How do you wear your hair for clinicals?

Nursing Students General Students

Published

I've been hearing that our clinical instructors are super picky about our appearance at clinicals (As they should be!). Our hair cannot touch our collars but I'm afraid that a ponytail may be looked down on as being sloppy?! I want to look like I care about my appearance but I don't want to spend a long time in doing my hair when I have to be there at 5:30 am!!! Any ideas?

I'm looking for solutions myself right now. Last year I had bangs cut (first time in YEARS) and now I'm in the hideous growing-out-bangs stage. We are required to have hair off-collar for all clinicals, so I'll likely be using bobby pins and ponytail elastics in creative ways.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

omg, at 5:30 i try to throw it back with a headband and then a pony, or use a claw cliip for a 1/2 french twist. sometimes i'll kinda do two 1/2 french twists- imagine pigtails placed towards the back of your head (rather than by your ears) then twist each one up separately. works well with shoulder-length hair.

get this- during ob, my instructor told me to wear my hair down. she mentioned my tragus and rook piercings and said they have to be covered up. i asked if a band-aid would be okay. the first day i wore one, she told me to take off the band-aid and just wear my hair down to cover my ears. *shrug* works for me.

p.s. i cannot believe how strict and archaic some programs are. your hair accessory must match your hair? egad.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

One good thing about having super short hair is not having to worry about it! ;)

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Well, being a clinical instructor, I think it all depends on the length of the hair. My director request no hair touches the collar. I personally think with some peoples hair that are shorter versions, when they put it up with so many different clasps and etc to keep it off the collar, it makes them look unprofessional. They would look better with their hair down with only a little bit touching the collar. My request for long hair is a ponytail secured so it won't touch in the pts faces.:nurse:

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Wear a smile and no one will notice your hair! Patient's and nursing staff don't care so much about how you look as how you relate to them.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I totallly agree with you. I would much rather have a student that cared about the pt and gave excellent compassionate care, who's hair touched their collar, than a student that had their hair up as neat as a pin and they gave crappy care. The care they give is more important to me as an instructor.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in psychiatric, UR analyst, fraud, DME,MedB.
I've been hearing that our clinical instructors are super picky about our appearance at clinicals (As they should be!). Our hair cannot touch our collars but I'm afraid that a ponytail may be looked down on as being sloppy?! I want to look like I care about my appearance but I don't want to spend a long time in doing my hair when I have to be there at 5:30 am!!! Any ideas?

:wink2:Braid your pony tail. The point is to have less hair out of your working space w/ the patient, since hair can harbor or put out bacteria. Good luck ! you will be just fine! It will help aslo if you have a clinicla teacher who int a type A personality ! :chuckle

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I used to braid mine and coil the braid then pin it to the back of my head with big hairpins. Out of the way, easy and never had a problem with an instructor.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I am a LPN nursing student and my instructors like us to keep our hair off the collar at all times. We graduate in November and some of the girls have been getting away with the pony tail. I never have a pony tail, i always style my hair in a bun and my instructors always compliments my "neat appearance"... so i think you should wear your hair in a bun.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med Surg, Geriatrics.

Well, during my clinical I wore my hair short and combed down, except for the front I liked to spike it up a little. Of course it is only about an inch tall and I am a guy! If I were a girl I would wear it up in a bun if it is long enough. My friend Bruce is bald so he didn't have to worry. When he graduated though he made them pin his cap on just like the others in his group. (of course he had more hair then and that is what symbolized becoming a nurse) Just don't wear colored undergarments and I think you'll be alright!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Cardiac surgery ICU.

I had very long hair when in nursing school, reached the back of my knees, did a pigtail and then made a knot with it, stuck some pins in, I was tidy all day long, no headaches or anything, and kept my hair clean and away from patients' bodies, beddings, etc.

Maybe I'm the old fashioned nurse, but a strong believer of hygiene.

I always looked professional, tidy and clean. Be proud of your profession, and wish you good luck and success in your new career.:)

Up Vote Up Vote ×

ponytail for me. Mine is not long enough to do anything else really.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment