African American Hair Problems in Nursing

LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN · Jan 19, 2015

Sometimes it is overt racism and sometimes it is subconscious social conditioning on the part of the individuals who dislike natural hairstyles.
I am a black female and I do not have enough fingers to count the times I've heard other black people make negative remarks about natural AA hairstyles. Hair is one of those touchy topics in the AA community.

:yes:

You have made me recall in my PN program that an instructor from another minority group did not appreciate my natural hairstyle that I wore at the time; I thought of it as conditioning and other factors related to our contentious relationship; ironically I made a great impression on the NMs of those floors; ironically those nurse managers were AA and wore braids, and locks!

I continued wearing this hairstyle and had another natural hairstyle when I got my first two (yes TWO) nursing jobs; it's been almost a decade though, and I doubt that employers care in my market- there were surplus of nurses back when I became a LPN.

Currently, I do not wear my hair "natural", it's a personal and financial choice, especially since my hair is longer and the pocketbook would get hit more because of length; I'm also very lackadaisical when it comes to styling my hair, but I do OK. :laugh:

"The hair topic" is, to put it mildly, an interesting subject in our community indeed; I have worn my hair in so many ways, the subject has come up pretty often, lol.

AspiringNurseMW · Jan 19, 2015

I would get them, because box braids, especially fresh, I think look very professional. Especially if worn in an updo.

It sucks that's it's your dream job, because if it were me, idk that I'd want to work somewhere where they would have turned me down over something like box braids. I plan on getting box braids once I start nursing school for low maintenance

itrust · Jan 19, 2015

I can't keep up with my relaxed hair and want to get box braids for low maintenance .

I don't really know what you mean by "I can't keep up with my relaxed hair" (Is it too expensive? Don't feel like washing it every 4-5 days? Is it fragile and breaking and you want to manipulate it less so it can grow and get stronger?), but anyways I would press it, don't relax, to achieve the same straight look the relaxer will give you. After the interview, I would proceed with the box braids if you are so inclined. If you do relax I would give it a few weeks before you put in the box braids (too much stress for the hair). GL

klone, MSN, RN · Jan 19, 2015

I just googled "Box Braids" because I had no idea what they were (see them all the time, just had no idea that's what they were called). I think they're lovely, and I would not in any way consider them unprofessional, especially if put in a bun or low pony for an interview.

xoemmylouox, ASN, RN · Jan 19, 2015

I think box braids are beautiful. It's a shame that something as silly as hair may be a deciding factor in hiring. I don't even equate it to just race. Some people will get weeded out of a hiring pool due to having a style that isn't favorable to the hiring manager, regardless of race. I feel the same way about tattoos as well, but that's another discussion. As a patient I don't care what you look like, I just want them to not kill me :yes:

LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN · Jan 19, 2015

It sucks that's it's your dream job, because if it were me, idk that I'd want to work somewhere where they would have turned me down over something like box braids. I plan on getting box braids once I start nursing school for low maintenance

Unfortunately, it's an employers market; once you are out there looking for a job after completing school, you will have these thoughts, especially if you encounter them.

Dressing the part of "professional" is essential to getting a job; even as nursing has been and increasingly diverse, long-held standards of what a professional looks like and the reality has yet to accurately correlate.

As Commuter pointed out, there is a thought process, one has been imbedded, sometimes to a point that it is instinctively ingrained; that evolution of the thought process is not something that can be switched off, especially when the powers that be may be inclusive, but still retain the "imagery"; it may be wrong, but that is the reality.

TryVeganToday · Jan 19, 2015

I work in an Atlanta, GA hospital. Most of the women are AA and they wear wigs, box braids, twists, weaves, etc... Some have bright color highlights like purple, blue, etc.. It is a VERY diverse hospital with techs to doctors from all over the world. My Caucasian hair has foil highlights in red, black, brown and blond. At a job readiness class that I took, the AA women and Caucasian women were both told to pull our hair back for our nursing interviews, wear non dangling earings, no nail polish, low pumps, slacks & jacket (navy, black or gray), take care of any facial hair, healthy gums, clean teeth, no fake eyelashes, no OLD extensions/braids, freshly done clean locs, no perfume, no smoke (get a patch or vape). They really pushed personal cleanliness because of the nursing field. I was told to low braid my waist length hair so I didnt look like a hippie! :) I braided it and wrapped it in a neat bun. I wanted them to remember me, not my hair.

