Anyone sporting a beard?

[Ekklesia]

I start school this fall and have been told everything from, "beards look unprofessional" (even though I see many docs with beards) to "the more you cover that ugly face, the better."

What say you?

[nursemike, ASN, RN]

No beard at present--not since I started in healthcare, mostly r/t N95 issues--but I started my moustache in 8th grade, and by 11th grade it was actually noticeable. I know it would grow back, but I'm not willing to risk it.

My facility says hair, facial or otherwise, should be clean and well groomed. Seems like common sense. Length doesn't seem to be an issue, though, which is only fair, since some nurses have quite long hair. Obviously, it needs to be kept out of one's work--tied back or whatever.

One of my co-workers and personal heroes is an old hippie. He also has an extremely cool nickname, which I won't relay here out of respect for privacy, but it's way more macho and way more "mountain" than boring old Nurse Mike, so I'm way envious.

My own hair is usually only moderate in length, but around 0400 has a tendency to become sort of an "Einstein" do, which my young female colleagues tell me is extremely sexy.

[Thunderwolf, MSN, RN]

Currently, I sport my goatee...which, sometimes I clip real short...or let grow a bit. The look is good on me....and the comments have been very positive. In healthcare as a provider, keeping it trimmed (regardless of length) is just a given.

[danissa, LPN, LVN]

Ok..view from a girl.....well trimmed facial hair on a man...GRRRRR!..WOW .. WOW!!!!!

(on a woman...the look is a no-no!) (and I KNOW some of these women!!!)Keeping the goatee well trimmed is such a great look, Lovin it!;)

Oh BUT NO (uurgghhhh!!!!) to the big bushy beardy thing...YUK! Thats for auld uncles who want to dance too close to you at family parties!!!!

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

Let's face it, sometimes fair or not we're judged by our looks. A close cropped neat beard looks fine. Shorter hair looks better than longer hair.....in my opinion.

[leslie :-D]

i finally shaved my beard this morning. :)

agree, that self-grooming speaks volumes about a person.

trimmed and neat, perfectly appropriate.

(i prefer short hair on men too, tweety)

leslie

[thetravellertoplaces]

I haven't had that short of hair since middle school. (still in college) I think I look way better with long hair. So I'm one of those guys with long hair that only trims it every once in a while. Depending on my mood sometimes I grow a full goatee or more, and other times I like to have it shaved. As long as it is not unkempt, your occupation shouldn't make that big a deal of it, it's more of a personal choice thing.

In my training some patients sometimes had a hard time distinguishing my gender as they kept calling me a "her" though possibly because of the hair. So in my case I might stick with at least some facial hair to help them primarily.

[Jedi of Zen]

I wear a close-shaved goatee and mustache. Never had any problems over it.

[icie rn, ADN, RN]

Facial hair should be neat, clean and trimmed. Hair on head should be clean, neat and as long as you want it to be. Hair or lack of hair has nothing to do with how good a nurse a person may or may not be.

[jdubrn]

There is a guy that works in the OR at my hospital that has a ZZTop beard and a pony tail. He has someone make him special masks that cover it up. I used to talk to him in the "ButtHut" back when they allowed smoking on campus. He has been there around 15 years.

[jimbr1]

Had my beard long before nursing school,kept it all through nursing school and have had it ever since- over 8 years...not everyone can be fit properly for a TB mask...PAPR (positive air pressure respirators) are usually offered as an alternative. I did once look into moving to Florida and as a result received an application from a hospital (forget which one) that had a separate piece of paper attached (conveniently) that stated "no facial hair"- wasn't interested anyway but always wondered if this were more of a religious consideration or financial one to avoid having to provide PAPR's....good luck in school!

[Nych]

I wear my facial hair in a goatee style... That is because when I shave I look like I am 19... Plus the girls think is it sexy... Problem is, so do my female elderly patients... Sigh...

[David Offenbaker, BSN, RN]

Ha! My thoughts exactly. When I shave it adds weight to me (I'm 5'11, 220). I've had my goatee for about 6-7 years-- don't think I'd want to get rid of it. I get fitted for a TB mask this coming up week. Eeek!:trout: