Beard as a male nurse?

Nurses Men

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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?

My school required us to be clean shaven. Now, as an RN, I have a 5 inch beard. My facility does not have any policy regarding a beard. There are several employees with mid-sized beards, it doesn't seem to be an issue with anyone. I was completely exempted from the n95 fit test.

I do take a lot of pride on my beard, as I have some Viking ancestry. I make sure to care for it and wash it properly, condition it well, and keep it trimmed. I also make sure the rest of my appearance is impeccable: new/clean shoes, scrubs always ironed, hair fixed and trimmed. If you're dressed scruffy and your beard is scruffy, you'll look homeless. If you're all put together with a beard that trimmed and clean, you'll look very distinguished.

However, I like employment much more than my beard, and if it ever came down to my beard or my job, I'd lose the beard in a heartbeat.

It all depends on your facility and nursing school. I personally have never had an issue with this. My university allowed men to grow facial hair while in the nursing program, and some of my classmates had pretty intense beards (though not quite as intense as in your photo). My workplace doesn't mind either. The N95 respirator does require a clean shaven face, but our infection control department simply makes PAPR's readily available to those men who do have facial hair. I currently have a (relatively) groomed and trimmed, short beard, but over last November, myself, one of our pharmacists, and a few lab / x-ray / etc. participated in "No shave November". No one from administration said anything... soo....

I was asked to shave a couple times during school. It has been a non-issue at the hospital I now work at. I get my beard neatened up every other haircut or so.

Specializes in Occupational Health/Legal Nurse Consulting.

Let's get a pic!!!

My school required us to be clean shaven. Now, as an RN, I have a 5 inch beard. My facility does not have any policy regarding a beard. There are several employees with mid-sized beards, it doesn't seem to be an issue with anyone. I was completely exempted from the n95 fit test.

I do take a lot of pride on my beard, as I have some Viking ancestry. I make sure to care for it and wash it properly, condition it well, and keep it trimmed. I also make sure the rest of my appearance is impeccable: new/clean shoes, scrubs always ironed, hair fixed and trimmed. If you're dressed scruffy and your beard is scruffy, you'll look homeless. If you're all put together with a beard that trimmed and clean, you'll look very distinguished.

However, I like employment much more than my beard, and if it ever came down to my beard or my job, I'd lose the beard in a heartbeat.

I've never had any issues, Nickname's Thor =)

Specializes in IMC, school nursing.

My wife prefers my beard, short cropped and groomed. No N95 mask will ever work and I have pointed out to my employer that I am unable to assess pt's in a PAPR. I just don't get assigned airborne iso's. It also keeps disoriented elderly folk from saying miss or ma'am. :yes:

I love when people say hair has germs in it. Eew yuck, not germs! Well now I understand why all nurses have very short hair, close cropped to the skull. Yes I am pointing at you, females.

well u don't need to worry as long as you like to gain job or study by following the policy or a place's procedures,then you should jump to other by your right.In health feild i think beard or other not really standard for safety and OH&S

In my LTAC we occasionally get tuberculosis patients. Bearded RNs get signed-off on the hooded mask things. I forget what they are called but I am told that they are much more comfortable than the N95s. The top part is a self-contained fan and visor and the rest is a disposable zip-on collar.

I only have a few bearded colleagues and both said that their beards have never been an issue.

I had this same issue once but guess what? I have had a full beard now for about 6 years as a nurse. You can do the respirator fit test and fail it but shouldn't be denied a job. What sealed the deal for me was when I worked back in Texas there are tons of middle eastern physicians, PA's, and NP's who had beards. So I brought it up once that if these pertinent staff members can have a beard then so can I. Sine I have never had a problem with my beard and recently obtained a new job with my beard AND failed the test.

Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

Better a beard on a "male" nurse than a "female" one................................just sayin'

Specializes in critical care.
Better a beard on a "male" nurse than a "female" one................................just sayin'

Don't talk about mama that way.

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