Attractive nurses in danger?!

Published

So today I had the first day of my training for a home-health RN position...i wore a professional cloths-pale pink blouse and an elegant pants.From the get-go the nurse who was my preceptor for the day said you are too beautiful to wear street cloths for a home health job,you need to wear scrubs and stethoscope around your neck so when you go to not so good neighborhoods there is a less chance you someone will bother you.Wow I was surprised and it got me thinking are the attractive nurses in danger?!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Hospice / Ambulatory Clinic.

In home health a lot of the neighbourhoods we work in are less than desirable. I find the locals will give you more respect if wearing scrubs. They'll even let help you with parking etc.

I don't think it about being attractive per say but wearing street clothes might make you look "available"

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Pediatric/Adolescent, Med-Surg.

I don't necessarily agree. As long as you are dressed professional and aren't dressed too revealing, then does it really matter if you are wearing business casual or scrubs? Don't worry about her or her comments.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.

Blackheartednurse, you really have me curious. I kinda want to see a picture of you, because you talk a lot about how attractive you are. Perhaps you should have become a model instead of an RN.

Home health sees lots of different demographics, and you will often be going into homes that you might hesitate to sit anywhere or touch anything. For that reason alone, I would recommend you wear scrubs. Nothing to do with your relative level of attractiveness.

And in certain neighborhoods, being young and a woman puts you at greater danger. Again, nothing to do with relative level of attractiveness.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

The neighborhood I'm going to be working in on a given day does affect my clothing choices.

If my day is all visits into middle class suburbia I do wear my 'dressier' clothes, if I'm heading into an area with a high crime rate I dress more casual in cords or khakis, polo shirt and low healed shoes with laces, I also tone down my jewelry choices for the day (my agency has a no scrubs policy).

I don't think of it as being an "attractive" so much, it's more about not inviting trouble and dressing in a way that the client can relate to a bit.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in school nursing, ortho, trauma.
So today I had the first day of my training for a home-health RN position...i wore a professional cloths-pale pink blouse and an elegant pants.From the get-go the nurse who was my preceptor for the day said you are too beautiful to wear street cloths for a home health job,you need to wear scrubs and stethoscope around your neck so when you go to not so good neighborhoods there is a less chance you someone will bother you.Wow I was surprised and it got me thinking are the attractive nurses in danger?!

:icon_roll

Attractive nurses are seldom in danger... it's the self absorbed ones with their minds more on thier looks than their jobs that are.

in my experience the ones that are going to bother you are more so looking for you to be carrying drugs than anything else.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I'm just so surprised she has made statement like that-I thought it was ok for the home health nurses to wear regular clothing instead of scrubs and I didnt know that looks or cloths made any difference in terms of safety.Just made me think if attractive nurses are the victims of sexual harrasment by patients like for an instance in psychiatric wards,jails and home-health care.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
:icon_roll

Attractive nurses are seldom in danger... it's the self absorbed ones with their minds more on thier looks than their jobs that are.

in my experience the ones that are going to bother you are more so looking for you to be carrying drugs than anything else.

Wow,I'm looking forward to that:))))))))))))))))))

Up Vote Up Vote ×
In home health a lot of the neighbourhoods we work in are less than desirable. I find the locals will give you more respect if wearing scrubs. They'll even let help you with parking etc.

I don't think it about being attractive per say but wearing street clothes might make you look "available"

Yes that is what she said also that locals will respect you more.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Emergency & Trauma/Adult ICU.

Someone commented on your clothing. Not your innate attractiveness or lack thereof.

An honest question: as an educated nurse, with some exposure to psychology ... do you believe that "attractiveness" determines who will be the victim of an individual with a propensity for aggression or violence?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Hospice / Ambulatory Clinic.
I'm just so surprised she has made statement like that-I thought it was ok for the home health nurses to wear regular clothing instead of scrubs and I didnt know that looks or cloths made any difference in terms of safety.Just made me think if attractive nurses are the victims of sexual harrasment by patients like for an instance in psychiatric wards,jails and home-health care.

My agency requires us to wear scrubs. First for the professional image and secondly because they can't trust some peoples fashion choices. There a lot of very fashionable looking scrubs on the market so you shouldn't have problem finding something that looks professional, fashionable and practical.

You WILL get messy

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I don't necessarily agree. As long as you are dressed professional and aren't dressed too revealing, then does it really matter if you are wearing business casual or scrubs? Don't worry about her or her comments.

I think she convinced me,I will be wearing my navy scrubs next time.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion