I am a very young nurse. Will my patients be frightened?

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Hi. I am a new graduate practical nurse. I will be an LPN soon, once I take the NCLEX-PN in a month or so. I just got a job at a LTAC hospital. I am 19 years old.

I was wondering, if you were my patient, would you be frightened that such a young person was taking care of you?

I have had alot of people tell me that I am mature for my age and I look about 22 years old, but I am worried that patients will get anxious that such a young person will be the one making life and death decisions.

Specializes in Oncology.
...or if I'm a student...

Yeah, I've had patients ask me, "Shouldn't you have your teacher watching you?" while trying to be polite as possible.

"Sorry, you're stuck with me!"

Or my favorite..."So when are you going to be a real nurse?"

*pat down my body*

"I feel pretty real today!"

Specializes in EMS, ER, GI, PCU/Telemetry.

i was 18 when i graduated with my degree in EMS and i'm petite, so not only did the boys @ the FD used to give me a heck of a hard time, male patients would really get lippy. i would respond to calls and patients would be like "where's the real paramedic, i don't want some 12 year old barbie rescuing me".... and they would change that tune quick when i flung them over my shoulder and onto a stretcher.

i was 24 when i graduated nursing school and i still look like i'm 13, so i still get some patients who will say "where's your instructor?" or and i agree with the PP, if i say something like "when i was in high school", i still get "when, last month?"....

i think sometimes pts associate age with experience and that is quite untrue these days. i graduated with some ladies that were in their early 50's, and they were new grads just like me... pts are just silly sometimes about things.. but just prove to them that you are competent, confident and professional, and they will look past your age.

If you make it a problem, it will be. If you do your job to your best ability, your age should not be an issue. Job performance comes before age.

Specializes in critical care, PACU.
one of my nursing tutors said that young nurses are often more mature than their friends of the same age who are non-nurses because of the working environment and situations that you will deal with on a daily basis. i believe this is true to an extent.

I will graduate at 21 and do believe this is true. I do react immaturely at some times, but more in an emotional way (such as my feelings get hurt easily or I worry too much about what people think). Otherwise I am totally unable to hang out with people my age who arent in nursing school.

Something about seeing life and death so often at such a young age definitely has aged me (in a way I would never want to lose) and being in the presence of such deep, life-altering events is what makes nursing so rewarding (and challenging) for me. I joke sometimes that I wish I could be like normal people my age around here and move back in with the 'rents and watch TV all day...but in reality I would never trade the steep learning curve of nursing for the blissful ignorance of youth.

And I do worry that I will get crap because the general consensus is that I look like a 15 yo, but I plan to wow my pts with my sincerity, knowledge, and willingness to admit I dont know something, that they will trust me.

Specializes in LTC.

I'll be a LPN at 20 and I don't see why I'll have to tell my pts. my age. As long as I'm mature and act professional they probably won't even ask me my age. Just my two cents.

On another note: Does't feel great to be so young but to already have a decent career ? ! I feel so blessed.

If it makes you feel any better, I'm going on 25 but still get mistaken for a teenager and always get ID'd (the age here is 19) and still have to convince people that my license is not a fake ID.

Specializes in Oncology.

On another note: Doesn't feel great to be so young but to already have a decent career ? ! I feel so blessed.

Yes, definitely.

Specializes in LTC, Subacute Rehab.

I was 19 when I graduated from my LVN program, but (fortunately?) I am mistaken for being slightly older, 25 or so rather than 20! I've never been baby-faced, and the "emo" glasses might help...

What I tell my students who are younger, you have to act very confident to gain your patient's trust.

What I tell my students who are younger, you have to act very confident to gain your patient's trust.

Humor goes a long way. If a patient questions you say, well I started nursing school was I was in grade school.

Patients frightened no, uncomfortable at times yes. I have had instances where looking younger than my age was disadvantage. Patient was in early 50's had a turp. I had tried several times to clean him up NO GO. He completely refused to have me (young woman) look at his "junk" let alone clean him up. I didnt know what to do..he needed cleaned up, couldnt do it himself, and refused to let me. Thankfully, one of my older nurses (friend too) helped me out. She walked in and told him she was cleaning him up. He said ok and spread legs wide for the clean up. Afterwards, she said quietly "old wins today". I enjoy looking younger and refuse stop dyeing my grays !

Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.
Patients frightened no, uncomfortable at times yes. I have had instances where looking younger than my age was disadvantage. Patient was in early 50's had a turp. I had tried several times to clean him up NO GO. He completely refused to have me (young woman) look at his "junk" :chuckle:chuckle:chuckle

let alone clean him up. I didnt know what to do..he needed cleaned up, couldnt do it himself, and refused to let me. Thankfully, one of my older nurses (friend too) helped me out. She walked in and told him she was cleaning him up. He said ok and spread legs wide for the clean up. :omy:

Sorry, but this guy sounds like a bit of a character. . .!! Just goes to show that it's a GOOD THING to have diversities in the workforce AND teamwork!!

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