Okay so maybe the title of this thread sounds kinda prejudice in someway, but please don't take this to offense...
So the other day I had taken my son to the doctor's and overheard a very interesting conversation between a couple about "if you were to choose between a young nurse who just graduated from college and an older nurse who's had a lot of experience to take care of you, which would you choose?"
Well the guy said he would choose the older nurse because of the long time experience that they have and that they would, of course, get more respect because "the older the age the more mature" and the girl disagreed and said she would choose the young nurse because they seem to be more energetic, and therefore is more fit for the job than the older nurses and the knowledge and skills that they learned in school are still fresh in their minds.
Now in my opinion, I feel that age wouldn't matter in nursing. Sure newly graduates would still have the knowledge learned from school still fresh in their minds, but it doesn't mean that an older nurse doesn't still have knowledge learned from school (that stuck with them) still fresh in their minds either. And as for younger people being more energetic.... I know some older people, for example my grandfather, who is very active (loves hiking, biking, whatever it takes to keep fit..etc.) and has a ton of energy, and some younger people who are not active or energetic at all. I just think all ages in nursing work well together, because then they can learn more from eachother.
well guys, i'm an older new nurse. i'm 48 and a new LVN Grad, working on my RN. i imagine people will think i'm experienced because i'm older, but would be surprised if they knew i was a new grad. i will be starting on med surg at my hospital soon and i just want to be the best nurse i can be regardless of age. i know i am a caring and compassionate person and hopefully my life experience will help me in my new challenge. i don't think age matters. my 21 year old is an RN student and although young, she amazes me with her abilities and compassion. i say young or old, we are all nurses, it just took some of us a little more time to get to where we have always wanted to be. :yelclap:
Young.... old.... newbie.... experienced... female.... male... black... white.... brown... green.... blue. If I'm sick, I couldn't care less who takes care of me - as long as you are competent!
Agree. Any nurse would do as long as competent. If more experienced then better. New nurse, okay for me too, to give a chance for more experience and enhance the skills. :)
Reminds me of the old one: Which would you prefer a young pilot with quick reflexes to get out of trouble or an older pilot with the experience to avoid it in the first place. Like many others have responded I want a Nurse/physician/dentist/other provider who is competent. Myself, I'm an "older" Nurse since I've been doing this work since 1967. :thankya:
Older more experienced nurses have more ability to see the bigger picture.
I would choose the older nurse.
Older doesn't guarantee experience, though. Last year, our unit hired 2 new graduates who were both at least 15-20 years older than me, yet I have 9 years more experience than they do.
Specializes in rehab; med/surg; l&d; peds/home care.
Well, I can't really say if i'd prefer a "young" or "older" nurse. I guess I'd prefer someone who at least had a little experience with whatever it was i was suffering from.
then, on the other hand, i remember being a new grad (10 years ago) and the feeling that "everyone wants x amount of experience, but no one wants to give me a chance to get that experience". it was kind of irritating that it was difficult to get experience. but of course, time changes that.
being a "young" nurse (who feels terribly old d/t my health problems and is on medical leave constantly), i still get elderly patients who ask, "are you the nurse?! how could you be the nurse?! you're look 16!" and don't want me to care for them. now, i don't want to sound arrogant, and i am definately not one of those who thinks they "know it all", but i am confident in my skills. my specialty the last 8 years has been rehab nursing, and i have seen enough s/p knees, hips to know how to care for them properly. i totally recognize that i don't know it all, and will get another nurse (lpn or rn) who i respect to reassess something if i am in any way unsure. i also have the respect of the docs, which makes me feel much better. i am glad they are confident in me and my skills. a lot of people (agency usually) think i am an RN.
which brings me to my other point. a lot of elderly people always ask me if i'm an RN, and i have to tell them no, i'm an LPN. i've had a couple refuse my care because of that, and that hurts. a lot of the public has no idea what an LPN is. of course, it doesn't matter to them that i am nearly done with my RN program. but i will refer their care to the RN. (and then the RN will ask me later why they wanted the 'rn' cause they don't need very much care at all, fairly independent, needs CG assist. no comorbid problems), while i'm caring for a very ill, CHF'er, with resp problems galore, brittle diabetic, obese who needs a lot of skin care, turning, have MRSA in ten decubs and needs sterile dressings, IV's, PICC line/Central Line, (you get the picture!).
