What would you consider too young? I will be graduating university with a BSN at the age of 22. would you consider this too young to be a ful time nurse? I look really young and how does this affect patients? I Had a patent last week think I was 14 (I'm 20). yep they let 14year olds pass out meds now!!!!
I guess some people at my age are married with kids and have that responsibility. but sometimes i feel like i'm not ready for the real world. and other times I can't wait to enter the real world.
I know i'm not the youngest to graduate but i still feel so unprepared.
Most people who go to 4yrs of college straight from HS, graduate at around age 22 and start working in whatever their field is. Just curious as to why lets say a 22yo nurse would be any different then a 22yo teacher? I guess I just wondered why the question would even be asked. Why would your age in the profession of nursing be more of an issue then any other profession?
I am just curious, How did you finish so fast? How old were you when graduated HS? How old were you when you started your RN program? How long did it take to complete it? One of my nieces is thinking of becoming a nurse and i wanted to tell her more than one way, the path I took.
thanks. :)
What would you consider too young? I will be graduating university with a BSN at the age of 22. would you consider this too young to be a ful time nurse? I look really young and how does this affect patients? I Had a patent last week think I was 14 (I'm 20). yep they let 14year olds pass out meds now!!!!
I am 25 years old and am only 4feet 11 inches tall (or should I say short!). I look much younger. I get told that I look 16-21. It bothered me at first, but I actually like telling someone when they ask how old I am "I am older than I look!!". When I tell pts that I will be their nurse for the shift...some will say "my RN?" as if I am too young to be a real live RN!!! Enjoy it while you can....we all get old!
I'm 21 and graduated nursing school this past December and am now working in a PICU.....
There are set backs, at least I feel them more in pediatrics than I ever have before. I don't have any children, and I also look about 18 so the parents (who are already stressed about having their child in an ICU) are a little weary of me. Plus they know I'm on orientation and new, so hopefully my confidence will come up after a few months and I can actually feel like I know what I'm doing and it will show!!
The main thing is, make sure that you are confident and be ready for the age issues to come up. In nursing school I always had patients saying "how OLD are you? are you actually old enough to be taking care of me?" You just have to know how to respond to the questions you know you will be asked (or the comments). I always just let them know that I went to nursing school straight out of high-school because I figured out what I wanted to do with my life early on.
I think a lot of people correlate age with experience. If you were in the hospital and an older nurse came into the room, wouldn't you be more likely to assume she has had years of experience more so than if you had a 21 year old nurse (who looks younger) come in?
Just assure them (in your own words) that you did graduate nursing school and you have your license and you are competent!
Most people who go to 4yrs of college straight from HS, graduate at around age 22 and start working in whatever their field is. Just curious as to why lets say a 22yo nurse would be any different then a 22yo teacher? I guess I just wondered why the question would even be asked. Why would your age in the profession of nursing be more of an issue then any other profession?
I think that I jsut feel young and unprepared for the world. to venture on my own (great supportive parents) and that no matter that profession I had chosen I think i might feel unprepared. I'm very proffessional, and and amung the top in my class. just insecure.
Hey,
I am just curious, How did you finish so fast? How old were you when graduated HS? How old were you when you started your RN program? How long did it take to complete it? One of my nieces is thinking of becoming a nurse and i wanted to tell her more than one way, the path I took.
thanks.
I live in Canada, I'm not sure if the entrance to nursing school is the same. I graduated high school at 18 (and I was even the last OAC year) and entred nursing school right away. It is a 4 year BSN program right our of high school. In some places there is also a 3 year all year round, and i thought about it buti wanted my summers to work and play.
I was married with two children and owned my own business when I was 22 years old. I didn't think that I was too young because that was my life, my responsibility and that is what I had to do. None of us are prepared enough for life. We just do what we have to do, and do our best. Some of it we have to bluff our way through and some of it we are genius in. You completed your education, you are well prepared, and you live in the "real" world now, and have been since you were born.
When I was 22, in my own business, customers would come in as ask me if they could speak to my father! :uhoh21: At first I was insulted, but then, I took a good look in the mirror, went to a good beauty shop and had them turn my pony tail into a more sophisticated hair style, started wearing some tasteful make-up that made me look professional, picked out some new clothes that gave me a more professional look. My voice was high, sweet and cutesy. I listened to myself when I spoke to others, and when I was alone I practiced speaking in a deeper, more pleasant sounding professional voice. I made myself smile confidently and not shyly at others. I made myself refrain from using the more popular slang terms that were popular among my age group. I did not use them when I was with older customers. Something else that I heard somewhere and did was: "When you walk, hold your hear up, shoulders back, and walk like you have someplace important to go." I did and ALWAYS have from that point on. I was still me, but a more professional me. It didn't take very long for before people stopped asking if they could talk to my father.
I just finished my training as a CNA. I am 58 years old. I keep the professional look, hair, make-up, walk, voice. After 30+ years it is me. Last week on my last day of clinicals, an LPN working at the LTC where we were doing our clinicals came up to me and ask me if I was their new RN. I said "No sweetie, but thank you for asking, I'm a CNA here on clinicals." She said, "Well you look like you should be an RN, are you going to continue through to a higher leverl in Nursing?" ( Whatever does an RN look like anyway... especially these days?)
Anyway, sometimes the way we choose to present ourselves to others, in our personal appearance and demeanor, can make a big difference in how they perceive us. Maybe there are a few things you could do that would boost your professional appearance and the age thing would fade away. Good luck to you. :)
What would you consider too young? I will be graduating university with a BSN at the age of 22. would you consider this too young to be a ful time nurse? I look really young and how does this affect patients? I Had a patent last week think I was 14 (I'm 20). yep they let 14year olds pass out meds now!!!!
I guess some people at my age are married with kids and have that responsibility. but sometimes i feel like i'm not ready for the real world. and other times I can't wait to enter the real world.
I know i'm not the youngest to graduate but i still feel so unprepared.
Honestly, I wouldn't have made a good nurse ouot of college the first time (21.) Now I'll be 29 (!) when I graduate next year and I'm much more suited for it. That said, as long as you're professional, that's what matters. We're always learning and maturing, and that makes us better in our professional lives, so you can't narrow it down to one age. Some people even slide backwards as they get older.
On looking younger: I never am called "young" in an Ann Taylor suit. I am in a nursing student uniform or scrubs, all of the time, even though my hair and makeup is the same!
Whatever does an RN look like anyway... especially these days?)
kaycee
518 Posts
Most people who go to 4yrs of college straight from HS, graduate at around age 22 and start working in whatever their field is. Just curious as to why lets say a 22yo nurse would be any different then a 22yo teacher? I guess I just wondered why the question would even be asked. Why would your age in the profession of nursing be more of an issue then any other profession?