Is age just a number?

Specialties NP

Published

Oddly enough I've received more negative feedback from other NPs, CNSs, and RNs for obtaining my DNP degree at 27 years old than I have from other colleagues (I.e physicians, psychologists, PT/OT and PAs). I've been passionate in psych nursing since my BSN program. I decided to get my minor in psychology and was then accepted into the DNP program before even graduating with my BSN. My first nursing job was Neuro ICU, then I briefly worked as a SANE nurse and then I worked in various psychiatric settings (including emergency psych). I do only have 5 years of nursing experience but personally I feel as though my passion and interest really pushed me to learn more and more. What are your thoughts on young RNs who have pursued or are pursuing graduate degrees with little experience? Is age just a number? Or is it an important factor in advanced nursing?

Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.
If you needed a physical therapist or an occupational therapist, and they had a doctorate, would you ask their age or how many years of experience they had? What about the PharmD. These are the degrees that are out there, so why the problem with nursing? I worked with an NP that was 23 years old, looked like 16 and operated like she had been working for 20 years.

I wouldn't be calling any of the above "Doctor" and I don't ask anyone their age. I do vet all who might be diagnosing and prescribing for me so I would have an idea of how long they had been in practice and if one looks 16 you can bet unless its freaking Doogie Howser who came highly recommended by someone in the business I'm not allowing them to treat me or my family. The exception to that would be a Doc in the Box type scenario where I already know the antibiotic I'm angling for and in those cases most times I would just have a friend write me a script. FWIW I also don't go to any of the ancient MDs either so its not just young NPs skills I am skeptical of.

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Specializes in Cardiology, School Nursing, General.

Not a NP, but I seriously hated that the older nurses take my age to consideration a lot. I never had health problems but in my last job I was in horrible pain in my R leg (I wasn't allowed to sit down) and when I tried to suck it up and keep working, I couldn't. Had to go the emergency. They found nothing in my X-rays but told me that if it happens again, we may need to do an MRI. The NP who was older than me would comment that I'm too "young" to have back problems (I'm 25) and that I'm too young to be in pain. I just wanted to tell her off that pain is universal and I am not immortal. But because she was my superior I just smiled and agreed with her. Thankfully the pain went away but she kept making comments that I'm too young to get sick or to be in pain.

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Specializes in Med-Surg/ ER/ homecare.
It makes me sad also but knowing how inferior our education is as compared to the knowledge a physician graduates with there is no way I'd consider a NP or PA when I can see a MD for the same price. I think I'm a skilled clinician and every bit as good as the average psychiatrist however if a friend or their family member needed care and had the option to see me or one of the excellent psychiatrists I know there would be no competition and I would recommend they see the Doc. You sound amazing and I know a few NPs who are also but they are few and far between in my experience. The truth is I don't want someone who speaks my language, I'd prefer a ridiculously intelligent near Asperger's type bad ass Doc than an empathetic NP who wants to hold my hand because they need to make up for their deficient education by being extra nice.

Sigh. Here we go again with this conversation (about the ability of NPs). I just want to ask a serious question to you and Psych guy, and I am not trying to be sarcastic. You are both Np's, yet have a true doubt for the ability of an NP, and you both cite lack of proper education,to the degree where maybe one may conclude that you find Np's incompetent. If you feel this way, are you saying that the two of you are incompetent as well? Shouldnt you be held under the same umbrella as you hold other NP's? I have read many posts on this subject and what I have gathered is that although you both are in this profession, you regard 99% or more of all NP's as not being able to properly diagnose a cold. If this is true, why should any patient see you? Its like a doctor saying all doctors are horrible but that he himself is superior.

That being said, I completely agree that the curriculum should contain more of the sciences and needs to be less about nursing theory and more about medicine. However sitting here and trash talking the NP profession is also only including yourselves among those you trash talk. I mean no disrespect at all, but just realize how it sounds to others.

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.
Sigh. Here we go again with this conversation (about the ability of NPs). I just want to ask a serious question to you and Psych guy, and I am not trying to be sarcastic. You are both Np's, yet have a true doubt for the ability of an NP, and you both cite lack of proper education,to the degree where maybe one may conclude that you find Np's incompetent. If you feel this way, are you saying that the two of you are incompetent as well? Shouldnt you be held under the same umbrella as you hold other NP's? I have read many posts on this subject and what I have gathered is that although you both are in this profession, you regard 99% or more of all NP's as not being able to properly diagnose a cold. If this is true, why should any patient see you? Its like a doctor saying all doctors are horrible but that he himself is superior.

That being said, I completely agree that the curriculum should contain more of the sciences and needs to be less about nursing theory and more about medicine. However sitting here and trash talking the NP profession is also only including yourselves among those you trash talk. I mean no disrespect at all, but just realize how it sounds to others.

While I do appreciate being called out if you have an observation you want to share or a question you'd like clarified I'd respect you more if you didn't skirt around it snipping at my ankles by saying you aren't trying to be sarcastic or disrespectful but then embellishing my opinions and adding hyperboles without quoting anything to support it which really is kind of disrespectful. Your logic that I must be incompetent if I think other NPs are incompetent is flawed, which leads me to conclude your NP course on cause and effect relationship was seriously lacking. :) I haven't ever said all NPs are incompetent.

In any event you are correct in that I am highly critical of our NP education and fear more for the future quality than what I have seen in practice at present. I'm not sure where you gathered your data to surmise that PsychGuy and I regard 99% of NPs as incapable of being able to diagnose a cold? but speaking only for myself if I had to toss some numbers out there based on my anecdotal experience I would estimate 30% are incompetent, 60% are adequate, and 10% are bad asses. To answer your question about my skills I figure I'm definitely not in the bottom 30% however that is not due to my NP education but because I had serious psych experience and amazing connections in this specialty.

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Specializes in Med-Surg/ ER/ homecare.
While I do appreciate being called out if you have an observation you want to share or a question you'd like clarified I'd respect you more if you didn't skirt around it snipping at my ankles by saying you aren't trying to be sarcastic or disrespectful but then embellishing my opinions and adding hyperboles without quoting anything to support it which really is kind of disrespectful. Your logic that I must be incompetent if I think other NPs are incompetent is flawed, which leads me to conclude your NP course on cause and effect relationship was seriously lacking. :) I haven't ever said all NPs are incompetent.

In any event you are correct in that I am highly critical of our NP education and fear more for the future quality than what I have seen in practice at present. I'm not sure where you gathered your data to surmise that PsychGuy and I regard 99% of NPs as incapable of being able to diagnose a cold? but speaking only for myself if I had to toss some numbers out there based on my anecdotal experience I would estimate 30% are incompetent, 60% are adequate, and 10% are bad asses. To answer your question about my skills I figure I'm definitely not in the bottom 30% however that is not due to my NP education but because I had serious psych experience and amazing connections in this specialty.

I never said you were actually incompetent; I was stating that if you are going to group the majority of NPs in that boat, it would only be fair for someone like yourself to put you in the same category. The impression that I have gotten from this and other discussions about NP's is that you label them as incompetent because they are an NP. I just find it particularly discouraging.

I am not trying to insult you, I wanted to let you know the impression you were giving in hopes you would maybe take a step back and think about it. That is all. Take care.

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Specializes in Psychiatry, Community, Nurse Manager, hospice.
I can't believe this is acceptable actually regardless of the person's age and yet another reason my family doesn't see NPs for their medical care. What a shame the schools have become so money grubbing.

I don't think many people understand that many DNP programs are designed for nurses without experience. These programs are intense. They take 4-5 years to complete.

The same can't be said for the masters programs. You should have experience before applying to those.

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