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.

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.

When patients ask those type of questions is not the chronological age what they are questioning...they wonder if you possess the intellectual capacity and experience which comes with age what they question, so you proceed to tell them about the education and training that is backing up your young face...even make a joke out of it...tell them that you look young because you are "pickled" or preserved like the cucumbers or the raisins in brandy ;-) feliz3

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Specializes in Med/Surg GI/GU/GYN.

I'm 41. I've been a RN for 1 year, 7 months and been at my job for 1 year, 5 months. I've been told I look much younger than my age, which always makes me feel good. Often the conversation starts out with talk about the patient's children or grandchildren and then they ask if I have children and what their ages are. No one's surprised I have an 8 & 11 y.o., but everyone seems shocked that I'm old enough to have a 18 y.o. So I laugh, tell them my age, and just so they don't think I've been doing this forever and am a total expert, I tell them that nursing is my midlife crisis. Not a single person has failed to laugh at that one. And it builds some credibility. With our younger nurses, the patients are impressed with their knowledge and skills "at such a young age." So you can awe them at any age. And as a former poster said, it probably doesn't hurt that they're all under the influence of really good pain meds!

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Specializes in LTC, CPR instructor, First aid instructor..

I like pagandeva2000's answer about being ageless, but if asked, I would probably tell the patient my real age. I am a nurse, and I love being a nurse. No matter how young or how old, If you are able to do the work, that's what really counts. Good luck with your new career. I wish you a lot of success.

Even though I am now disabled, and unable to work, I still love this profession. Nursing runs through my veins.

Fran

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your reply may be, "I am old enough to be your nurse"

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Specializes in Management, Emergency, Psych, Med Surg.

I tell them in my proud Texas accent that I am 53 years old and have been a nurse for 31 years. They love it.

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Specializes in ICU-my whole life!!.

You can also be blunt but with tact and tell them is not of their GD business! When I get asked the same question, I always throw it back at them by asking them how old do I look. This leaves them basically with no clue and I just look at them with a look that says~Can we now get back to your main reason as to why you are in my ICU running your trap?

As for your coworkers, give them hell too. Do not back down. What gives them the right to give you some mierda?

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Specializes in LTC, CPR instructor, First aid instructor..
your reply may be, "I am old enough to be your nurse"
That's a great answer.:up:
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I have been asked that same question many times... I'm 19 years old and I'm "the baby" of my nursing program. I finish in November and I'll turn 20 by the time I graduate. I have been asked htat same question at clinicals, from nurses and patients and I always tell them the truth. They may tease me but still respect me....

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Specializes in Trauma ICU, MICU,Tele. PCU, IMC.

I still get that, and I'm about to turn 29. I just say "I'm 28 but I've been a nurse for 8 years". That way I get straight to the point and show them that I have more than enough experience to take care of them.

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Specializes in ICU, holistic nursing.

I am also 23 and encounter this question from family members of my ICU patients. I feel that they think my younger age makes me somehow less qualified. I just tell people that "I am in my twenties." People have usually assumed on the higher end of that figure, like a daughter of a patient who responded, "yeah, I am twenty-eight. I thought we were about the same age." I just smile and chuckle a little in my own head. I am old enough to have a BSN and a year of ICU experience. No I am not the most experienced RN on the unit, but I am perfectly qualified to take care of my patients- or else I would not be here! Sometimes I follow up skepticism with comments about how I have taken care of many patients with (insert medical problem here) before- sepsis, ARDS, whatever. Sometimes that chills people out a bit and puts the focus on your experience and knowledge rather than your age.

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Just wait until you're in your 40's. They stop asking. Ha Ha. Then they ask "How long have you been a nurse?", preferably not while you're performing a procedure for the first time during which you automatically assume it's obvious you've never done it before.

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Specializes in ICU, holistic nursing.
I tell my age for the most part...my patients are all elderly, and most of them ask how old I am because they think I look about sixteen. Often confused pts will ask if I'm old enough to be a nurse. I tell them my age (23), but then bring it back to how long I've been a nurse/worked in healthcare. I've been a nurse for just about a year, and I feel they have a right to know that. If they ever seem nervous about the length of time I've been practicing, I remind them that if I ever was unsure about something involved in their care I'd seek help/advice from a more experienced nurse.

I work in a teaching hospital with a lot of young (and some just young-looking) people. When I get questions directed about my age or the age of the interns, other RNs, etc, I tell my patients that is what makes teaching hospitals so wonderful (any hospital with a good range of ages and experiences too!). I tell them that as younger staff, we remember more textbook stuff from school or may be more knowlegdable in some cases about new protocols, procedures, or information; the older staff is more experienced and practical and generally can tell you or help you find the answer to almost anything. We work as team to take care of our patients and we are always bouncing ideas off eachother. Reinforcing that newbies have important attributes to offer is important! :yeah:

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