[Medsport]

Do many of you guys sport a beard this time of year? I'm thinking its okay for nursing if kept short, but probably not while looking for a job?
I hate shaving as I have sensitive skin and usually only shave every 2 or 3 days when I'm not growing a beard. How about you guys?

[dspring]

I work with a lot of guys with facial hair. I do not see a problem as long as it is kept neatly trimmed. I myself have a well trimmed beard.
D

[psalm]

Can you get something from your doctor that it is a medical condition that you don't shave? When I was in the Army, many black soldiers got some kind of deferrment and could wear beards due to their skin condition. They had to be very trim (and were). Good luck.

[styRN]

http://allnurses.com/forums/f212/any...rd-231868.html

Personally, I've sported a seasonal beard from Labour day to spring for the past 13 years and kept clean-shaven during the warmer months.

For the past 3 years I've taken to trimming it into a Hollywoodian, which is basically a beard without sideburns: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Beardindex.jpg#file (top left) and keep it cropped fairly short for a more professional appearance.

Looks striking with a shaved head, if I may say so.

I initially grew the beard to help me "age" a little, because I had such a baby face and looked much younger than I was (I was 30 yrs old and looked like a teenager...yeah, to only have that problem again...sigh...) and found that appearing older garnered me a little more respect from patients, families and other professionals with whom I didn't routinely work with. Honestly, everyone said the beard aged me by about 10 years and it really did work as far as changing how people interacted with me. Sad part is that now that I'm in my forties, I really don't need the beard to give me that 'sage' look; the crows feet and laugh lines work just fine, but the beard stays on for the winter!

[New2CVSICU]

I currently wear a goatee that is trimmed short. Occasionally I don't don't shave before work, but usually I don't feel very professional if shaggy. At my facility we have nurses and providers (midlevel and physicians) that sport full beards all the time. I don't think it is a problem if it is well groomed.

just my own thoughts.

[Medsport]

I hear you guys. I was just getting used to mine as it is almost grown out now, but there is a lot of gray around the chin area. I also have an interview next week. Think I should shave for that?

[caliotter3]

Some of my co-workers kept well-trimmed beards. However, I would advise a guy to shave if he is job hunting just to be on the safe side.

[nightmare]

Just lurking here! Are beards not allowed because you can't properly wear face masks with them.........just a thought!

[styRN]

It's true you can't be mask-fitted with facial hair. I had to be clean-shaven to be tested. Our policy is that during an event where we would need to wear N95/respitrators, workers with beards would be off work unpaid until they shaved and were able to wear the respirator.

[JaredCNA]

I wear a goatee that is trimmed fairly short and my sideburns are a bit longer than average...no mutton chops or anything. All of the guy nurses/aides I've ever worked with have had some sort of facial hair...always well-groomed.

As far as the job search, I always go clean shaven.