Kandy83 · Jan 20, 2015

I work in an Atlanta, GA hospital. Most of the women are AA and they wear wigs, box braids, twists, weaves, etc... Some have bright color highlights like purple, blue, etc.. It is a VERY diverse hospital with techs to doctors from all over the world. My Caucasian hair has foil highlights in red, black, brown and blond. At a job readiness class that I took, the AA women and Caucasian women were both told to pull our hair back for our nursing interviews, wear non dangling earings, no nail polish, low pumps, slacks & jacket (navy, black or gray), take care of any facial hair, healthy gums, clean teeth, no fake eyelashes, no OLD extensions/braids, freshly done clean locs, no perfume, no smoke (get a patch or vape). They really pushed personal cleanliness because of the nursing field. I was told to low braid my waist length hair so I didnt look like a hippie! :) I braided it and wrapped it in a neat bun. I wanted them to remember me, not my hair.

So what is your exact advice to the OP:rolleyes:

besaangel, ASN, BSN, MSN, CNA, RN, APRN, NP · Jan 20, 2015

As a fellow naturalista, I'd suggest getting a "silk press" and wrapping nightly. Since your ends will more than likely still be straight while your roots grow out naturally, the silk press will give you the permed look with tons of body and shine. It's my winter go-to style!

Only down-side: don't get it wet...

https://www.google.com/search?q=silk+press&client=safari&hl=en&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=IKK9VMXjKpHGsQTihYG4BA&ved=0CAkQ_AUoAg&biw=1024&bih=672&dpr=2

Sent from my iPad using allnurses

B52, ADN, BSN, MSN, RN · Jan 20, 2015

I suggest getting the box braids and wearing your hair up. I have locks and they didn't stop me from getting my dream job. I always cut them when they grow too far beyond my shoulders. I also use soft twist rollers to curl them. Very low maintenance. I will NEVER go back to relaxing and burning. :sneaky:

CriticalCareRN1 · Jan 20, 2015

I think the responses regarding to relax the hair for a job interview goes to show the continued bondage of the Black Nation. I'm not releasing the ethnicity I am, because it really doesn't matter when you have a person of color having doubts as to how ethnic they should be in an interview. When I say ethnic, I'm solely speaking of the way you wear your hair. I'm not sure how young you are, but you should never try to hide your natural beauty. Relaxing the hair, as you may already know, strips the hair and destroys it from the follicle out. The damage is so bad, that many Black women eventually lose their hair, and grow bald spots from the abuse of the strong and dangerous chemical called lye. If you have seen Malcolm X and What's Love Got to Do With It, yes, your hair will smoke if the Lye is left on for too long (I know now many have changed to a just as corrosive material). So why does a Nation of people continue to use such corrosive material on their heads of all places? Hmmm. OP, as long as you do not look disheveled in appearance, iron your clothes, smell decent, put long hair/braids up in a nice ponytail, dress in a nice dark colored suit or dress shirt and skirt, no brightly colored hair or long nails, and have a strong knowledge base of the unit you are interviewing for, you will be fine. If you feel that this particular location is racist in anyway toward a specific ethnic group, I wouldn't even embrace them with my WONDERFUL, and BEAUTIFUL PRESENCE. There are so many new GN programs across the nation that are starting at all different times of the year. You want to be apart of an organization that strives on excellence and cultural diversity. You may have to broaden your horizons as to job aspects if you are getting an unrestful feeling about this, because ultimately, you want the person to like you for you, and not your hair. Good luck!

THELIVINGWORST, ASN, RN · Jan 20, 2015

I wore my Senegalese twists that were hip length in a fish tail braid that looked beautiful and I got the job on the spot.