"How old are you?"

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Now and then I am asked by a pt how old am I, is this my natural hair color, or other things you couldn't pay me to ask another person :uhoh3: . Usually its a nice old lady who is trying to be complentary, which is fine, I usually say, "oh how sweet, but I don't usually give that info out" and then change the subject. But sometimes its someone close to my age who is trying to be rude. I admit that I look a lot younger than my 23yrs, but I act professionally. Is there something better to say than "I don't discuss that" said with a smile? I am interested in hearing with everyone else says to these pts. Thanks! :eek:

These stories are too funny! I'm not alone! BabyRN06...you are right, the males should know better. I was recently at a wedding (obviously not work) and a middle aged man asked me! I mean, he should really know bettter! I forgot to add another funny story about a co-worker: My friend is a unit clerk and is very petite and pretty. She really does look about 15 or so, but one day when she was pregnant a woman raced over to me and said," does social services know that your volunteer is pregnant!" She didn't believe me when I told her my friend was 26!

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[i am too 25 but look like 15-16 and i have one baby girl. wherever i go nobody believe that she is my baby. sometimes, my pts were concerened how i can do my job if i am so thin and small (5 feets 2inch, 110). it is hard from many reasons but also nice while i get old i still look young.

cheer up everyone:)

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I don't mind when people don't believe I am a Grandma and have 3 grandchildren, but what gets me is when people ask how many children I have, and when I say 9, they ask something extremely rude like: "You gave birth to 9 kids?" or "All 9 came out of you?"

You know, I gave actual birth to 6, but that in no way means the other 3 are not mine too...

Anyone have a swift answer for these rude jerks? :angryfire (Sorry, this has made me angry for a loooong time!)

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I'm not a nurse yet (I'm taking my pre-req's) but people think I'm 13-15. I went to get my driver's permit just a few months ago and the lady was like, "Do you have parental consent and have you completed driver's ed? You can't get a permit without that when you're 15."

And much to my poor darling husband's dismay, a few people have thought he was my father because of how young I look. I'm only 19, though, so I guess it's fair that they think I'm so young.

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I was the baby of a huge extended family and teachers always labeled me as immature and a late emotional/mental bloomer. My mother said I didn't even speak till I was 3. Even though my kids are big, strangers, even my new doc for the LPN pre-physical think I'm lots younger. My ex was recently mistaken for my dad, and my sister as my mother. For a much needed professional change I just got accepted into LPN school and am 51. My secret is my religion, lots of water, exercise, bio-identical hormones, and finding humor in the tiniest thing (mostly my own mind)

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Hey December716,

ur adorable, and u dooo look very young....also like that girl who plays the part of Spiderman's gf...isn't her name Kristin Dunsdt?

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You could always just smile sweetly and say "I'm sorry. I don't like to answer personal questions while I'm working". Then, if they ask what time do you get off work, you could say "I think that's a personal question."

I used to use that one when a particular obnoxious male patient would decide to drill me about my marital/available status.

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

If it's a sweet lady trying to compliment you, why not say "I'm 23"? What's the big deal? Yeah, it's no one's business. But I would just consider it part of the nurse-patient rapport building and tell them and take the conversation from there if it's sincere. Perhaps if you told your age it might build help build their confidence in your profressionalism. Just a thought.

I love telling older people my age when they ask, they usually reassure me that I'm young, and that their life really just began when they turned 40. :)

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Hey December716,

ur adorable, and u dooo look very young....also like that girl who plays the part of Spiderman's gf...isn't her name Kristin Dunsdt?

Thanks for the compliment! You're the third person that has said to me I look like Kirsten Dunst! :p

I do agree with the poster that said to drink LOTS of water! I want my skin to be healthy and young looking even when I'm fifty, so I try to take very good care of it now.

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I'm 32 and everytime I get asked that question I say how old do you think I am. I normally get the reply anywhere between 20-25. I did have someone tell me the other day I looked older than my dad which is 56. That shot that theory to hell. NEVER ASK A QUESTION YOU DONT WANT TO KNOW THE ANSWER TO.

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Nursing Education.

I'm 20, and I just passed the NCLEX RN in june. I work in peds... with nurses that are all in their forties and have been nursing for longer than i've been alive.

whats worse, is i was one of their patients when i was nine years old. and!!, they remember me (the surgeon was a real jerk to them about my case... didn't want any peds nurses to be taking care of his post ops... he wanted his surgical nurses to do it... anyway).

as my much beloved preceptor said "its really bad when you take care of your replacements!"

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

Take it in stride. Some day, age catches up and you still will probably not wish to discuss it, for other reasons. If so, that is ok. It is NO ONE's business. You just be non challant and say what others before me did; " I am old enough to competently care for you and that is all you need to know. Thank you for the compliment". and then get over it. It's a small problem in the scheme of things, really.

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