Uniforms and your appearance

[sassysteph7]

O.K. this is starting to bug me so I have to vent and see if there are any other nurses out there who thing like me. I believe your uniform and how you present yourself says alot about who you are, how you do your job, and what you think about your career. In the past few months I've seen CNA's in shorts (well above the so called 3 inches above their knees), nurses in shorts and nurses with sunglasses on their heads for their entire shifts.

Maybe my views stem from 8 years in the Air Force or maybe it's just that I'm being fussy.....what do you all think?

Steph

[nratchet]

low rider pants with thongs showing,tight v-neck tops down to the bra line and belly shirts with belly button rings showing.Street clothes,sandals,flip flops and in one case bedroom slippers.What the **** were you thinking when you got dressed for work???!!!

Well - I'm speaking for myself here, (please don't flame me). I don't wear tacky high cut or low cut tops (not intentionally, some times when I have things tailored, then they end up a little big). I have big breasts, no if ands or buts about it. So all of my tops are usually bigger around the top and too long. Not much I can do, because it's the way they are made (otherwise they don't fit), and I can't afford to always have my tops tailor made.

I dye my hair unusual colors (currently bleach blond with burgundy underneath), and I have my nose pierced (usually wear a hideit nose ring though).

I do not know how to iron, grew up with a nurse who never ironed her clothes, we still look neat.

It's your personality that counts, what people see on the outside doesn't show the quality of the person on the inside. Sometimes I like to bring the personality through to the outside. People see me as a friendly likable person. If you were to ask any of my patients, (at any point) they would all tell you so.

You do not have to dress the part to play the part. I believe that you are who you show you are, not what you wear or how you wear it.

I don't agree with 20 somethings showing belly rings at work (I have one - don't show it), I don't agree with low cut pants or tops (not in a longshot), but I do believe in showing your personality.

Showing personality is one thing, (I wear seasonal tops and funny socks), but pants so tight they can't breath or move and tops that show stuff only a boyfriend would want to see is completely over the top. As for dying your hair, as long as it isn't florecent pink, orange or yellow.....more power to ya. About ironing, I hate it and avoid it like the plague but have discovered if you take the clothes out of the dryer immediately, you won't have to iron them nine times out of ten.

[CapeCodMermaid, RN]

Right or wrong, people's impression of you is formed in the first 6 seconds after they've met you. We take care old old people...we are in THEIR home. They would not ever have left the house in some of the outfits I have seen nurses and CNAs come to work in. From shirts that are too low cut to pants that are too tight to facial piercings!!! We used to have dress down day on Fridays...people came to work in tiny shorts and tank tops so we had to stop it altogether. We wanted to be treated as professionals by everyone....then we need to dress in a professional manner.

[lujological]

coming from back when we had to starch caps ugh thank god no more!It was diffucult for me to wear anything but white but I finally got around to nice print scrub tops and my residents comment every night on my different ones.they really enjoy seeing what I will wear next.I watch sales and buy them up when on sale so have quite a collection.along with white slacks and white panties underneath and CLEAN white shoes you can look very professional and feel good about yourself and your residents will notice!!they are embarssed by tight pants,colored underware under white and low cut tops.this was unheard of when they were growing up so respect them and their needs we are working in their home when you work in geriatrics.

[barefootlady, ADN, RN]

I am a nurse. I look like a nurse at work. I wear colorful, clean, pressed, neat scrubs. I learned a long time ago to wear a wife beater under my tops to prevent any and all "flashes", my shoes are neat and clean, makeup minimal, wedding ring only, a light fresh scent of soap. I do not want to look like a hooker at work. My patients, their families, my HN's have always given me high marks for appearance. It is a matter of pride and personal choice to go to work looking professionally.