[marikat534]

I have my nose pierced and I just simply take it out when I am working, you could also get a clear stud if it is that big of a concern. Unless you have the septum pierced and then you can wear a retainer.

Dreadlocks are a different issue though because you do have to go a while without washing your hair and I haven't seen many Caucasians able to pull it off without looking ratty.

I am not discouraging you from embracing yourself, but be realistic. You are going to be a new nurse and want to project an image of professionalism. You want to present yourself as someone who takes care of themselves. If you feel you can do that with dreadlocks awesome. Personally, I find it just as fun to be colorful and creative with your scrub outfits.

[rlgunger]

I'm also white, I'm 23, and I've been thinking about getting locks. I have a total of 5 facial piercings, and no one in management has ever told me I need to take them out. I know if I got locks, it wouldn't take more than a day til my manager would pull me into the office and tell me to take them out. Its horrible that people aren't more tolerable about things that DON'T MATTER!! I know that my workplace policy says that hair must be clean, and off the shoulders. This is easy to do with locks, and I would not be violating anything, and would be prepared to fight it to the bitter end!!!

[AMRN12]

While in a nursing program one must "tred ever so softly" if you do not want to make waves...so to speak. I believe that initially the goal is to weed out those that do not fit the "typical steriotype" of a nurse. However....with that said, regardless of the mainstream professions such as sales, banking,marketing and healthcare there is a certain decorum that is expected. Think of it this way.....If you were going in for an interview with no idea of the person interviewing you, perhaps it would be most beneficial to be neutral......they not knowing too much about you or better yet....things that would make them have a pre-concieved opinion about you based on a tatoo or piercing ect.. Once in the working trenches.....some of the censcorship may stop....but not entirely. The image that the patient see's can create comfort and confidence with the nurse or invoke anxiety and apprehension. So..my feeling is this," the patient is the important one....if my tonque is peirced which may reflect a neg. image of me to the pt. than take it out ...and so on. On the other question.... Should we be cognisent of the pts culture????? A resounding yes!! They are there not by choice and it will ultimately benefit you as the nurse to know about their culture as it relates to medical issues.

[ranaazha]

How are dreadlocks and a nose ring "cultural" if you're white? (I assume you're an American Caucasian and neither Jamaican nor Hindu. Please correct me, if I'm wrong.)

Personal preference and style and VERY different from cultural displays of pride and ethnicity -- some of which could still interfere with a work environment.

I am a BIG advocate of personal displays to show "who" you are. I have a nasal septum piercing and multiple tattoos. But, when I'm at work, those do not follow me. When I am at work, I am representing myself as an employee of my hospital. I am not representing myself as myself. My piercings, tattoos, and preferred hair color and style have no place in my hospital.

Ageism aside, this did take me time and experience to realize. When I was younger, I expected others to just accept who I was -- regardless of where I was. I still have that expectation while on my personal time, i.e., when I'm at any public place where my co-workers could possibly see the "real" me. (If they don't like that I have a nose ring or tattoos in public, that's none of their dang business!) But I am very well aware, now, that it is not professional of me to expect my employer to adapt to my personal lifestyle preferences when I am in their workplace. That's just professional reality.

P.S. My septum piercing made waves in nursing school also. I let it slip out once on accident during clinical and was written up with the threat of being kicked out of clinicals if it happened again! That particular nursing instructor informed me that, while it's not against policy for me to wear it during lecture, there are many who won't approve of it. I guess that was her passive-aggressive way of telling me she didn't like it. To save myself some trouble, I eventually made sure to tuck it away while in lectures. Although I wanted to be stubborn at first, I finally realized it was far easier to assimilate while on their time.

[ranaazha]

Originally Posted by AMRN12

While in a nursing program one must "tred ever so softly" if you do not want to make waves...so to speak. I believe that initially the goal is to weed out those that do not fit the "typical steriotype" of a nurse. However....with that said, regardless of the mainstream professions such as sales, banking,marketing and healthcare there is a certain decorum that is expected. Think of it this way.....If you were going in for an interview with no idea of the person interviewing you, perhaps it would be most beneficial to be neutral......they not knowing too much about you or better yet....things that would make them have a pre-concieved opinion about you based on a tatoo or piercing ect.. Once in the working trenches.....some of the censcorship may stop....but not entirely. The image that the patient see's can create comfort and confidence with the nurse or invoke anxiety and apprehension. So..my feeling is this," the patient is the important one....if my tonque is peirced which may reflect a neg. image of me to the pt. than take it out ...and so on. On the other question.... Should we be cognisent of the pts culture????? A resounding yes!! They are there not by choice and it will ultimately benefit you as the nurse to know about their culture as it relates to medical issues.

Excellent point about us being there for the patient, not ourselves.

During my hospital orientation, when we were reviewing the dress code, I noticed there was nothing about nail polish (except for the suggestion that it should not be chipped as this creates a nice environment in which organisms can grow). I was so excited because we weren't allowed to wear anything but clear or light pink in nursing school. I asked the instructor, with excitement, "Does this mean I can wear black?!" She said yes, but then continued, "But you might want to think about what your patients will think of it." That stopped me immediately in my tracks and brought me back around to reality...and the first line of this paragraph: We are there for the patient...not ourselves.

If I want to paint my nails black on my days off (in addition to the nose rings, tats, etc.), hooray for me. But what if 90 year old lady X thinks I'm scary and feels discontent with me caring for her simply because of the color of my nail polish? Should I delay my physical assessment with her, so I can explain that I'm truly a "good" person, I just happen to like black nail polish (and piercings and tats, etc.)? I'm pretty sure that would be an absolute waste of time -- and actually a detriment to the entire nursing process.

Just my

[Ruby Vee]

I thought this thread was a discussion of CULTURAL differences, and I have a lot to say about why we as Americans are asked to respect everyone else's culture but don't get to insist that anyone respect ours even when they're in our country. But it's a discussion of FASHION.

I'm curious, though, as to why the original poster made this about cultural sensitivity.

[Spidey's mom]

Originally Posted by Ruby Vee

I thought this thread was a discussion of CULTURAL differences, and I have a lot to say about why we as Americans are asked to respect everyone else's culture but don't get to insist that anyone respect ours even when they're in our country. But it's a discussion of FASHION.

I'm curious, though, as to why the original poster made this about cultural sensitivity.

I agree.

And employers have the right to determine what looks professional.

I'm a bit biased here . . .my beautiful daughter has colored her gorgeous auburn hair for the last few years . . bleached blonde, black (almost purple), black and white (think Cruella Deville). She has a nose ring to the side of one nares and a stud to the opposite and lower side of her face. Also, tattoos on both her wrists.

It detracts from her natural beauty. She has an old hippie mom who loves the natural look and all the appendages just hide her beauty. I admit to being very sad about her choices.

Of course I don't harp on it although she is aware we think she is beautiful without the face jewelry and tattoos.

We love and respect her regardless . . but the truth is you cannot make a fashion choice like this and not have people look, or make judgments.

steph