Older students biased against younger students?

mom35 · Apr 1, 2009

Hello, I don't think they should have said these things in front of you. I think maybe they were saying this because they feel "out of place" and maybe they were trying to combat this feeling. I am older, but I absolutely do not believe that age should be considered. I know plenty of young students that know what they want to do and are going to make awesome RN's. As well I know older students, like myself, that will do well too. One could say that a younger student may have more energy, or be in the nursing field longer. I think one can always use their personal filters to work life out to be the way they want it to be. It is all about perspective and how one views situations. Just ignore talk like that and know that age makes no difference, your passion and perserverance are going to make the difference. Good Luck to you!!!:wink2:

ashnem · Apr 1, 2009

I am 31 and I do not agree with the statement that those women were making. Interestingly, in my program I am right in the middle age-wise and even perhaps a bit younger. In my pre-reqs I did feel that the younger students were lazy and wanted everything spoon-fed, but now that I am in my program I find that attitude is present across the age-spectrum. But, we all have biases, including me and I bet even you. Mine is that more spots in my program should be given to American citizens! Only 29 out of 65 students in my program are from the US (I don't know that citizenship status of them all but most are not). It ****** me off that so many hard-working classmates of mine from pre-reqs did not make the program. Instead there are 30 from (one particular country) and the vast majority of them I have seen outright cheat on exams, plagiarize on pathophys papers and careplans (4 of them got a 100% on turnitin and several others were in the 90's), seem to have no working knowledge of the AP they supposedly took and passed (one them diagnosed a 5 year old girl that was wetting the bed with an enlarged prostate in a case study!) and their accents are a huge barrier (most patients turn to me and ask me what my partner is saying). I could go on and on with stories that would shock and amaze you. It may sound racist but it is the unexaggerated truth- there is not one of them that I would trust emptying bedpans at a hospital, let alone providing direct patient care. It is possible that these women had an experience in their past similar to mine with younger students. I know that my biases will stick with me until proven otherwise. Sorry for your experience.

That Guy, BSN, RN, EMT-B · Apr 1, 2009

Uggh, thats the reason I hate non-trads right there. They think they are entitled to more because they are "old wiser blah blah". I find that the non trads are the ones that are having more diffiuclt in the skills area and the theory area because, well at least ours, think they know eveything already. Oh well. Brush it off and get myself through.

vashtee, RN · Apr 1, 2009

^^ what that guy said was just as silly as what those women said.

In my program, the older students were very supportive of the younger students, and vice-versa. You are all going to end up in the same place, and it is hard on everyone. The lazy and stupid (of all ages) will be weeded out.

Also, there was absolutely no correlation between clinical abilities and age in my program. Students of all ages were flunked out.

just.fran · Apr 1, 2009

Thank you for posting this thread. I think ageism, no matter what direction, is an issue in any profession, but certainly in one such as nursing which has so many onramps (ADN programs, A-BSN programs, ELMN programs, etc.). The overwhelming number of nursing applicants makes the whole process stressful for young and old.

I think it is important to see how both a younger candidate and an older candidate have advantages and disadvantages. There is not one that is better than the other, they are just different, and like others have posted, the diversity in your nursing school cohort will work to your advantage.

I agree with mom35 that those women are probably feeling very insecure about starting over in a new field and competing with people who are much younger than they are. Perhaps they are bitter that they didn't go into nursing earlier! I would think that they would be "mature" enough to be self-aware, but alas, that is not the case for all 30-somethings (I say this with my tongue-in-cheek, for I am in my 30s). Imagine what a shock these women are going to feel when they begin their clinical rounds being preceptored by a nurse 5 years their junior with 10 more years experience!

Furthermore, I think it is wonderful that you know what you want to do with your life at such a young age. My sister got her RN at 19 and she has been nursing for over 20 years. She even earned her BSN while working, and her employer paid for it. I think you have a potential for a long and satisfying career.

Don't let the insensitive remarks of others make you feel bad about where you are in life and your career goals. Their bad attitudes will hurt them more in the future than they will hurt you. I appreciate your boldness in starting this thread. You go, stephaniieee! Perhaps all of us can learn to be more sensitive of the "others" rather than demonizing them.

FireStarterRN, BSN, RN · Apr 1, 2009

This sounds like a statement made by two women standing in line. They are two individuals with their own opinions. By the way, 31 isn't actually very old by my standards. 31 is actually still fairly young.

RunnerLuv · Apr 1, 2009

I look at it on a case by case basis. You can have people that want entitlement at any age. So when an older student makes a comment, they rub me the wrong way. When a younger peer makes a comment, that rubs me the wrong way too.

If someone thinks that they are better than me then thats their opinion.

BUT there IS this group of non tradition students in my rotation this semester and I cant stand them. They talk loudly all through lecture and every comment out of their mouth is full of an I-know-everything-and-you-dont-therefore-I-am-better type of tone. It makes me wish that sometimes they would place the accelerated students (fast track program for students with a degree already) in their own classes.

Sometimes older IS wiser and I do enjoy hearing some stories that are shared and pt experiences they share.

tothepointeLVN, LVN · Apr 1, 2009

Uggh, thats the reason I hate non-trads right there. They think they are entitled to more because they are "old wiser blah blah". I find that the non trads are the ones that are having more diffiuclt in the skills area and the theory area because, well at least ours, think they know eveything already. Oh well. Brush it off and get myself through.

Well at my school the "traditional" students are the ones that mess around don't study, make the teachers life hell, blame everyone else when they fail and lose clinical sites for the school so I don't blame our admissions officers stance that they don't like 18 year olds.

Quel19 · Apr 1, 2009

i came across something similar as well. I'm 22 years old, and the classmate i was talking to is 62 years old. While we were talking about Nursing school and trying to get into a program, he told me that he would probably just wait to be admitted through waitlist. He then proceeded to tell me that by the time that he would be enrolled in Nursing school, graduate and finally start working, he said he would have about a year to two years left to work as an RN and then retire! he was serious too.

I don't know for some reason i felt upset, I'm not the type to tell a person to not follow their dreams and all, but I just think since he's much older and only plans to work as an RN for 2 years, that his spot should be given to someone else planning to really work long in the field.

ProudRN2B · Apr 1, 2009

I would be more proud to say I earned my spot because I worked hard, not because of my age. I would just brush it off and be proud you are young and committed. I am "older" (30, but I feel old) and I wish I had your mind set at your age. Yes I'm older and have more world experience but that will not determine whether I'd be a better student or nurse than you. I now know that nothing can prepare you for nursing school. It is very intense and the only students that will make it are the ones who worked hard to get there, not the ones who were given priority entrance because of their age. There are some students your age in the program that I admire because everything just comes natural to them. Like I said before, I also admire them for being young and knowing what they want and going after it. You will get what you deserve because you worked hard for it. Try to brush off the comments and just focus on you!

truern · Apr 2, 2009

I don't know for some reason i felt upset, I'm not the type to tell a person to not follow their dreams and all, but I just think since he's much older and only plans to work as an RN for 2 years, that his spot should be given to someone else planning to really work long in the field.

So, there are no young nurses leaving the field?? Personally, I think anyone with the time, money, energy, and desire to go to school has every right to be there...regardless of age.