Any Muslim Nurses/Student Nurses in Allnurses?

invisigoth · Oct 22, 2008

I'm not muslim but I do wear a headcovering during clinicals. Most everyone thinks I'm a muslim. I guess it's because of my skin tone.

rph3664 · Oct 22, 2008

Thank you all for your replies. I wasn't sure how strict nursing schools are on uniform policy.
I'm wondering also: is wearing pants required. Can a nurse wear a scrub shirt with a same coloured skirt?

I can't imagine a school or hospital not allowing skirts, and here's why: Many Pentecostal Christian women do not wear pants either. I know several who always wear skirts or dresses, in addition to not cutting their hair or wearing makeup, and have never encountered problems with this.

My area has a very small Muslim population (almost all of them are physicians and their families), and most of the women do not cover their heads.

aiyah_d · Dec 24, 2008

salaam alaikom i am an american muslim whom just recently became a nurse. honestly the best advice i can give is treat the patient the way you want to be treated. i never had an issue. when i told my patients i would do something i always came through.it is important to establish this type of trust with any patient. stereotypes will break down you will see. i never went into detail about religion. in re to my hijab i just explained it as "its like what the nuns wear" this seemed to make it easier to understand without making it akward. your collegues will learn to see you for who you are not what falsified info they hear. may Allah make it easy for you. also try new ways to do hijab to make it easy to put in your stethoscope i wear mine spanish style with a turtleneck pinned at the side im still all covered with easy access after all it would be unprofessional to be fussing with all the fabric to do an assessment just a tip :) contact me anytime...ma salaam

Not_A_Hat_Person, RN · Dec 24, 2008

I had a classmate who was Muslim and wore a hijab to clinical. It was hard to cover with a surgical bonnet, but otherwise she didn't have any problems with it.

If your religious beliefs require wearing a skirt instead of pants, talk to your program. My Muslim classmate wore pants most of the time, so she had no problem wearing pants in clinical.

rph3664 · Dec 24, 2008

I can't imagine a school or hospital not allowing skirts, and here's why: Many Pentecostal Christian women do not wear pants either. I know several who always wear skirts or dresses, in addition to not cutting their hair or wearing makeup, and have never encountered problems with this.
My area has a very small Muslim population (almost all of them are physicians and their families), and most of the women do not cover their heads.

I've seen women like this working at fast food restaurants; they keep uniform skirts on hand for this reason.

**CalicoKitty, BSN, MSN, RN** · Dec 24, 2008

i do believe it would be harder for the female muslims not because of the dress code so much but due to ignorance and uncompromising attitudes of some people. people like to throw around 'infection control' when Muslim women don't want to uncover their forearms. do you say the same for doctors who don't roll up their shirt sleeves? some wouldn't even have the guts too. even when looking into the niqaab or face veil if secured correctly it shouldn't be any more an infectious issue then any other clothing even surgical mask and hearing isn't a problem try it yourself with a sheet/ surgical mask.

Actually, infection control has become a bigger issue, and yes, Physicians are being asked to not wear their lab coats (and other long sleeves) in many hospitals because of it.

I've heard a few instances where people that had poor hearing have more difficulty hearing someone who's mouth is covered. And, there are others who rely at least partly, on reading lips, which also can create a problem.

As a non-muslim, I'd imagine the "biggest" issue is the lack of sense of humanity, from having someone with a mask over their face. A huge amount of human interaction is involved in the face. Simple smiles and frowns. But, if someone is wearing a mask, they're just hiding themselves and that important means of communication. Try and justify it all you want by saying it is part of the religion, but for me, a masked person will make me feel less comfortable than a person who's face I can "read".

The head coverings are fine, provided they are clean (which they usually are) and secure.

birdgardner · Dec 24, 2008

At one of the hospitals where I did clinicals, one of the nurses always wore ankle length skirts and long sleeves - which I assume she pushed back when doing hands on care. I don't think she was Muslim though, because of her name and her not wearing the hijab. But the hospitals will make reasonable accomodations for religious clothing. It's defining reasonable that is the issue.

rph3664 · Dec 24, 2008

At one of the hospitals where I did clinicals, one of the nurses always wore ankle length skirts and long sleeves - which I assume she pushed back when doing hands on care. I don't think she was Muslim though, because of her name and her not wearing the hijab. But the hospitals will make reasonable accomodations for religious clothing. It's defining reasonable that is the issue.

I once worked for a pharmacy chain (which shall remain nameless - no, it didn't start with W) that prohibited facial hair on men, except for a neatly trimmed mustache, unless they had a religious exemption.

