Can nurses wear skirts?

[DaughteroftheKing]

Are female nurses allowed to wear skirts for religious beliefs?

Have you ever seen anyone out there do that?

[sweetface]

Riiiiiiiiiiight, I'm sure the nurses love your dad whistling at them. When I have some inappropriate old man like that, I usually smile benignly or ignore it, but then I go back to the nurses station and b**ch about the dirty old man in room 216. I wonder if he is one of those patients who gets to experience all the nurses, because no one wants to put up with his sexual harrassment more than one shift in a row?

Have you looked at some of the more modern scrub cataloges? There are a lot of feminine (even sexy, sporty, or boring) scrubs available. Jasco, Living (I think that is what they are called?), UA all have some nice things. If you want to wear a dress, that's fine. I find it disturbing when someone wants to wear a skirt to get whistles or to entertain their male patients, though.

When I'm hospitalized, can I get a male nurse in a g-string? No?

Again, your taking it too personal. If a man is spry enough to whistle that means he's feeling better and should be going home soon. I don't take it personal. I doubt a whistling man would be dying on my shift. Of course I don't have a chip on my shoulder either. If it were a doctor whistling, that would be something else. My father has the nurses stay in the room talking with him because they know he is harmless and he is funny. I've seen it and I've even asked the LVN's if he bothers them and they laugh and say 'Not at all, he's the funny one here, you should hear what the other patients call me.' My mother also respects nurses who are feminine and holds them in higher esteme and old fashioned. My friends who are RN's wear skirts and they seem to be very mature about not taking things too personal.

[queenjean]

I would rather be helped by a good nurse, I could give a flying flip if he or she is wearing scrubs or a skirt or makeup or tattoos. I want someone who knows what they are doing and is a good nurse; I try not to let appearances get in the way. You would honestly prefer an attractive nurse to one who isn't attractive? Interesting.

[SaraO'Hara]

I admit that the patient response to my uniform dresses is very good, but I'm not doing it to look "pretty." I simply don't feel comfortable in pants.

However, if I am politely complimented on my appearance, I smile and say "Thank you." If a patient (resident, since I work in long-term care) tries to pinch my behind, grope me, or says something inappropriate - I will end it quietly but firmly.

I'm with queenjean - I don't care if a nurse looks like Dr Frank-n-Furter as long as he/she/it knows what's what and acts professional.

[donsterRN, ASN, BSN]

I'm so glad to see this thread. I love skirts. I have this big issue with being feminine and I know when my father is in the hospital he whistles at the nurses who look feminine. I just read an article on some hospitals changing dress code for women to wear dresses or skirts so that it makes the patients happy. Patients consider dresses or skirts more professional and more 'Florence Nightengale - like'. They say it raises the mood of the patients to see 'pretty nurses'.

I have to say, I'll feel much better in a skirt that pants any day. I start LVN school soon and I wish they would let me wear a skirt, but they won't. They said I had to get used to scrubs even though my friends who are nurses wear skirts all the time at large hospitals. The Dir of nursing said that I would be bending over....well, to me bending over in a skirt is much better than pants. I don't wear pants - not even hiking....

As a man, I think your father's behavior towards nurses is sexist and distasteful. And I, too, would like to know the article you cited as stating that patients believe dresses and skirts are more professional than slacks or scrubs.

[sweetface]

Of course it's sexist. I can't change men and most are in their weakest moment if they are not behaving. And when are sick people at their best?

You can google it. I think my search words were, can nurses wear skirts?

It was an interesting article, very sexist but it does touch upon fundamental biological pyscholgy of what IS, not how we would LIKE it to be.

Now, if a man groped me, goosed me or touched me, that's a whole nother story. A compliment, a whistle - not a problem.

QueenJean,

I would prefer a nurse who is female to be looking her best and feminine. Whether she is attractive is another thing. Does she try her best to be presentable? This thread isn't about being a good or bad nurse, its about wearing skirts.

That article I mention is the initator of 'pretty nurses'. It was a completely sexist article and my chin was dropped most of the time because it would never fly in the US....but it was interesting. I don't think there is anything wrong with being feminine or pretty or how that interferes with doing a good job. For some reason and I am not sure why, it seems many nurses equate femininity or feminine looking clothing with laziness or weakness. Maybe it's more the nurses than the doctors creating this stigma? Do you really think dressing like a unisex sheman makes a doctor treat you better than if you wore a skirt?

Here's my main question: Does wearing a skirt as a nurse hinder your ability to do your job? Personally, I squat better in a skirt and have more freedom of movement in a skirt. Pants restrict me as they feel too tight. Skirts are very functional to me and utilitarian. Pants are fine if I am riding my horse - FOR ME that is.

[queenjean]

I dont' like skirts because the catch on things--too much fabric, too much opportunity for mooning. I like cotton fabrics that stretch and give on my scrub pants. I would prefer a little lycra/spandex woven in (5% or so) to provide even more give. I wear skirts at home almost all spring, summer, and fall, but at work it is all scrubs. To me they are more practical, come in a wider variety of colors and style, and are more comfortable. Scrub dresses and skirts seem very restrictive and there isn't much in terms of variety.

I don't think scrubs make me look like a sheman. Even in the unisex scrubs I am quite recognizable as female, though I fail to see what difference this makes.

I am confused by what you mean when you use the term "feminine." Some of your quotes that led me to my assumptions that you prefer an attractive nurse, and that feminine=pretty=good nurse are the following:

"I feel feminine and so then, I dress it.

You can be both tough and beautiful.

I would rather be helped by a feminine looking nurse who was a good nurse than one who wore psychadelic patterns. I'm just a traditionalist and I have very conservative values and appearance.

There is alot to be said about presentation of femininity, presentation is looks.

I would prefer a nurse who is female to be looking her best and feminine. Whether she is attractive is another thing. Does she try her best to be presentable?"

This, your initial comment, seemed very supportive of the idea that feminine=pretty=preferable nurses:

"I love skirts. I have this big issue with being feminine and I know when my father is in the hospital he whistles at the nurses who look feminine. I just read an article on some hospitals changing dress code for women to wear dresses or skirts so that it makes the patients happy. Patients consider dresses or skirts more professional and more 'Florence Nightengale - like'. They say it raises the mood of the patients to see 'pretty nurses'. "

Perhaps if you defined "feminine" for us, we wouldn't make such assumptions. As it is, you sound like you equate feminine with skirt wearing, pretty nurses. It also sounds like you feel the more feminine nurses are preferrable nurses. What does "looking her best" to you mean, exactly? That she wears makeup and curls her hair? That she wears a skirt and hose? Not shemale pants? I agree that we should appear professional, but I dont' think that skirts and whatever else you consider "presentable" equal a good nurse, or even a preferable nurse. I think perhaps most of us here have a broader definition of professional attire than you. You are, of course, entitled to your opinion.

I think what most found disconcerting or offensive is your defense of your father's and general male sexist behaviors, and your underlying assertions that somehow you can't be feminist and feminine, nor can one be feminine in scrub pants; as well as your insinuation that feminine=good nurse, and that those of us who disagree with you are feminist, back-biting nurses who have a chip on our shoulders and issues with sex. I'm sorry if you were misunderstood, but certainly you can see how this would occur, given your postings on this thread.

[Roy Fokker, BSN, RN]

Of course it's sexist. I can't change men and most are in their weakest moment if they are not behaving.

Your post leads me to believe you think "men are sexist because they are men" and "it's ok for patients to whistle at nurses because it implies they are doing better".

Am I correct?

cheers,

[sweetface]

Your making the article I mentioned my own statements. I think any woman who is making a point to be presentable and clean, fresh is being feminine or aka 'pretty'. They don't have to be Barbie. I've seen some women in all white who are not my idea of pretty, but because they aspire to tradition and wearing skirts, to me that is pretty. There is nothing wrong with dressing up the profession abit. I don't see anything sexist about it.

Here's the article:

http://www.nursingadvocacy.org/news/2005oct/04_hindustan_times.html

This is NOT my article. However, FOR ME, yes feminine attire is skirts. I think it's professional. I definately have my own preferences and I'm ok with them.

But I will answer your questions...

I think scrubs are best worn in the OR.

I think pants are fine as long as they do NOT look like PJ's.

I think nurses should be able to wear a color on the bottom but always a white lab coat on top. From my neck of the woods, it's more identifiable.

A nurse doesn't have to curl her hair to be feminine, but she does have to care about it.

I think a woman can be feminist and feminine. I was. To me, feminist women in general are very angry, upset at the men in the world and always having to defend themselves against a man. It's starting to get to the point where if a woman like myself isn't a feminist and dresses to the T the roll of a woman, that other feminist women are offended, put it down or what have you. Take my sister. She was a Opthamalogy Tech at Kaiser. My sister is like Roseanne Barr, totally abraisive personality and lacking in feminine grace. Any nurse she had to work with who was feminine she called Miss. Priss behind her back or Miss. Beasley if her hair was up in an updoo. She projected all of her own issues onto nurses that were highly professional looking because she was overweight, she was jealous of them and so she put them down. My sister is a feminist, and fights tooth and nail to beat up men for being men and she emasculates them if they don't fit into her narrow idea of what proper behavior is. Even the best of men can turn into Neanderthal Man in a heartbeat when sick. I can't change the nature of men but that doesn't mean I defend it. I accept it and in that I don't take it personal when they 'act out'. I'm not the moral crusader, that is not my place. When people are sick they act out of character and I do allow for that. I can create healthy boundaries, but part of that healthy boundary is to know what NOT to take personal.

I'm pretty good natured in general. I'm no longer a feminist in the traditional bra burning word. I'm pro woman and pro-femininity. But angry femininists I really have little tolerance for.

[sweetface]

Your post leads me to believe you think "men are sexist because they are men" and "it's ok for patients to whistle at nurses because it implies they are doing better".

Am I correct?

cheers,

In my experience, the more spry the man was the more older he got. If there is life kicking in his veins, good.

I don't think all men are sexist, but most are - put a bunch of men together in a room regulalry and you will see the chauvenism and sexism come out among the men. That's truely what they feel and believe. Most men MUST be on good behavior around women, it's now expected. But when men are among men, behind closed doors to the eye's of women, you can bet there is sexist comments right and left. When a man is in a sick bed, his defenses and good behavior are down and the real opinion shows thru at times whether that's in flirt mode or mean sexist mode - if he has those beliefs.... it doesn't matter. There are kind hearted men out there too who don't have a sexist bone in their body, but they are rare. My father comes from the hills so he is like alot of macho men but when the men who are not sexist cross my path, I appreicate them too. I just have a good understanding and rarely take it personally.

[queenjean]

I'm sorry you have such a low opinion of feminists. To me, and this is in sync with the general definition of websters, a feminist is a person who promotes and supports the rights and interests of women. It does not mean being angry or emasculating men, or making fun or women who prefer to wear make up and curl their hair. For example, the feminist in me would defend your right to wear a skirt; it rankles however when you insinuate that the skirt=feminine=pretty=preferable/good nurse and that feminist=angry=shemale=bad (or rather, not preferred) nurse. You went way beyond discussing whether skirts were useful and comfortable in nursing. If you would have simply stated that you prefer skirts and asked if they have a place in nursing then you would have probably gotten a response such as: "Yes, they do. I find in floor nursing, though, they are impractical, more likely to expose your bum, and more likely to drag on the floor when you are squatting or kneeling, therefore more likely to carry and spread germs."

Everyone here is well aware that you did not write the article; your statements when you mentioned the article in your first couple of posts indicated that you were in agreement with the sentiment of the article.

Anyhow, I've flogged this to death. Good luck with your nursing career. I hope you find that those of us who choose not to wear skirts, whether we are cute or not, can still be good nurses, and are more than supportive of your desire to wear traditional, long skirts. I don't look down on the nurses who wear them. I only find it distasteful when someone thinks that one's nursing skills are somehow connected to whether they fit your definition of "feminine," not to mention you apparent condoning of "harmless" sexual harrassment. But it takes all kinds, and this would be a boring profession if there weren't people like you or me to make it interesting, if nothing else. You request that we don't make assumptions of you; fine, but please grant us that same respect in return.

eta: I do want to let you know that I appreciate your willingness to try to explain yourself more clearly; and I also see that you have a great deal of compassion and generosity toward your older, more conservative and traditional clients, as well as, as you put it, sexist and macho men. I think most of us agree with you that, no matter the behavior of the client, they deserve professional, respectful care. I only hope that you continue to extend that generosity toward those who do not fit your definition of feminine, and that you do not lump those of us who consider ourselves feminist in with your sister, who obviously has issues and treats people rudely and inappropriately. In any case, thanks for continuing the back and forth, it was insightful for me.

[sweetface]

Good enough. It's the scrubs that look unprofessional and sloppy and anything unisex to me is sheman material. Not that the nurse is a sheman herself. Remember Saturday Night Live, Pat? Scrubs remind me of Pat. They are great for OR because it's messy and no ones looking.

What I cannot change in men I do accept. If it were a doctor, someone I had to work with, thats a whole other story. Having a patient act out is annoying, but I understand it. Understanding something doesn't mean I am all for it though. I just understand it and if you have that you don't take it personal. Think about it, there are worse things than a man whistling at you because he thinks you look good to him. If we get all ruffled up over that then we are drama queens and should be on stage instead.

But if its a doctor, a professional peer, that should never be tolerated.

Thanks for letting me know about brushing germs around from the skirt hitting the floor. It never dawned on me.

[sweetface]

And QJ, thanks for allowing me a place in the nursing world. It does take all kinds and I'm pretty rare:)

I think feminism is a great thing, but when it comes to emasulating men in spite of feminism, we are out of line. Any woman who is in her power will have a large amount of understanding, tolerance and wisdom. A lack of these indicates anger and angry women lash out at men, innocent men just because they are angry and they call themselves feminist and fight for a cause with a badge of resentment. It's sad, but that is what feminism has turned out to be. Most think they have a higher ideal, but it's really anger.

But I am pro-woman and women should make their own decisions. Being able to make my own decisions doesn't mean I can change a man though or how they respond to feminine women or lack of femininity.

Ask a man what femininity is...do a poll. See how they describe it. celebratingmen.com has done alot of this research and it's very revealing.