Beard as a male nurse?

[Jarl Redbeard]

Hello everyone. I will be starting school for my RN degree in January. Coming from the IT field, it hasn't ever really been an issue for me to wear a beard to work, short or long. In Nursing, I'm not sure if it will be allowed or not. I have heard some yes and no answers, but wanted to get some firsthand opinions from real nurses. I'm including a picture (not sure who it is, just found the picture of this guy on a Google search), but the picture demonstrates about how long I usually like to wear my beard. I have heard that you have to be able to pass the respirator test and you can't with a beard, but I've also heard that it's possible to wear the full face mask instead. I don't know for sure though. Any help?

[klone, MSN, RN]

I've never seen a full face mask, nor do I think they're readily available in most units, just the N95.

[artisticmind]

it'll be up to your facility but i know most require the beard to be tried and kept neat, no duck dynasty styles allowed. The facility should have PAPRs available which would keep you contained in an isolation situation but they are hot and take time to apply and you may not have that in an emergency so an N95 would be better which would require you to be clean shaven.

[RatherBHiking, BSN, RN]

That wouldn't be allowed around here. Hair of any kind carries a zillion germs (which is why they make you wear a surgical cap in the OR for both patients and staff) plus when you're leaning in super close to clean a wound or start an IV, etc if your beard is long enough to get in the way then it's not going to work. Plus most nursing schools allow even less than the hospitals.

[firstinfamily, RN]

You should check with the nursing college you are planning to attend, or their clinical sites. In practice usually men are allowed beards that are kept neat and trim. During isolation procedures you would have to apply some sort of mask that would contain the beard. As women we are expected to keep any long hair pinned up or pulled back, I don't know if making a pony tail out of your beard would be acceptable. I am willing to bet that even the MDs are encouraged to remain clean shaven!!

[dah doh, BSN, RN]

Beards/facial hair is supposed to be neatly groomed. The picture you showed is fine, but wouldn't pass the N95 mask fit test so your facility would have to provide you a PAPR type respirator. Most staff hate PAPRs so they avoid those rooms if possible. The facial hair would not exclude you, but realize you might be stuck in the PAPR for airborne precautions.

[toomuchbaloney]

Beards are fine in the civilian world for the most part.

[nlitened]

What does the policy at your nursing school state? For clinical you may need to be clean shaven. I would start with looking at what the policy states.

[Fl_peds_rn]

Beards are generally accepted in the hospital setting. However, a beard can make it difficult to form an appropriate seal when donning ppe prior to entering an isolation room. Perhaps you should consider a goatee to avoid the problem.

[2k15NurseExtern4u, BSN, RN]

Your beard is impressive.

[That Guy, BSN, RN, EMT-B]

Varies by facility/school. The place I am at now, one of our guys has an even more epic beard and it goes by unnoticed. Just has to wear a papr

[MrChicagoRN, RN]

Wore a beard all through school, and most of the past 35 years.

It has never been an issue.