male nurse haircut rules

ray_GN · Mar 3, 2009

in our school, we are required to shave and a haircut... if not... NONCREDIT!.. or withdrawal from the clinical area!

That Guy, BSN, RN, EMT-B · Mar 8, 2009

If im not going to clinical for awhile its a mohawk for fun. If not its just buzzed super short and like a real short beard.

ImMrBill3, RN · Mar 20, 2009

What kind of BS is this? :banghead: If the females are allowed to wear their hair long they cannot make restrictions on the males! If they do it is blatant sexism and NOT appropriate in consideration of the ANA Code of Ethics. I have hair most of the way down my back, go to school in a conservative rural area and have never had any problem. I have been required to keep my tattoo covered which has not been a big deal since it just extends past my elbow. When my clinical involved being in the OR I was told no long sleeves by the staff there and took off the long sleeve white tshirt I normally wear revealing a portion of my tattoo. A nurse talked to me about the tat as a matter of conversation but there was no problem. The hospital I am applying to work at has a tattoos covered policy and I expect to wear an elbow brace to cover it. I don't mind since the tat is not warm and fuzzy (dragon skull, band of human skulls, field of broken bones, band of spiders) and in some ways it is kinda personal so making a distinction professionally is not a problem.

I have seen MANY female nurses that have not had their hair properly restrained working. I have observed their hair dragging through places I wouldn't want mine. I wear mine back tight with multiple hair bands occasionally braided.

abismojo · Apr 15, 2009

People that work in the hospital come in all shapes and sizes. When it comes to hair, tatoos, and piercings, each hospital is different. While being in school and being employed by the hospital are two different things, they both require that we care about the patients. A patient might be hesitant at first for a 6'3 guy that ways 250 coming in with a huge tribal tatoo down their arm about to give them an IM, but once they meet the person inside they will not care. When I told a friend's family about becoming a nurse, they relayed a story to me about just such a guy nurse they had when their son was sick and in the hospital, and they said he was the gentlest nurse that really seemed to care about their son and said he taught them more about their sons condition that anyone. The school just wants us to look clean and neat, but after that, the hospitals are more open minded.

ZanatuBelmont · Apr 18, 2009

hi guys !! :welcome:
well im just new here and a 3rd yr
nursing student from phils and im wondering if all nursing constitutions in other countries implement this kind of rule the rule is clean hair cut well i have some problem dealing with that you know im in a democratic country but i cant' express myself. well i have no choice but to abide the rules of the school
and ethics of nursing practice here in phils. im just curious guys ! tnx for the advance comments

You are training to be a professional nurse, not an expressive artist. :-) Just kidding, but there is truth to that! Anyway, just go with the rules during nursing school. I'm sure you can find a hospital to work for that is more relaxed than others.

deftonez188 · Apr 19, 2009

Opinion below:

To be seen as a professional, you need to dress and act like one. It's great to be an individual, but does a hairstyle really have to be the display? I mean the coolest people i've ever known aren't cool for their hairstyle but for their personality.

I think fad hairstyles or anything nuts makes it harder for a patient to accept you as a competent caregiver. You could end up spending extra time qualifying yourself to provide care where it could be spent doing something important.

Just my thoughts

Opinion over :)

nminodob · Apr 20, 2009

Our school required that all tats be covered. But there are nurses working that have tats on the neck. I have 3/4 sleeves that include skulls and animals (got when I was young and a bit more controversial) but I always wear long sleeves, mainly because our population at our hospital is pretty nitty-gritty - lots of IVDU, homeless, etc., as well as highly diverse ethnically. I just feel a lot more professional if I don't look like I am as "street" as the clientele - and it seems that the patients prefer me this way too. Also, little old ladies (and many of their families) still expect a nurse to look a certain way.

ImMrBill3, RN · Apr 20, 2009

I think there is some unfairness in the way males are treated. Lots of female nurses on the floor have long hair completely unrestrained. This is not acceptable for males. I wouldn't want to have my have my hair down like that anyway. I have seen nurses hair cross dirty areas and even wounds eww. But I still think it is unfair to have a double standard. I also have about a 3/4 sleeve on one arm with skulls and bones and spiders. I keep it covered as required both in school and in working at the hospital. I have been surprised that it makes some people nervous/freaked out so I just keep it covered. I do know a fellow student with full sleeves who hasn't had much problem. He wears long sleeves almost all the time sometimes 3/4. Some of his is on his neck too so far no big problem. Policy at the hospital has been SLOWLY loosening now stands at "if hired with tatoos they must be covered as much as practical." It's pretty conservative and rural here so I see that as fairly progressive. Earrings are limited to two per ear but I have seen more on some nurses.

Joshman10090 · Apr 23, 2009

Totally sexist program here. I look hot shaggy and scruffy, so they turn a blind eye. If you're a guy and don't wear it well you get a talking to. I don't think it's fair... but then again that kid did really look bad....

phrozenone · Apr 24, 2009

I have long hair....shoulder length hair, and I start nursing school this fall...hope this doesn't interfere with my schooling. If so...I'll gladly tie it back into a pony tail...but cut it? NEVER THAT! lol

axiousguy · May 8, 2009

My hair has been bordline raggedy at times and with scruffy facial hair..varying from clean shaven to looking like a bum and havent heard one comment on my appearance..

nursenow · Aug 30, 2009

Opinion below:
To be seen as a professional, you need to dress and act like one. It's great to be an individual, but does a hairstyle really have to be the display? I mean the coolest people i've ever known aren't cool for their hairstyle but for their personality.
I think fad hairstyles or anything nuts makes it harder for a patient to accept you as a competent caregiver. You could end up spending extra time qualifying yourself to provide care where it could be spent doing something important.
Just my thoughts
Opinion over :)

Exactly just how does a "professional" dress and wear their hair? I am an old guy and I remember this being the discussion back in the seventies but I thought we had gotten past all that. Kind of like when they required women to wear those funny hats and white dresses. It has been alot of years since I heard of a school or work place requiring men to wear short hair to look "professional". Some of our MDs have long hair, wear short pants when visiting patients... I remember one MD at a hospital I did clinicals at that would wear shorts and sandals to the hospital and everyone still had alot of repect for him because he was a good doctor. I wear my hair short but wish my employer would try to tell me how to wear it; I need the money and so does my attorney