Do I LOOK Like A Nurse To You?

Nurses General Nursing

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Thanks Christina Aguilara! This past week end I attended a holiday party and the discussion moved on from "what kind of car do you drive?" to "what do you do for a living?" . When I replied that I was a Registered Nurse I was met with gasps, a few snickers and some lewd comments, along with "funny, you don't look like a nurse!". Now folks, I am not some blond bombshell busting out of my scrub top, teeting on 6 inch Manolos while applying lip gloss. I present a clean appearance and a conservative outward appearance.

This leads me to ask....what the heck does a nurse look like anyway? Anyone else get a goofy reaction like mine?

Specializes in ER, ICU, Cardiac, Med-Surg.

I have enjoyed reading these posts! I recently told my mom (who is an RN of 20+ years) that I noticed my hands are starting to get more and more "nurse-like". Maybe it's the short, clean nails and the absence of jewelry except my wedding band?

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Specializes in ER/Trauma.
I have enjoyed reading these posts! I recently told my mom (who is an RN of 20+ years) that I noticed my hands are starting to get more and more "nurse-like". Maybe it's the short, clean nails and the absence of jewelry except my wedding band?
You forgeot all the lovely things that happen to the hands from all that frequent washing :)
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Specializes in ER, ICU, Cardiac, Med-Surg.
You forgeot all the lovely things that happen to the hands from all that frequent washing :)

Yeah, I guess I could have mentioned their perpetually chapped state!! I will have to start investing in more lotions.

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Thanks Christina Aguilara! This past week end I attended a holiday party and the discussion moved on from "what kind of car do you drive?" to "what do you do for a living?" . When I replied that I was a Registered Nurse I was met with gasps, a few snickers and some lewd comments, along with "funny, you don't look like a nurse!". Now folks, I am not some blond bombshell busting out of my scrub top, teeting on 6 inch Manolos while applying lip gloss. I present a clean appearance and a conservative outward appearance.

This leads me to ask....what the heck does a nurse look like anyway? Anyone else get a goofy reaction like mine?

I remember when I still worked in Germany many times I would get reactions like "OH did you have to take a vow" or "Oh but don't you want to get married?". There for many Nursing is still closely connected to Nuns and Diakonites. If you remember your nursing history even Florence Nightingale was trained in Germany in the school established by Fliedner under the lutheran church.

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Personally, I think a lot of Nurses really do have a certain look to them, especially comparing different areas of Nursing in different regions of the United States. This is only my observation (also agreed with by several other Nurses I have worked with). Won't go into detail for fear of being flamed to no end. :chuckle

When I am sitting here in my office wathcing our nurses buzzle up and down and I see the head of theater in her sari, the matron in her office suit, the nurses form the ward which vary from the very pregnant and obese to the young footballer just out of college, they don't just come in all sizes, all characters, but even all shades....Also if I compare Nurses here in Kenya with Nurses at home, then sorry, but I can't agree with you.

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30 years ago I used to tell people that I was in nursing school and often the guys would chickle a bit and make snide remarks. I found that if I answered, "Yeah, there's 3 guys and 120 girls in my class" the next comment they would make was "How do I get in?". I am now 50 years old, 6 ft 1, 215 lbs and do I look like most of my co-wokers? Not really. Do I care much? Not really. I am a good nurse, I have had a good career, and I have met and cared for a lot of wonderful people. What more could I ask?

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This leads me to ask....what the heck does a nurse look like anyway? Anyone else get a goofy reaction like mine?

LMBO I have not heard that one before. I started out in the work force 5'8" 140# not in the least overweight and was a truck driver and a damn good one too (I miss that a lot) and would always hear from women esp at church, *a little bitty thing like you?!?*.

Now that I am considerablely heavier no one ever comments what a nurse should look like but they are surprised I was a truck driver!!

--leslie

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Haunted

I get that response quite often from my patients. I am 6ft 260. I played football in high school so Im stocky. I walk into the room and present myself to my patients and tell them Im your nurse for tonight, most say Hey thats wonderful, we need more male nurses. THATS all that matters, that my patients know Im their nurse and they believe I can do my job. I could care less what some unknown person at a party thinks about me. They will appreciate me when they come thru the ER doors and need a nurse.

Chin up, we appreciate the fact you are a nurse too.

Jim

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You think you have it bad, try being an avid male bodybuilder and tell people you are studying to be an RN.

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:chuckle

You think you have it bad, try being an avid male bodybuilder and tell people you are studying to be an RN.

I have worked as a nurse for almost 20 years, male and almost bold. Many older and people from the east still calls me doctor. I `ll usaly replay that I would never let the nursing proffession down and become a doctor... :nurse:

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Jezzz well i fit all those descriptions and I am still a Nursing student...lol So i guess i will fit right in:-)

How you can tell a nurse...

1. Cracked, dry hands from the constant handwashing with soap that's one step short of being used for battery acid.

2. Frown lines from having to deal with the new residents, belligerent patients, and offhand comments from Dr. Phil.

3. They are the ones who are talking about necrotizing something-or-other at the dinner table. All the others at the table are green, unless they are nurses as well.

4. Dark circles under their eyes (usually on the night-shift nurses).

5. They lament that they have never had a hot meal while on the clock.

6. Strong arms and shoulders from all that lifting!

7. They have a dozen alcohol wipes in their pocket at any given time.

8. Calves that would make a runner proud.

I'm sure there are others...anyone know what they are? :)

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When I am sitting here in my office wathcing our nurses buzzle up and down and I see the head of theater in her sari, the matron in her office suit, the nurses form the ward which vary from the very pregnant and obese to the young footballer just out of college, they don't just come in all sizes, all characters, but even all shades....Also if I compare Nurses here in Kenya with Nurses at home, then sorry, but I can't agree with you.

I really didn't expect many (if any) others to agree with me. I just stated my opinion. Yes, I feel a lot of nurses do have a 'look' to them. I never said in my post that ALL nurses look alike. I am not sure where you got the impression that I was comparing Nurses in Kenya with those in the U.S. I specifically stated in my post that I was looking at Nurses in various regions in the United States.

Anyway, the reason I didn't go into detail in my original post was because I knew it would be a matter of time that my words would be twisted because someone didn't agree with my observation.

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