Dressing up on Halloween... unprofessional?

[agent]

What are your thoughts? I wonder about this every year..

[nervousnurse, ASN]

hmm....at first, I thought "oh yea, they're right---delivering bad news would be awful if one was in costume"......but after thinking about this a bit, I started thinking, if one was dressed up and had to deliver bad news, (especially if it was that someone died)---their loved ones are NOT going to notice the costume! I guarantee you when I saw my baby brother die last year, I did NOT notice ANYONE but him!!!!

I DO agree; however, that anything sexy or really gross/gory or otherwise inappropriate does NOT belong in healthcare.

A bunch of us wanted to dress as "old school" nurses this year---the cap, white dress, etc. Turned out we weren't allowed, but I'll bet MANY of our eldery patients would have LOVED it! Can't you just picture a sweet elderly person saying "now THAT's what nurses SHOULD look like!"

[Katie5]

VERY....unprofessional.

[Fribblet]

Honestly I try my hardest (and succeed) to ignore those kinds of people. I absolutely refuse to let some Ebenezer Scrooge ruin my holiday cheer. This is a wonderful, magical time of year for many people (my personal favorite time of the year runs from October 31 to January 1) and it can be wonderful and magical for those 'bah humbug' people too if they would get over themselves and get into the holiday spirit.

Bad things happen to everyone. Why let those bad things ruin the holidays forever? I do not understand that and I will not buy into it. I have lost people I love, crappy things have happened to me, etc. I still enjoy the holidays and spread cheer at my home and workplace.

Some people just happen to think a lot of the "holiday cheer" is just plain stupid. And, while you're busy ignoring people who typically are pretty quiet about their distaste for the rampant consumerism and stress surrounding a holiday, you're also shoving it in their face.

Aww, but who am I kidding? It's the holidays and your opinion and comfort are what matter most! Screw everyone else!

Also, it's pretty insensitive and ignorant to tell those who suffer from depression (and SAD is legit) to "get over it." You have a lot to learn.

ETA: To stay somewhat on topic, I think it's unprofessional as well. Pumpkin earrings, a festive tee-shirt, or something understated can still show that you acknowledge and celebrate a holiday, without going overboard. My opinion is also based on hospital nursing. In an office or LTC setting, things may be different.

[linearthinker, DNP, RN]

I wear black or gray scrubs every day of the year. At holiday time I will wear a colored 3/4 length tee underneath in some festive color. That's as far as I'm willing to go. I don't think it is necessarily unprofessional and I could give a rat's patotee about those who don't like it. I am just not willing to spend money on accessories I'd wear once and I'm too busy to deal with it frankly.

[GHGoonette, BSN, RN]

We boring Canadians enjoy Halloween too :)

Of course you do! How could I have forgotten that? Sorry!

I think the practice is spreading further afield though, I had an email from a Welsh friend yesterday who told me the trick-or-treat parade had cleaned her out of every single sweet she had in the house. I was born in Wales, and spent my early childhood there, and Halloween was definitely not practiced then.

I think the kids have cottoned on to an easy way of getting lots of edible goodies....:)

[casi, ASN, RN]

Just imagine walking into Grandmas room to find a clown on top of her doing CPR and a pirate running her code. I've got no problems with earrings necklaces, or headbands that are nicely understated, but going to work in a full costume is a bit much.

[KaroSnowQueen, RN]

Firstly, a very happy Halloween to all American members.

I think the USA is the only country that recognizes All Hallows Eve as a holiday, so the question of "costume or not?" is uniquely yours. As several posts have mentioned, there are certain areas where dressing up is definitely not appropriate, so a simple Happy Halloween sign at the door or nurses station is quite sufficient.

I was under the impression that all countries with a UK history (UK, Canada, USA) all celebrated Halloween. Am I incorrect in that idea? I seriously don't know.:confused:

[GHGoonette, BSN, RN]

I was under the impression that all countries with a UK history (UK, Canada, USA) all celebrated Halloween. Am I incorrect in that idea? I seriously don't know.:confused:

You're quite right in that it's an ancient practice going back to the Ancient Britons and the Druids, but it was the Irish and Scots that made more of a celebration of that day. Nice to think it's been revived in other parts of the country.

I don't recall it being a holiday though, which I believe is the case in the USA - AND, of course, Canada!

[TDCHIM]

I don't see any harm in dressing up for Halloween, as long as it isn't something that is going to impede work. For instance, a full-bore costume or a mask? Probably not. Dressing up as the Grim Reaper in any health care setting? No way! But something fun and simple that can be easily modified if you need to deliver bad news (limited face paint, ears on a headband, festive scrubs or earrings, etc.) and won't get in your way if you suddenly have to kick it into high gear? Sure, go for it.

My then-fiance nearly died in a car crash not long before Halloween several years ago. He was still there on Halloween (he actually moved out of the ICU that day), and I enjoyed seeing some of the goofy things the staff members wore. That gave me a minute's happy distraction from my worries about him and how we were going to pay for his care.

[OgopogoLPN, LPN, RN]

I worked in LTC on Friday (when activities staff were there) and we were highly ENCOURAGED to dress up that day as the residents had a Hallowe'en party. It was fun and the residents and their family's had a great time.

Maybe in the ICU, ER or psych wouldn't be as appropriate.

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

years ago, when i was working in ccu, one of our cardiologists came in wearing a devil mask, glowing red horns and a pitchfork tie. it was well before daylight and we hadn't even turned up our hall lights yet. jeff was having a great time showing up in darkened rooms, then hitting the little button on his tie that made the horns and tie light up . . .

i was taking care of a little old man with a recent mi and a guilty conscience. jeff leaned over the guy, lit up the costume, and said "hellllllllo, mr. smith." the poor guy woke up, thought he'd died and gone to hell and re-infarcted. that's the last time i thought halloween costumes at work were a good idea!

[Elvish, BSN, DNP, RN, NP]

Count me as one who thinks moderation is a good idea. I have a Christmas scrub jacket but no other holiday gear...mostly because I can't see spending money on something I'll wear maybe once or twice a year (and the Christmas gear was a hand-me-down).

We had a couple nurses come in this year with headbands - cat ears, one with a big spider, etc. A couple of the ones with cat ears actually painted their faces w/ whiskers/cat nose etc, which I personally wouldn't do for several reasons....the least of which is that I would feel stupid. I'd also wonder if people are taking me seriously, which we have a hard enough time with as it is.

I do think that what's appropriate is dependent upon the setting.