when my dad had his 5 vessel CABG done one year ago, he was taken care of initially by a long time ICU nurse. i then get a call from another RN that he was bleeding a lot more than he should be, and to please come down. (we had just gotten home after being at the hospital ALL day). so me andmy mom go back down, and there's a nurse there who was very competent in my eyes, but looked "young". of course, the subject came up of how long she had been a nurse, and she had been one only a few months, having just graduated a BSN program. i gritted my teeth because my family always wants to push the fact that i'm a nurse, and i always refrain from offering that info! i hate when i hear in report, "Mr. X's daughter is a nurse", like that makes any difference in the care i'll give to my pt.
ok, i've been long winded here, i apologize. just a sensitive subject for me, since i know the sting of being shunned by some since i look young by some, and also because i'm not an RN by others.
Well, I can't really say if i'd prefer a "young" or "older" nurse. I guess I'd prefer someone who at least had a little experience with whatever it was i was suffering from.
then, on the other hand, i remember being a new grad (10 years ago) and the feeling that "everyone wants x amount of experience, but no one wants to give me a chance to get that experience". it was kind of irritating that it was difficult to get experience. but of course, time changes that.
being a "young" nurse (who feels terribly old d/t my health problems and is on medical leave constantly), i still get elderly patients who ask, "are you the nurse?! how could you be the nurse?! you're look 16!" and don't want me to care for them. now, i don't want to sound arrogant, and i am definately not one of those who thinks they "know it all", but i am confident in my skills. my specialty the last 8 years has been rehab nursing, and i have seen enough s/p knees, hips to know how to care for them properly. i totally recognize that i don't know it all, and will get another nurse (lpn or rn) who i respect to reassess something if i am in any way unsure. i also have the respect of the docs, which makes me feel much better. i am glad they are confident in me and my skills. a lot of people (agency usually) think i am an RN.
which brings me to my other point. a lot of elderly people always ask me if i'm an RN, and i have to tell them no, i'm an LPN. i've had a couple refuse my care because of that, and that hurts. a lot of the public has no idea what an LPN is. of course, it doesn't matter to them that i am nearly done with my RN program. but i will refer their care to the RN. (and then the RN will ask me later why they wanted the 'rn' cause they don't need very much care at all, fairly independent, needs CG assist. no comorbid problems), while i'm caring for a very ill, CHF'er, with resp problems galore, brittle diabetic, obese who needs a lot of skin care, turning, have MRSA in ten decubs and needs sterile dressings, IV's, PICC line/Central Line, (you get the picture!).
when my dad had his 5 vessel CABG done one year ago, he was taken care of initially by a long time ICU nurse. i then get a call from another RN that he was bleeding a lot more than he should be, and to please come down. (we had just gotten home after being at the hospital ALL day). so me andmy mom go back down, and there's a nurse there who was very competent in my eyes, but looked "young". of course, the subject came up of how long she had been a nurse, and she had been one only a few months, having just graduated a BSN program. i gritted my teeth because my family always wants to push the fact that i'm a nurse, and i always refrain from offering that info! i hate when i hear in report, "Mr. X's daughter is a nurse", like that makes any difference in the care i'll give to my pt.
ok, i've been long winded here, i apologize. just a sensitive subject for me, since i know the sting of being shunned by some since i look young by some, and also because i'm not an RN by others.
I am over 50 and just graduated as an LPN this week. So I haven't even taken the boards yet. I've already had the experience in a number of clinical settings of patients preferring me just because they think I'm an "experienced nurse". From my short experience working in clinical settings, I've learned to completely ignore age in evaluating nurse competency levels. I only "evaluate" in terms of who I go to for answers or help and that person is usually the closest nurse (LPN, RN, young, old, male, or female) that I can catch. As a patient, I think I tend to lean toward the nurse who presents a professional, yet down-to-earth demeanor. That can be achieved or not achieved at any age.
the unit i am currently on has a lot of young nurses. a lot of these nurses are new, however they are top notch in my eyes. the more senior nurses are still young (under 35) and are very competent. when i first started on the unit i would get a bit of flack from some of the more long term patients. some would take a look at me and think that i was to young to know what i was talking about. over time some of these patients would find out how old i was, generally through talking about my kids as i have a 12 year old, and they were surprised that i was over there estimate by almost 10 years. it was odd cause at times it would seem that how they treated me and talked to me would totally change when they found out my age.
i agree that i don't care how old you are, i just want you to be good at what your doing and know when to admit that you don't know something.
Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN
12,126 Posts
I want a competent nurse.