Would wearing a sexy nursing outfit to a party disrespect the profession?

[smartnurse1982]

Ok,just want some opinions.

I am Rn,I've been a nurse for 9 years.

But I just want to attend a lingerie party in April.

Do you think it would be sort of disrepecting my profession if I I wore a sexy nurses outfit?

In the back of my mind it might be,but I'm unsure.

Also,could I be reported to the board if someone I know just happens to see me?

Thanks in advance.

[SDALPN]

Do a search on all nurses. This has been discussed many times on this site.

[llg, PhD, RN]

It's definitely disrespectful -- and potentially damaging to the public image of nursing -- which in turn makes it more difficult for nurses fighting for respect, fair pay, protection from patients and colleagues who think that crude remarks and the sexual harrassment of nurses are OK, etc. It hurts the profession.

That said, it's a different question as to whether or not you should ever wear a "naughty nurse outfit." If it's totally in private and nobody sees it except your partner, then there's probably no harm done. But if it is in some public place, it IS bad for nursing and could definitely hurt your career if you are seen in the outfit by the wrong people. (Say, "goodbye" to that promotion you might want.) Of course the risk of being seen in a semi-public place is somewhere in the middle.

.... and then there's that nasty issue of integrity -- actually living your values, even when it is not easy to do so. If you really value the profession of nursing and your nurse colleagues, do you really want to do something that degrades us/them and hinders our efforts for respect within society?

So in the end, it's up to you to decide how much risk is in the specific situation and how you really feel about nursing and nurses. There is a big difference between the privacy of your own bedroom and a public place. Where does this event fall on that contiuum? Will there be pictures on the internet?

[M/B-RN]

To have a good life, it's important to have a sense of humor and not be uptight. What you do in your spare time is completely up to you! I don't take cops any less seriously by seeing random girls wearing sexy cop outfits nor do I think any less of pilots, boat captains, Disney Princesses, etc when just about every girl on Halloween dresses very revealing in their costumes.

[CodeteamB]

Ok, I've seen many "Sexy Firefighter" Calendars,in fact we have one hanging up in the locker room at work. Now, if I call 911 do I expect the firefighters who show up to strip off and pose or throw me down and ravish me? No! I expect them to put out the fire.

Anyone who knows a nurse, has been in hospital etc knows what nurses do and that we are not pillow fluffing doctor chasers.

To say a sexualized nurse costume is "degrading" is rather reductionist, who does it degrade? If a person is choosing to wear it I assume that they feel empowered by it. I don't get angry when I see a sexy cop, teacher, pilot, sailor. It doesn't make me think any less of those jobs or the people who do them because I have enough brainpower to differentiate between a tongue in cheek fantasy and my profession (which btw I am very proud of).

[nurseprnRN, BSN, RN]

Ok, I've seen many "Sexy Firefighter" Calendars,in fact we have one hanging up in the locker room at work. Now, if I call 911 do I expect the firefighters who show up to strip off and pose or throw me down and ravish me? No! I expect them to put out the fire.

Anyone who knows a nurse, has been in hospital etc knows what nurses do and that we are not pillow fluffing doctor chasers.

To say a sexualized nurse costume is "degrading" is rather reductionist, who does it degrade? If a person is choosing to wear it I assume that they feel empowered by it. I don't get angry when I see a sexy cop, teacher, pilot, sailor. It doesn't make me think any less of those jobs or the people who do them because I have enough brainpower to differentiate between a tongue in cheek fantasy and my profession (which btw I am very proud of).

The difference is that if you ask: Do firefighters who respond to fires ever have the people they rescue come on to them and assume they're sex bombs? Do nurses in hospitals ever have patients and families (who may not have the aforementioned brainpower) make lewd comments and assume they're available?

I'm with IIg-- live your values. Have fun, but be the change you want to see in the world. There are enough degrading images of nursing making those nutballs think they're right about us already.

[Kdrenee]

I agree with the last poster. I don't see why everyone thinks the nursing profession is "disrespected." In my experience everyone thinks very highly of nurses, and a lot of people desire to be a nurse. Maybe that's just where I'm from, but who knows. I mean if nursing is so disrespected then why do so many people become nurses?

That being said I do not think there would be any harm in wearing a sexy nurse outfit to a lingerie party. I'd do it! It's fun and harmless! I feel like it shows that you are proud of what you do. Like it makes you say "I'm a nurse, I'm a professional, I'm fun, and I'm sexy!" Everyone there is going to be wearing a sexy outfit right? It's not like you are in public. If you were stripping or something for money and you wore a sexy nurse outfit that would be a different story!!! LOL.

I feel like people will always have something to say no matter what. Even if you wore something else and your post were to say something along the lines of " should I go to this lingerie party and wear a sexy outfit? And if pictures were found could the board do anything about it?" People would still say its making the nursing profession look bad wether you were wearing a sexy nurse outfit or something else sexy.

I just got accepted to my nursing program! I'm so excited, maybe I will be a sexy nurse for Halloween! :)

[Altra, BSN, RN]

Just a question ...

Are you sure you're supposed to *wear* your lingerie to the party?

Typically, these parties are about buying products, not wearing them in the company of others at the party.

[Kdrenee]

Just a question ...

Are you sure you're supposed to *wear* your lingerie to the party?

Typically, these parties are about buying products, not wearing them in the company of others at the party.

I was think that too. Lol

[CodeteamB]

The difference is that if you ask: Do firefighters who respond to fires ever have the people they rescue come on to them and assume they're sex bombs? Do nurses in hospitals ever have patients and families (who may not have the aforementioned brainpower) make lewd comments and assume they're available?

I'm with IIg-- live your values. Have fun, but be the change you want to see in the world. There are enough degrading images of nursing making those nutballs think they're right about us already.

I disagree, I think the difference is that stereotypically your firefighters are male and your nurses are female. There is still a double standard in this world in regards to sex and sexuality.

The change I want to see in the world is the ability of women (and female dominated professions) to be on the same playing field as our male counterparts, and embracing the "sexy nurse" and showing we don't give a d--n what ignorant people think about it is in my opinion part of that. But hey, I'm 3rd wave like that.

I just don't think we're doing ourselves any favours by getting our collective shorts in a twist and letting Hallowe'en costumes or lingerie make us feel bad about our profession. Rise above and have a little cosplay fun if that is what makes you happy, or don't if it doesn't. Either way, don't let "sexy nurse" change the way you view yourself or your co-workers, advocate for yourself if you encounter some idiot who takes it seriously in your workplace and don't forget to be proud of your own life-saving butt!

[healthstar, BSN, RN]

I find it very disrespectful! Especially during Halloween!!!!

[LVN2RNMom, ASN, BSN, LVN]

Although I don't think you are supposed to wear a costume to a lingerie party, I say go for it!!!! I have a naughty nurse outfit hanging in the closet myself. I am not so close minded that if I see someone wearing one, it puts me to shame as a nurse. It is a costume for crying out loud. Now if I thought it would end up on the Internet or someone who I don't want to see might see, then I wouldn't take the chance. JMO but do what feels right to you.

[turnforthenurse, MSN, NP]

I don't think it is that big of a deal. The only thing you should worry about is having the pictures on Facebook and having potential employers see them. That could cost you a job opportunity, along with pictures of drinking, etc.