I have a friend (black male) who is an LPN and has dread locks. He has had them for the last 6 years, and they are pretty long. When untied, they reach just below his shoulders. Don't get me wrong, he takes really good care of them, they are very neat and shiny.
I was having a talk with him over how his locks might have any effect on his future career. He is an RN program currently, finishing in Spring 2015. He hopes to earn his BSN, and go ahead for Nurse Practitioner.
So my question is, do you think his locks will have any effect, if any, on his future career as an RN and/or as a Nurse practitioner, and also in his chances of getting hired in any of those roles?
I work with many successful nurses and even doctors, NPs, CRNA with dread locks. His personality, skill level and experience speak more for him than his hair does. That's discrimination to not hire someone because of their dread locks that arent even that long to begin with. So no, tell him that he will be just fine as long as he is a hard worker, is efficent at whatever his area of nursing is and has a good personality.
to some people, walking in to an interview with dreads would be pretty much the same as walking into an interview with a six inch spiked up mohawk, so like other posts said, it really just depends on where you are and who happens to interview you.
Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
I work with many successful nurses and even doctors, NPs, CRNA with dread locks. His personality, skill level and experience speak more for him than his hair does. That's discrimination to not hire someone because of their dread locks that arent even that long to begin with. So no, tell him that he will be just fine as long as he is a hard worker, is efficent at whatever his area of nursing is and has a good personality.
Actually it is perfectly legal....there are no laws that protect hair style choices
Actually it is perfectly legal....there are no laws that protect hair style choices
Unless they can make a solid case that their hairstyle reflects cultural heritage or religion, which some actually do. I'm thinking specifically of Sikhs and Rastafarians, but I'm sure there are others.
Is he Rastafari? I don't think it should it should make a difference, but just wondering.
Although The Commuter points out the reality of the work environment, I consider that discrimination against cultural belief systems. Would anyone wonder about hair styles for an Orthodox Jew? No. That's why it is discrimination.
Actually, I know plenty of Orthodox Jews adapt their headwear, clothing and hairstyles when dealing with nonOrthodox businesses, employers and living in areas that are less tolerant of religious differences. For example, even in kosher eating or medical establishments, if head or facial hair pose a contamination risk, precautions are taken to cover hair in question. In procedures, such as harvesting bone marrow, our Chassidic NP (spouse of a local Rabbi), removes her wig in privacy and uses surgical head coverings and modest scrub pants.
Where I work, staff are limited in what uniforms are worn, what meds can be used off duty, our vaccination choices, the amount of jewelry that we use. One signs a statement of conscience when one applies, so that if one has personal, cultural or other deeply held beliefs can either be reasonably and safely accommodated in the desired department or if the staffer needs to be redirected to a department in the hospital that CAN accommodate their beliefs safely.
Having said that, clean, well kept dreadlocks would not be an issue where I work. But I work in a very diverse facility with many international staff and pts, and located near/in an inner city area. And could see there being issues in less diverse areas.
I agree with RunBabyRN, and the other comments regarding that fact that it may depend on your geographic location. In my experience, I've seen individuals with dreads at the MA, LVN, RN level, including management, as well as PA's & MD's. I have not heard that anyone was told to get rid of them as long as your dreads are kept clean, neat and pulled back (as required of any other long hairstyle during working hours, so as not to interfere with one's work). The main focus is attendance, skills, experience, personality, service excellence and quality.
I live in the Bible Belt south. Very conservative. In the hospital based organization I work for our employee handbook actually states no extreme hairstyles, no visible tattoos, modest jewelry etc. I can think of several managers who would not hire someone with dreads or Mohawk etc. they would just hire one of the other qualified applicants and move on. It all depends on location. There would also be complaints from patients regarding the hairstyle of said staff member and everyone here knows we now work in a patient is always right environment now.
Personally as long as the hair is clean and not a contamination issue I don't see the problem with it but if you ask my parents or grandparents they would go crazy. Location and patient demographic play a huge part in hiring practices.
that this could still possibly be an issue as we approach 2015.
uds16
27 Posts
I work with many successful nurses and even doctors, NPs, CRNA with dread locks. His personality, skill level and experience speak more for him than his hair does. That's discrimination to not hire someone because of their dread locks that arent even that long to begin with. So no, tell him that he will be just fine as long as he is a hard worker, is efficent at whatever his area of nursing is and has a good personality.