"YOU'RE my Nurse?!?!?"

chelsea_j · Jun 21, 2006

I am 22 and have been a RN for almost a year and was a LPN when I was 19. It is kinda hard at first when patients would rather have someone else give them a shot or someone else start their IV but I think after you get used to it, it goes a lot better. The hardest thing is when they call you girly or girl or I even had one lady scream everytime I came near her to start her IV and when an older nurse came she was fine. Good Luck!

LoveTheNICU · Jun 22, 2006

I got this just the other day... on an airplane, of all places! It was a fairly empty flight and the flight attendent was friendly, chatting with many of the passengers. She happened to mention to me that she was a former respiratory therapist in NICU, so I responded that I was an NICU nurse, thinking that since the flight originated in my city, we may have worked for the same hospital. She said, "You can't possibly be a nurse! I would never have thought you were old enough... I would never leave my sick baby with you!" :angryfire

Now, I am 21 and a fairly recent BSN grad, and granted, I was in sweatpants, ponytail, and kinda ragged after a cross-country flight, but I was still a little insulted by her comment. Not the comments about my looking young, just those about my abilities to care for a critical child. I was tempted to respond that I was quite a bit older than many of the parents of those "sick babies", but because I did want to get my little package of peanuts and diet coke, I held my tongue. :lol2:

For now, I plan on just taking it as a compliment, just like my mom, who is 47 and still gets carded on occassion- guess it's in my genes. I know I look young- heck, I know I AM young- but I know I am a good nurse, better at times than some of the seasoned nurses I have encountered.

Gennaver, MSN · Jun 22, 2006

Hello everyone! I would like some insight on an issue I am having...I am 22 years old and will be graduating in December with my ADN. I have found that within the healthcare setting I am frequently seen as very young-looking (maybe because most of the patients I deal with are elderly). However, I am beginning to think that perhaps I won't be taken seriously? I am afraid that my patients will not trust me. A few patients have asked me if I was "of age" to be "doing this." A few have confused me for being a HIGH SCHOOL student. I see this as being a potential problem in the future when I am their primary nurse. What does everyone think about this?

Hello Nurse to be,

Well, I really know what you are going through as i went through it until just recently when I turned 40!

Yep, if you also have a young looking face and demeaner people will ask but, I really found that by downplaying my reaction when they reveal how young they thought I was that it helped.

The best reactions were when i didn't defend my age but, just said, "thank you, I haven't been that age in x amount of years" and then went right back to whatever I was doing.

Now when it happens I am reall, REALLY surprised. I do not look 25 in my eyes at all but, some people must not look real close! However now that I am older I am more relaxed about it and rather than defend I joke by saying something like, "OH, I know that one day I will wake up and all my years will show up overnight."

Take heart, keep being yourself and do not worry that people will not take you seriously because of how youthful you look, your behavior, grace and tact in response to their comments may put them and yourself at ease. :)

Gen

JTwin · Jun 22, 2006

I worry about this all the time! I'm only 19 and am still getting my prereqs done but I'm 5'2" (male) and people always think I'm still in high school... 15 or 16. Professional attitude and dress do go a long way.

angelladyclaire · Jun 22, 2006

I am 24 and I get comments all the time about how young I look. (It doesn't help that I'm covered in freckles :). But I find that once I've gotten past my initial interaction with the patient they take me seriously and are very kind. I still wear my cutesy scrubs and my bright purple crocs because I like them and they make me feel good. I've found that if you act professionally, it doesn't matter what you look like or what you're wearing (within reason). These reactions will bother you a lot more in the beginning when you are less confident in yourself. After having been a nurse for only a year, I still get as many comments, but they don't bother me as much and the patients take me more seriously becaue I take myself more seriously.

MQ Edna · Jun 22, 2006

I'm 22 currently and have been a nurse since I was 19 and also look very young, I have had absolutely NO problems. Yeah, i've been asked a few times if i'm a high school student, but out of the over 2 years I've been doing this that's only been a handful of times, it's all about what you know and how you carry yourself. I precept new grads twice my age and never have a question about it. You'll be fine, gain confidence and feel lucky that you can begin nursing at such a young age. By the time you're in your 40's imagine how much money and experience you could gain!

weezer123 · Jun 22, 2006

Enjoy it!!!I was there once , then all of a sudden I was the old gray dog with all the answers!!!

Shelly69 · Jun 22, 2006

I received my lpn license when i was 18 1st job fresh out of high school. I was ont he float team. When i went to med surg the patients would all ask who was this kid coming to take care of them. I remained proffesional and most of the time many pt.s would try to request me.try working on peds med-surg with kids not much younger than me. It was kind of cool though because the kids would also tell you things that they might not feel comfortable telling a doctor. now my 16 year old son gets, "That's Your mom."

erlissy · Jun 22, 2006

I also get called a "kid" at least once a week. I just usually tell people that I will like looking younger when I am older and that I have good family genes! It really doesn't bother me anymore because I know that I provide the best care possible to the patients that I have to care for. They realize in the end that I am not just a "kid" taking care of them, but a true professional nurse.

GatorNurse84 · Jun 22, 2006

I am 22 and I have had similar experiences. Some say "Oh you look so young." I have also experienced a different problem when I worked as a PCA (nurse assistant) during nursing school. Because I am petite, many patients doubted my ability. For example, when lifting something heavy, "Are you sure you can lift that? You're so small." Yes, it sucks to have people doubt you, but I like challenges, and I like to prove people wrong. In the end, they see that I am just as capable.

P.S. My friend who just started a job as a Peds Speech Pathologist (has her Masters) is going through the same thing. Being that she is 24, the other day a patient's mother questioned her ability and even asked to speak to the manager!

bsugaRN2b · Jun 24, 2006

LOL!! I think about this to myself all the time - I'll be 21 and have a BSN, and I already look like I'm 13... :)

Jo Dirt · Jun 24, 2006

Enjoy it!!!I was there once , then all of a sudden I was the old gray dog with all the answers!!!

Yea, really. Just remember young pretty's, we old f@ rts are the dinosaurs that you WILL become!