hear the wheels going "why is the CNA asking me for orders?"

One even asked my preceptor about it...and when he heard that I was now a RN(I took care of his mom once)...he goes "he moved up now, huh? guess I should talk to him then."

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Specializes in SNU/SNF/MedSurg, SPCU Ortho/Neuro/Spine.

damn i am 22 and look like 30 :madface:

that is what full time nursing school and full time work did to me!

oh *sight i gained about 20 pounds by eating junk... (am already on a care plan and lost 7 yeahhh)

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