Young Looking Nurses

care365 · Oct 29, 2010

I understand where you're coming from.. but don't worry about it so much!

Just be confident and I'm sure patients wont underestimate your capabilities as long as they see that you are professional and you know your stuff!

ms.heart · Oct 29, 2010

I agree with care. I am a LPN and I'm 21 and people say I look 12 also, all the time! So I completely understand where you're coming from! But my patient's don't give me any problems at all about how young I look. They see I act mature even though I might not look it. LOL.

allnurses Guide · Oct 29, 2010

I started my first job as a nurse in a pediatric hospital at age 19. When I worked in the Adolescent Unit, I had a couple of 18 year olds as patients. It's all in developing a professional demeanor and a mature emotional response. You will probably be at least 21 when you graduate, which is the expected age for someone to graduate with a Bachelor's Degree if they go straight out of high school. You'll be fine.

chinacatSN · Oct 29, 2010

I'm 26 and in nursing school right now. We've just started clinicals. I, too, look pretty young. I'm 5'2" and I guess I have what you'd call a 'baby face'.

The thing is, patients/doctors/other nurses can almost SMELL the newness. They look at you and they KNOW that you haven't been at this very long - and I've been a CNA for 10 years so I have experience in hospitals and nursing homes. It's like everyone can see your uncertainty.

My best advice would be to learn to be assertive if you're not. Assertiveness is probably one of the best tools a new nurse can have. Many times, you will get a patient that is irritated and sick of having his vitals and assessment done every 4 hours. You have to explain to them (in a nice way) that it's for their health and safety. You have to say it in an assertive manner to show that you're all business and won't take any back talk. You have to show them with your body language that you are confident, sure of yourself, and are NOT a door mat. The trick is to be respectful and courteous and be assertive at the same time. As long as you have the right attitude, they won't perceive you as 'too young', 'unskilled', or 'inexperienced'. You also have to know how to barter with patients. Some patients are irritated, angry, and rude and they don't want you in their room for very long - if at all. You, as a nurse, need them to perform cares on their new colostomy. They, of course, refuse. You, as a nurse, need to be able to talk to them in a way that makes them almost WANT to do it. Bartering really works. You can say, "For your health and safety, we need you to show us how you would care for your colostomy if you were at home. The sooner you show me, the sooner I can leave you alone and you can continue to watch TV." Usually, they will see the logic in this and do what you need them to do in the hopes that you will leave them alone for a while.

I won't lie to you, nursing school is difficult - more difficult than you know - but it's also not as difficult as you think. If that makes any sense. You will need to be organized. The work itself isn't the difficult part, it's the AMOUNT of work you have to do.

Hope this helps!

shoegalRN, RN · Oct 29, 2010

I'm 36 and I still get carded when I go out.

I have been told I look 21 and I get alot of "so you started this right out of high school huh?" When I tell them this is a second career for me, alot of my patients are shocked.

I carry myself with a professional demenor and always explain my plan of care to pts. Once they see I'm about business, they tend to trust me more.

I still get hit on by the young patients, but I laugh and let that go over my head.

JustKeepSmiling, ADN, BSN, RN · Oct 29, 2010

I always introduce myself as JustKeepSmiling, RN student @ GreatLocalSchool... and go about patient care.

I once had a patient later in the shift ask me if I ever though about going to nursing school after I finish high school.

Umm.. pt still aaox3 and I swear I told them who I was, albeit people forget crap, but really?!

Do you THINK a high school kid is going to flush your IV, do a head to toe assessment, and do wound care!?!!?

What kind of hospital do you think you're at!!

I am 22 and I look 12. Sometimes I come to clinical after work and I already have basic makeup/eye liner on and I do look slightly more my age then and I notice it curbs to young comments/attitudes. It's sad to say makeup would do that, but it works. I mean if I have time for it, I don't mind taking 5 minutes to do it.

I also carry myself older than my age and I think I sound pretty educated. Once I get to talking with the staff/doctors you would think we've known each other for years. I am a big people person and I think that helps too.

Like another poster said, assertiveness.

With patients maybe we should more assertively state who we are and not just rush into heyIamsoandsoyournursingstudent...

nedlloyd · Oct 29, 2010

My best advice to you is be confident in yourself/your abilities.

I remember back when i was a student working in the ER... the charge nurse told me to go in and start an IV on a lady, ok no problem. i walked in the room, introduced myself and said i need to put an IV in. i'll never forget the look on her face. and then she says to me but you don't even look old enough to be in high school! (I was 21). then she tells me, really sarcastically, well i guess you need to start somewhere. are you sure you know what you're doing? Usually IVs weren't a problem for me, but at this point i was starting to get nervous and of course i HAD to blow it! Then she tells me I cant believe you missed, I have great veins, no one ever misses, you must not know what you're doing.... So even though policy was 2 pokes before you have another nurse try, i went and got Lynda who was THE go-to lady for all the difficult IV starts. and then she missed her first try! I was standing outside the room taking vitals on another patient and I could hear her in there talking to Lynda. She told her "oh I know I'm a hard start. Whenever I go to the lab to get blood drawn it always takes a few pokes" I was floored. I didn't say anything obviously, because what's the point? Oh hi, I was eavesdropping and I know you lied to me?! It still bothers me when I look back on it. I wish I had been more assertive from the get-go.

so be confident, be assertive. I still hear that I'm young all the time, but for the most part people will say "oh you started right out of high school? good for you!"

GilaRRT · Oct 29, 2010

Don't worry you'll be going grey, developing wrinkles and sagging in unspeakable places before too long. Enjoy your twenties and your "youth." Entropy only goes one way...

MassED, BSN, RN · Oct 29, 2010

wear your hair up and wearing glasses gives that illusion of looking "smarter." haa! Seriously, it works. Trying not to dress too trendy will help you stand out from many of the younger nurses who focus very much on cute, rather than functional.

TerpGal02, ASN · Oct 29, 2010

I get the "are you sure you're old enough to be doing this" all the time too, and I'm 30. I try not to let it bother me so much, and its never been a problem during clinicals for me. I see it as a GOOD thing. Hopefully when I'm 50, people will be mistaking me for a 21 year old. I can only dream, right?

kxvc · Oct 29, 2010

Many times the patients who question my age are the ones that ask an infinite number of questions. I find its important to know what I'm doing and why I am doing it. When I can give confident answers my patients are more likely to trust in my care and skills. I also never lie. I've had patients who get a disappointed look when I tell them I am a new grad. I quickly follow it with a smile and "You asked, and I don't lie." This sets the tone for honest communication between us, and more often than not I gain their trust.