Seems pretty silly to me, but considering the superficial society we live in these days, maybe not. I read a similar article about a year ago, and I was wondering if this happens in healthcare, too. I was surprised to read that studies were actually done to prove that below-average looking people earn 9% less than average-looking people. Also, that height matters more among men and weight matters more among women since the studies show that taller men are preferred, and that obese women make about 17% less than women of average weight. I'm wondering how they put these studies together. I can't imagine that any employer would openly admit to doing this.
Attractive people, nurses included, have an easier time of things in a wide variety of situations, including the healthcare setting. Although I have observed my more attractive colleagues being the object of sometimes unwanted attention from physicians, patients, other staff, they also use this attractiveness to get what they want from the very same people....
Seems pretty silly to me, but considering the superficial society we live in these days, maybe not. I read a similar article about a year ago, and I was wondering if this happens in healthcare, too. I was surprised to read that studies were actually done to prove that below-average looking people earn 9% less than average-looking people. Also, that height matters more among men and weight matters more among women since the studies show that taller men are preferred, and that obese women make about 17% less than women of average weight. I'm wondering how they put these studies together. I can't imagine that any employer would openly admit to doing this.
Any opinions?
First of all, I'm fat. I once worked in an outpatient facility. My annual evaluation said something about me not "doing my share of the work". I picked a random date and pulled charts. I treated twice as many patients as the other nurse, the cute blond hair, blue-eyed nurse with full make-up. It didn't matter because I still did not the raise, while cutie pie did. So yes it does matter. But I still don't give a ****. I know that I'm a good nurse.
Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
numerous studies have showed attractive people tend to advance faster and have more opportunities to excel. i doubt nursing is immune to a cultural trend that values attractiveness.
why is it so many people have cosmetic surgery? it is more than just a frivolous narcissism in many cases...they know it will advance their careers and lives to be more attractive.
i have read other studies that state that attractive people are percieved to be nicer people than the less attractive folks. so it stands to reason that more attractive people are, in general, better liked by their managers and co-workers than less attractive people.
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[color=#4b0082]one thing that i have found to be true in my 27 years of nursing is that the folks who are well-liked get more opportunities: more chances to go to nti and other conferences, more chances to go to classes on the hospital's nickle, more chances to serve on committees that bring them to the attention of upper management. more opportunities in general. if you're smarter, work harder, are more dependable than your better-liked peers, you still don't get the opportunities.
old * short * fat * plain [not i did not use the 'u' word] are bad bad words and i spend my spare time putting pins in clone dolls of people that use them or if i hapen to believe that they are thinking them
Seems pretty silly to me, but considering the superficial society we live in these days, maybe not. I read a similar article about a year ago, and I was wondering if this happens in healthcare, too. I was surprised to read that studies were actually done to prove that below-average looking people earn 9% less than average-looking people. Also, that height matters more among men and weight matters more among women since the studies show that taller men are preferred, and that obese women make about 17% less than women of average weight. I'm wondering how they put these studies together. I can't imagine that any employer would openly admit to doing this.
Any opinions?
I'll occasionally see a high-powered specialist in er, with his very attractive nurse in tow. I mean a b*tt ugly drooling nerd cardiologist with a super-model looking nurse, wearing very nice clothes with an immaculate lab coat. I've never seen a male, or an unattracive female with a specialist.
I'm older, plain and "fluffy" yet at my last job I made at least 10K more than the two pretty, thin young women who worked with me. I may not look like much but I can sure negotiate my pay.
These things happen so often on such a small scale that its hard to quantify.
Example: nurses has a pretty face and MD is naturally more drawn to make eye contact while the nurses is speaking, and pays more attention while nurse is speaking. MD has taken the time to listen to this nurse and acts on her suggestion. Pretty-face nurse is lauded for her ability to communicate with MDs and get them to listen to her. Alternate scenario: other nurse had same situation and same suggestion, but MD only pays half as much attention to other nurse because MD is not drawn to other nurse's face. MD continues to flip through chart while conversing, not to be rude intentionally, but because MD is busy, like everyone else. Because MD doens't pay as much attention, MD doesn't actually absorb what other nurse is saying, and forgets it more easily.
This is a contrived example, but my point is this happens almost microscopically. Obviously, there is no beauty pagent for the position of DON...at least, not with sashes and swimsuits....
So not nice. So not kind. So not TRUE !!! :rotfl: 
jnette, ASN, EMT-I
4,388 Posts
Quite frankly, I'd rather be ugly, wouldn't you ? :rotfl:
People don't talk about you near as much that way. :rotfl:
People tend to be KIND to ugly people. I LIKE kind.
The heck with the mula.. just be kind to me. :)
Sometimes I really wish I weren't so darn cute.