Younger Nursing Students

allnurses Guide · May 2, 2011

Personally, I'd probably have to restrain myself from pinching your cheeks and shrieking, "Awww! He's just a baby!!":yeah:

But for the most part, I don't think anyone worries about age. I have not found this to be an issue.

I'm older and certainly don't look down on the younger students. How could I? They apparently have their stuff together more so than I ever did at their age.

Kudos!

Congats on your acceptance and good luck!

ABM1227 · May 2, 2011

The biggest struggles my male classmates had was during the OB roations. Neither of them were able to witness a lady partsl birth, and only one was allowed in on a C-sec. The maternity ward was especially difficult for both of these men and the RN's weren't very helpful for them either. In the classroom I am also the youngest, other than me the ages range from 30-47...I haven't had any problems with my classmates not taking my opions seriously. Your age wont matter to them, your maturity level will though. Don't take it to personally if you come into contact with biases from older classmates and nurses. Sometimes I look at my younger sister who will be 19 this year, and I still don't think shes old enough to drive a car or live on her own yet...but really shes 19. She looks younger than she is and sometimes it can be hard not to forget that she is an adult now. No matter you encounter just smile and kill them with kindness =) good luck!

meltnpointofwax · May 2, 2011

i'm 21, but according to most of my patients i look like i'm in high school lol.

i also work as a tech in a hospital, and every day at least one elderly patient asks me how old i am.

i have found that sometimes a patient will listen to/believe an older student or nurse, even if they told them the same information i just did.

one day nurse came up to me and told me a patient had been complaining about her night nurse. the day nurse responds with "the night nurse was just too young and didn't know a lot." i'd say the night nurse was about my age, so it was kind of an awkward conversation. obviously she knows something if she passed the boards and got a job... :uhoh3:

but other than that, nothing too awful. i'm happy to be doing this now before getting married and having children. kudos to all the older nursing students, i don't know how they do it! i have enough of a hard time taking care of myself lol.

good luck! have fun

KristeyK · May 2, 2011

I wouldn't sweat it too much. My class is pretty well planning the birthday party for a classmate who turns 21 the week we graduate. I think it's fun having younger people in the class, it keeps ME young!

NurseLoveJoy88, ASN, RN · May 2, 2011

I started nursing school at 19 and started working as a nurse at 20. I think you will be fine. Most people think I'm way older due to my maturity. Good luck !

windmill182 · May 2, 2011

Hey! I just wanted to say congratulations. Seattle University is a very respected school in the area. : )

MelissaLPN, ASN, LPN, RN · May 2, 2011

I was the youngest person in my nursing class by at least 10 years. ( I was 22 and everyone else was in their late 30's to late 40's some even in their 50's). I really enjoyed having older fellow students because they had a lot of wisdom to give me. I am also a parent so my thinking/lifestyle was not that of a " younger" person. I made dinner every night and watched arthur/ dora the explorer! I think if you go in there hoping to learn from you fellow students, I believe it can be a very valuable experience for you.

blackandyellow · May 2, 2011

I work in a hospital and am 22 and I find that my age hurts and helps me. With some patients they feel more comfortable talking to someone who is my age and others think that I am still in highschool. As far as coworkers go I have felt like I have had to prove myself more than others because of my age. My age was brought up several times when I first started. I have another coworker who is the same age but is a little less mature and she is not well liked by the other nurses and I believe a lot of it has to do with her maturity and age.

As far as school goes I do better academically with older students. I have had to work since I was 11 and have supported myself since I was a teenager so I feel like I can relate to them more. Most older students I have in my classes get the highest grades so I always feel like they challenge me more than students my age. But a nursing program is intense regardless of what age you are. As far as males go I know that the elderly can be fussy. It seems to go either way elderly woman love having male nurses or they don't want one at all.

valsalvamanuever2 · May 2, 2011

Some people may treat you differently.

In my experience, the difference between students is in life experiences, not years. We have 40 year olds who seem less equipped than 20 year olds and vicey versa.

As a male, I have to say that I have had the experience of female nurses on the floor helping me perhaps more than other, female, students. I have had no problems during OB, treat patients professionally and they typically act in kind.

If you have no hospital experience, I would encourage you to volunteer on a nursing floor over the summer. I, as a 25 year old with no hospital experience, found it invaluable.

purplesteth · May 2, 2011

I haven't had any problems with my classmates not taking my opions seriously. Your age wont matter to them, your maturity level will though.

I'm one of the oldest in my class (39), and respect EVERYONE, until they show a lack of respect. In my classes there is a constant stream of chatter, rudeness, people snapping gum... :uhoh3: ... and 99.9% of those responsible are the younger students. And believe me it gets really hard to concentrate sometimes... when subjects are hard enough as it is!

So good on you for going to nursing school, just remember to treat others with respect, as you yourself would wish to be treated. :)

Here endeth the lesson.

sandyfeet · May 2, 2011

Hi everyone -
I was accepted into the Seattle University BSN 2011 program this Fall, and I am very excited. However, I was a little curious as to how younger students are treated in the BSN program, in the medical environment overall, and to an extent how are male students treated differently than females? I'm a male, and I turn 18 in August, so I'm a little nervous as I'm probably going to be the youngest student in the program.
What do you guys think?

I think in all environments, your maturity is what is most important. The fact that you are thinking ahead and asking these types of questions demonstrates that you already have a high level of maturity. Don't lose this! In my clinicals, most of my patients guessed my age to be 5-10 years younger than I really am, so I have worked above and beyond to combat any stereotypes that I am unprofessional.