What do you say when a patient asks you how old you are?

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I seem to have a lot of patients asking me how old I am lately. It often comes from other 20-something year old patients. I can see how this would be thought to be acceptable. I'm obviously too young for it to be an inappropriate question. However, I am concerned I'll loss respect as a professional if I reveal how young I am, as quite frankly, I am rather young (23). I already take some teasing from my coworkers on this front. I feel rude just saying "none of your business" particularly when I know all of their personal details (yes, I know, I'm the nurse, they're the patient).

So, what do you say? So far I've just been answering honestly.

Specializes in Emergency Nursing.

I personally always tell the patient my age whenever they ask but if your not feeling comfortable with admitting your age I was told to say "We're both here for your health needs so lets focus on that."

!Chris :specs:

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People ask me how old I am and how long have I worked at the hospital I am at. I tell them I am over 30 and have worked at the hospital for over 8 years. That usually gives it away.

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Specializes in Ante-Intra-Postpartum, Post Gyne.

I usually say "how old do you think I am?" and then I tell them. I am 28 but am often mistaken for as young as 19 or 20. I use to hate it when I was younger but now I love to see peoples reactions when I tell them how "old" I really am.

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"I'm celebrating the 31st anniversary of my 21st birthday," usually said as I leave the room. I hear them laughing when I'm halfway down the hall. Guess it's harder to count on fingers under the influence of pain meds...

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Tell them u r 1 day older than yesterday.

:yawn: Tell them you are close one more day to the death:chuckle

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Ok so the other day I was working (not as a RN just at my old job that I'm planning to quit once I find a nursing job) and some sweet lady was buying some back to college stuff for her granddaughter so as I was ringing her up she asked me so when are you going back to the dorms? Is this your summer job? I had a good laugh and replied "no I just graduated with my RN":nurse::chuckle

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Specializes in M/S, MICU, CVICU, SICU, ER, Trauma, NICU.

Be happy because there will come a time when they call you "ma'am", and you're thinking, "WHO ME????"

*sigh*

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Specializes in M/S, MICU, CVICU, SICU, ER, Trauma, NICU.

Or how about I have the "Benjamin Button" syndrome?????? I'm really 75?

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Specializes in ortho, hospice volunteer, psych,.

i have always looked much younger than i am. when i was in 3rd grade, i looked about five. when i was 21 and a brand new college grad and moved to chicago and felt very very grown up, the supermarket manager refused to let me apply for a check cashing card because he thought my driver's license was a fake and told me me mom would have to be on the account too. eventually, i wore him down. i was routinely was carded into my late forties. now, i'm 59 and my husband is 61 and when his college students see us together, often ask if i were a student of his. i just tell them, "no, his beard is just grayer." :D or else something like, "we got married when i was five.":lol2: my hair is streaked with gray and you'd think it would be a hint of my real age but it doesn't seem to matter. when i nursed, and the question arose, usually, i'd just answer honestly and stress my credentials and move the conversation on.

kathy

sharpeimom:paw::paw:

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Specializes in Trauma, Teaching.
I can't take credit for it--I got it from a British television show called "Are You Being Served?" I thought it was funny too.

It was used before that in the original "Miracle on 34th St." by Santa Claus.

If the asker is at all open to humor, I pretend to be shocked and say "You never ask a lady her age!". (Then I tell them.)

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Specializes in MICU, Surgical Stepdown, CCU.

I usually tell them. I started working as an RN when I was 21; I'm 22 now and have been working for almost 7 months now. It doesn't help that I look REALLy young. No kidding, alot of them think I'm between the ages of 12 and 16. Whenever I walk into a patients room alot of them are taken a back because they think I'm a student or something. I always try to establish a good rapport with my patients and their families because I feel that b/c of my age and how youthful i look, I have to be 3 times as good as a more seasoned nurse. I don't really mind and luckily no one has ever doubted my nursing capability once they've had me. By the end of the night some of my patients don't want me to leave! lol

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I'm 21 with 17 years experience. :smokin:

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