Appearance?

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So I'm just wondering...

I'm starting nursing school on the 7th at Nova Southeastern University in FL and I wanted to know any thoughts about what a nurse "should" look like. I don't even know if that makes sense lol. I'm all about my unique and different to some personality with tattoos and purple hair (not normal colored hair). Does anyone think this would take away from my career? I mean I have seen nurses with wild hair and tattoos and I thought that was totally rad cause they were different but I don't want people to be afraid of me or not to be taken seriously. Any advice? I love my tattoos and hair and I do not regret them one bit by the way.

Many people have a knee-jerk reaction to being told they can't express their inner freak (and mine has been active for longer than most of the people on this board have been on the planet, so don't start with me on that :) )-- you know the type, "If I want to have eleven facial piercings/deeply significant tattoo designs/hot pink hair/cross dress/ whatever (no, I am NOT conflating all those.. chill out, I do know the difference) then I should have the right to express my individuality and it's UNFAIR not to let me be in clinical with them because I can't pass nursing school without clinical and we are supposed to be sensitive to human needs for expression and why can't they let me be ME ....etc., etc., etc. ... "

Well, mclennan (above) has totally beat me to it for why. (nicely put, dear) The only thing I have to add is that if you want to be taken seriously as a professional, you have to look what the people who will be making those decisions think looks like a professional. (IMHO, this also extends to nurses wearing scrubs that look like they're going to a middle school sleepover. Want to be taken seriously? Seriously?)

You do not have to do it. You do not have to be a nurse, either. So. If I can have my ink not show in my professional attire, you can too.

It really depends on the facility. My facility has way, way more lax dress codes than most. Nurses and aides can come to work in jeans and a tee shirt if they want. One aide on days comes into work in a Metallica tee shirt and Jean shorts. And he has sleeve tattoos that no one cares if he covers. The residents don't care. They consider him like family. Remember: LTC facilities are these people's HOME. Why would you even want to have an overly institutional feel in this environment?

I don't think it should matter, but it does. And I live in Florida too. Think about the population here- primarily the elderly. They definitely do not appreciate the need for individual expression so I think you need to tone it down. I think Mclennan had a fabulous post in this matter.

Our school & clinical sites- no tatts showing, no dangle earrings, no necklaces, hair off shoulders, natural colored hair only, no prefume.

(IMHO, this also extends to nurses wearing scrubs that look like they're going to a middle school sleepover. Want to be taken seriously? Seriously?) .

:yes: That sort of gets on my nerves too. Your an adult and a professional, so act like one. Or would you like to go back to the old days, wearing all white and wearing the little white hat? At least back then they looked professional and that's the way it should be. I think the way you dress is very important because it's the first impression the patient makes before you open your mouth to introduce yourself.

Specializes in Cardiology, Cardiothoracic Surgical.

As someone who used to be the punk rock kid with blue hair in college v1.0, my best advice to you would be to

blend in as much as possible for nursing school. That means dyeing your hair back to a natural color, keeping

your nails natural, conservative makeup, and covering up your tattoos. I also took political-type patches off my bags

and adopted a much more conservative dress code for lecture, similar to a soccer mom (and no, I didn't want to offend

soccer moms, just adopt their classic style). It's worked pretty well so far.

I want to be remembered for my performance in class and clinical, not because of how I dressed offensively.

Remember, it is only for 2 years, and you will always have the opportunity to go into a specialty that may

welcome your individuality- OR, Psych, Telenursing, etc. You can also let your freak flag fly on the weekends and in the summer

if you need to get your yayas out.

In my school, your hair had to be a normal color and no visible tattoos or piercings. Same with my job. I think as a professional, you shouldn't have crazy colored hair and visible tattoos/piercings (and I used to be totally into that thing). Some tattoos are okay, not on the face. We take care of a lot of elderly and judgemental people. I want them to be comfortable with the care that I'm giving them.

Yes, it does matter. As the poster above said, even when you get in the "real" world - dress the way you want own your own time. The more professional you look on the job the more seriously you will be taken - nurse, doctor lawyer or indian chief!

I live in a conserative area, and like many others who posted, my nursing school dress code is quite strict. Natural haircolor appropriate to you, no necklaces/bracelets/piercings unless they are post piercings in the ear, two holes per ear, no cartilage nor tragus piercings. They don't allow spacers for the facial piercings either. Scrubs are specific to the program, with no embroidery aside from the school logo. You are required to wear an close-fitting undershirt if you are a woman, to keep "the girls" from getting wild and free. No perfume, no fancy scented lotions, no bodysprays. No cigarette smoke. If you smoke in uniform, you have to go home and change. This is for the clients and colleagues with asthma and allergies. One ring, preferably a band. No loose hair.

Tattoos must be covered. Makeup must be tasteful and low-key, like office professional. No fake lashes!

I understand why they are so strict. Not only are the students the face of the school, but the formative years of a nurse are begun in school, and with the big push for professionalism and peer respect, dressing like a high-schooler or metal-head does not lend itself to those efforts.

I want my clients to trust my ability to care for them, and with many of the clients near me, that means I need to be crisp, with my three S's squared away as my dad would say. They distrust tattoos and crazy colored hair, as fond as I may be of it. Work will be at tops 12 hours of my day, and I will have the rest of the day, and a few days off here and there, to let my inner goofball run amok.

That, and washing bracelets and having my hair dangling in gods-know-what, with my cleavage flashing everywhere just sounds like a crap day for me, and the client.

Specializes in MS, Tele, CM, Informatics.

I can understand that you like tats. So just keep them covered wear 3/4 or long sleeves both during nursing school and in the workforce. As far as hair just keep it to a natural color. During nursing school I was allowed to wear all my earrings which was three piercings for each ear small studs(every school is different). I kept my hair up off my collar and we could wear white or black shoes. Nails short clear polish only. Makeup minimal and uniforms clean. Only wear a watch, and wedding bands no other stuff was allowed.

While you are in nursing school, you follow their rules! I recall a fellow student got sent home for underwear that was visible through their white uniform! When you enter the job market, you follow their rules of appropriate appearance. Some of my coworkers show their tattoos and others cover them. My coworker's hair has pink streaks and my charge nurse dyes his hair blue! My boss isn't as concerned with color of hair so much as is it neat and not hanging in your face. So it really depends on who you work for, but erring on the conservative side at work or school will show a more professional appearance. Keep the crazy wild side of you more for your personal life.

Specializes in Hope to be in peds, NICU, or L&D..
I can only speak for my nursing school and we are not allowed to have any tattoos showing. They must be covered. We also have to have our hair colored in a natural hair color, pulled off the face. We have a lab uniform and a clinical uniform that we are required to wear. While in uniform we can only have one pair of stud earrings on and one ring on. No necklaces or bracelets. Our dress code is very strict.

You may want to double check with your school about their dress code. I also know that most of the medical settings in my area (The Florida Big Bend) is very conservative.

Good luck in school!

I too am from the big bend! I'm starting my NP at TCC on the 7th! Do you mind me asking where you are, as I hadn't heard about the lab coat rule for TCC...?

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