Younger Nurses: Do you find people dont take you seriously? (semi-rant)

HillNPStudent · Jan 4, 2006

I have had these same problems. I have just turned 24, have a BSN degree, over a year of hospital open heart/telemetry experience, worked for three years as a nurse's aide, and am now working part-time on a MSN/NP degree. It never fails that almost every night when I introduce myself to my patients, at least one of them will make a comment of how young I look. I haven't had patients seem to feel as though their care is compromised because of having a younger nurse, in fact, it seems as though they are pleased. I work with a lot of older nurses, though, who seem to resent the fact that I am so young and working toward a master's degree. I try to explain that this is a good time in my life right now for me to go to grad school; I've been married for three years, have no children yet, own my home, no debt other than home, it is just a good time. I am new to this facility, and they seem to resent the fact that I have experience from one of the larger hospitals in the state in a CCU. It is frustrating because I have found it to be a barrier to developing relationships with my co-workers, however, I am simply trying to pursue my career goals. By the time I graduate I will have over three years of clinical experience as an RN because I am only doing school part-time. I have considered trying to transfer to another unit that possibly has some younger nurses employed there, however, I really like my manager who has been wonderful in working around my school schedule. So I suppose I'll just stick it out, its just frustrating when nurses cannot be accepting of one another, regardless of age and career choices.

HillNPStudent · Jan 4, 2006

I have had these same problems. I have just turned 24, have a BSN degree, over a year of hospital open heart/telemetry experience, worked for three years as a nurse's aide, and am now working part-time on a MSN/NP degree. It never fails that almost every night when I introduce myself to my patients, at least one of them will make a comment of how young I look. I haven't had patients seem to feel as though their care is compromised because of having a younger nurse, in fact, it seems as though they are pleased. I work with a lot of older nurses, though, who seem to resent the fact that I am so young and working toward a master's degree. I try to explain that this is a good time in my life right now for me to go to grad school; I've been married for three years, have no children yet, own my home, no debt other than home, it is just a good time. I am new to this facility, and they seem to resent the fact that I have experience from one of the larger hospitals in the state in a CCU. It is frustrating because I have found it to be a barrier to developing relationships with my co-workers, however, I am simply trying to pursue my career goals. By the time I graduate I will have over three years of clinical experience as an RN because I am only doing school part-time. I have considered trying to transfer to another unit that possibly has some younger nurses employed there, however, I really like my manager who has been wonderful in working around my school schedule. So I suppose I'll just stick it out, its just frustrating when nurses cannot be accepting of one another, regardless of age and career choices.

westcoastgirl · Jan 6, 2006

Anyone got any good tips for looking "older" on the job? Really I mean more professional KWIM

I am still a student right now but anticipate I might run into these issues.

Funny thing is I think a lot has to do with attitude and exuding a certain vibe, for me it's some involuntary thing I have not figured out. Physically I look younger now than when I was 22, mainly because back then I had this severe and corporate style. Now although I look physically younger, as soon as people hear me speak or interact with me a little they figure out I must be older than I look, and have had some amount of life experience. I am not sure what tips them off exactly but it somehow happened over time.

I dress conservatively at clinicals and also try to act professionally. When I opt for glasses instead of contacts it also helps to age me too I think :rotfl:

Flynurse · Jan 6, 2006

Though I am 27 (looking quite like 17) I hear these comments over and over. I've been a nurse for 5 years now. All along I have taken it with a smile and say "Yes, I'm old enough to be a nurse. Otherwise, they would have never given me a license." I had a CNA say to me just the other day, "Are you old enough to be a nurse? You can't have been one very long." I still smiled and replied.

All that is fine and dandy, right. All but one incident I had and was severely insulted. Especially given my background as a nurse: 8 years total in the medical field, 1 of those years as a Medication Aide, 5 of those years as an LPN. I am a small town girl who ventured out to Long Island, New York (I don't know what you think, but that's a scary situation for a small town girl) I worked in a large hospital there for 2 1/2 years before returning home to Nebraska.

Now... the "situation" ... I had a confrontation with an older nurse at work. And wouldn't you know it she went to the "higher ups" with it. Of course I was called to the Medical Director of Nursing's office (an RN with credentials) and it came down to this, the older nurse was right because she was "SEASONED" and I was NOT. The nerve! I told her that woman had never worked a day outside a nursing home and how could she sit there and say I was not qualified to do my job! I don't care how long the other nurse had been doing it (I tell you it wasn't much longer than I). That doesn't make the older nurse right. But all in all, I was still in the wrong.

Que sera, sera! I suppose. I'm glad I believe in karma.:thankya:

Flynurse · Jan 6, 2006

OH, BTW if you look young, then you look young. Don't try to "hide" it. You'll just run into more problems about not being yourself. However, I do recommend being conservative in dress and grooming. And above all be professional in all that you do at work. :nurse:

chickdude1 · Jan 6, 2006

I know, I know, and I apologize in advance because I'm sure you've heard it ten million times, but you will be thankful for it someday......

The first time I moved to another state and had my own apartment, this guy knocked on my door. I don't know why I answered it, but I did. He asked me if my mother was home. Now, my first thought was to respond, "How should I know? She lives in another state!" but then I thought, "Why not have some fun?" So I told the guy no and that I was a senior in high school.....and he bought it! I was 25 at the time.....

Now I'm 34 (and rapidly approaching that "magic" 35), and I still get "You can't possibly be that old!" When I started my nursing program, all of my classmates thought I was 23 or 24. Whereas once I would have been offended, I find myself giggling now. I hope you find some way to use that to your advantage or at least be able to turn the tables somehow.

Like me, you could tell people that you have secretly found the fountain of youth and are awaiting the patent..... :chuckle

Here's to all of us who look younger than we are (clink!)

Chickdude1

PS You're really gonna LOVE your thirties, so hang in there!!!

Ok..so this has been bothering me a lot, but yesterday I had an encounter with a PT and now this is starting to get to me. Just a little rant..and I'd like to know if anyone else feels this way and how you deal with it.
Little backround on me: I'm 22, and def. look younger then I am. I worked for 2 years as a student nurse aide, 3 months in PA as a RN on a peds/med-surg floor, and now im here in Texas doing Peds home health. I have had my fair share of experiences, and although I know im not an expert, I'm most certainly not a novice. Therefore..it bothers me when people never take me seriously that I'm a nurse.
Yesterday I took my patient to PT, and the PT and I were talking, and she asks about me and my backround. And so I tell her, and shes like " Oh you must be a LPN then.." (NO disrespect meant to LPNS here WHATSOEVER!) No ma'am, I'm an RN, yes I have my bachelors, yes I went to school for 4 years, and yes I have experience ( Now i didnt tell her that, just told her that I was an RN, but thats what I wanted to say).. she just seemed so shocked..and shes not the only one who is shocked that I'm a RN. She was kind of just the last straw since this wasnt the first time..
I've had lots of people seem to not take me seriously that I'm a nurse, and this frustrates me. I just hate when people find out I'm a nurse and say- not ask- they say "you must be an LPN then". I worked hard for my bachelors..ugh..just ask me what I am and i'll gladly tell u! With each new job..I pretty much get asked how old I am every time...
So..after this rant, since this has been on my mind all day..I feel better.
Does anyone else experience this? I want to be taken seriously..not looked at like I must not know much about nursing since I look younger and therefore have no experience. I'm really just curious as to opinions and what you all think..
I dont want to stir anything up,but I'm just frustrated and needed to vent. thanks for responses in advance! :)

RAD72 · Jan 6, 2006

know your stuff and prove them wrong. besides, looking young isn't such a bad thing. enjoy it while you can!

TexasPediRN · Jan 7, 2006

I know, I know, and I apologize in advance because I'm sure you've heard it ten million times, but you will be thankful for it someday......
The first time I moved to another state and had my own apartment, this guy knocked on my door. I don't know why I answered it, but I did. He asked me if my mother was home. Now, my first thought was to respond, "How should I know? She lives in another state!" but then I thought, "Why not have some fun?" So I told the guy no and that I was a senior in high school.....and he bought it! I was 25 at the time.....
Now I'm 34 (and rapidly approaching that "magic" 35), and I still get "You can't possibly be that old!" When I started my nursing program, all of my classmates thought I was 23 or 24. Whereas once I would have been offended, I find myself giggling now. I hope you find some way to use that to your advantage or at least be able to turn the tables somehow.
Like me, you could tell people that you have secretly found the fountain of youth and are awaiting the patent..... :chuckle
Here's to all of us who look younger than we are (clink!)
Chickdude1
PS You're really gonna LOVE your thirties, so hang in there!!!

Lol- thanks- you really know how to cheer a person up! :)

I'm sure I'll enjoy it when I'm 30, but at 22- I dont! Its not that I get offended as much but more annoyed then anything else.

I feel people give off a vibe like "if you're a nurse, you cant know much since you're so young- you must be inexperienced".

It just drives me crazy!

Thanks for the response :)

grace90, LPN, LVN · Jan 7, 2006

Oh, yeah.... I'm 30 and and am told I look anywhere from 12 to 21. I get mistaken for an aide every once in a while.

porterwoman · Jan 7, 2006

Yup. I get the "how old are you?" all the time. I thought when I turned 30 it might change some. It hasn't yet. It gets tiresome.

I don't have a very good response. I shrug and say, matter of fact, "I'm 30." They're always stunned. My reply is usually something like, "yeah, a lot of people think I look younger." Then I move on to some other topic.

I get really squeamish talking about anything about myself with pts anyway, you know? Marital status, kids, age, color of my underpants, you name it. It seems to cross my boundaries.

blw.rn · Jan 7, 2006

I am with you, sister! I was an RN before the age of 21 (thank God for ADN degrees), and started right off in the ED. People would ask how old I was, and my reply was "old enough and smart enough to be your nurse" That tended to shut people up. I was the baby of the group, and 2 years after that I was one of the lead nurses of the department. Just because you are young doesn't mean that you cannot be competent and professional. Doctors will pay attention if you do not come across as a giggling teenager-stand up for yourself and promote yourself as knowing what you are doing, and they will take notice and you will gain respect.

I am 30 now, and am the clinical educator for our Diagnostic Imaging department. I am certainly the youngest of my counterparts, but I am respected in the hospital because I know what I am talking about!

Brownbetty · Jan 13, 2006

I guess I will get it. I just got my MSN and will start my NP job soon. I am 28 but people always tell me they think I am 19 or 20. Wish me luck, I understand.