The other pharmacist I worked with defiantly had a goatee, and was a problem employee for other reasons. :banghead:

As for long sleeves being an infection control issue, I would think that some of these gorilla-hairy men would be a bigger problem than a clean shirt.

Medic09, BSN, RN, EMT-P · Dec 24, 2008

May I suggest for our Muslim nurses that you have some additional 'allies' to connect with on matters of dress, especially in areas where there are few Muslims. Orthodox Jewish women have many similar concerns to Muslim women on matters of dress. Not identical, but similar enough that you may be able to share ideas locally and information on where to aquire suitable clothing, etc. Though Jewish women don't wear a hijaab, Orthodox women will likely cover their hair. Similarly they will be more likely to wear long sleeves, avoid low necklines, wear skirts, etc. Some of the gals in the Association of Orthodox Jewish Nurses discuss these issues from time to time. When my wife was a med student, resident, and now attending these things would come up again for 'tweaking' and experimenting.

Food issues may also be a place where your Jewish colleagues can be helpful. In places where Halal food is not available, kosher food may be helpful to you. My Chief Flight Nurse was a Muslim, and I would regularly share my meals from home with him since Halal food was not readily available.

I certainly don't want to suggest standards that won't suit you; I'm just pointing another direction where you may get help and support.

:twocents: :)

Unavailable · Dec 25, 2008

Actually, infection control has become a bigger issue, and yes, Physicians are being asked to not wear their lab coats (and other long sleeves) in many hospitals because of it.
I've heard a few instances where people that had poor hearing have more difficulty hearing someone who's mouth is covered. And, there are others who rely at least partly, on reading lips, which also can create a problem.
As a non-muslim, I'd imagine the "biggest" issue is the lack of sense of humanity, from having someone with a mask over their face. A huge amount of human interaction is involved in the face. Simple smiles and frowns. But, if someone is wearing a mask, they're just hiding themselves and that important means of communication. Try and justify it all you want by saying it is part of the religion, but for me, a masked person will make me feel less comfortable than a person who's face I can "read".
The head coverings are fine, provided they are clean (which they usually are) and secure.

while infection control is an issue there is no research iv heard of that shows clothing involved in the spread of pathogens. as long as correct washing takes place before and after each patient (and how many of you do that 100% of the time)then we are doing our part. and do any short sleeve wearers wash up to their elbows or?

i know a few women who wear the face veil and the voice isnt muffled at all its not thick like a surgeons mask and honestly on the rare occasion you get a patient that lip reads im pretty sure patients can be allocated accordingly.

and finally some people will have a problem with others no matter if your white, black, asian, male, female, gay, broken english, jewish or alien but thankfully thats a tiny portion and 95% of people are civil and accepting and im sure all the muslim nurses here will tell you that. but if not the charge can allocate accordingly.

just because we are nurses and the patients are a priority doesnt mean we leave our beliefs and practices at the door. as good nurses we do our best to accomodate our patients needs and beliefs, isnt it more important to accomodate our health staffs needs when there is such a shortage

nursingis4me · Dec 27, 2008

may i suggest for our muslim nurses that you have some additional 'allies' to connect with on matters of dress, especially in areas where there are few muslims. orthodox jewish women have many similar concerns to muslim women on matters of dress. not identical, but similar enough that you may be able to share ideas locally and information on where to aquire suitable clothing, etc. though jewish women don't wear a hijaab, orthodox women will likely cover their hair. similarly they will be more likely to wear long sleeves, avoid low necklines, wear skirts, etc. some of the gals in the association of orthodox jewish nurses discuss these issues from time to time. when my wife was a med student, resident, and now attending these things would come up again for 'tweaking' and experimenting.
food issues may also be a place where your jewish colleagues can be helpful. in places where halal food is not available, kosher food may be helpful to you. my chief flight nurse was a muslim, and i would regularly share my meals from home with him since halal food was not readily available.
i certainly don't want to suggest standards that won't suit you; i'm just pointing another direction where you may get help and support.
:)

very interesting post--i'm sure this info will be quite helpful to many!

Sunset87, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN, CNM · Jan 14, 2009

Are there any muslim nurses that work in the OR? Or nursing students that have experience? I'm going in the OR this semester and I know they make you change out of your scrubs into the OR outfit. I assume I'll have to take my scarf off. What did you do in that scenario? I'm thinking of finding a little cap that I can wear and then cover that with the OR cap. Any ideas?