Freedom of Expression

Long Term Care Columnist / Guide · Feb 11, 2004

I know some of you will think I'm an old fogey, but I think we should err on the side of conservatism in our appearance at work, as many of our patients are elderly and unusual body piercings, hair colors etc. may be alarming to them. I have no problem with people "expressing their individuality" by wearing piercings, odd clothing, Goth makeup and so on........just not in a professional setting. :stone

FranEMTnurse, CNA, LPN, EMT-I · Feb 11, 2004

I know some of you will think I'm an old fogey, but I think we should err on the side of conservatism in our appearance at work, as many of our patients are elderly and unusual body piercings, hair colors etc. may be alarming to them. I have no problem with people "expressing their individuality" by wearing piercings, odd clothing, Goth makeup and so on........just not in a professional setting. :stone

I'm with mj. All the new stuff might be mistaken for the nurse not being a nurse. :chuckle and I definitely believe nurses should show the role they command; that of a caring professional. After all, they are the BACKBONE of the medical profession. :) Even if they don't get the credit for it from all the umm, strings?

allnurses Guide · Feb 11, 2004

You absolutely have the right to express yourself as you see fit but an employer has the right to have a dress code too. I don't see that as infringing on anyone's freedom to express themselves.

OSHA has standards when you are working in the woods (head protection, fire extinguisher, chaps). Should you have the freedom of expression to not be protected and so not protect your employer from high medical insurance rates and workmen's comp rates (which are already 80% in CA for goodness's sake!!!).

What if a nudist wanted to come to work expressing himself/herself in the manner in which they choose -namely nude?

Or how about the fact that I'm way more comfortable wearing flip-flops and so in order to protect my freedom of expression, my employer should let me wear them to work?

I think the bottom line is the employer has a right to have standards . . you do not have to take a job there if you disagree with the standards. No one is forcing you to work for them. So you cannot call it taking away your freedom of expression.

Count me in as another old fogey. :)

steph

fergus51 · Feb 11, 2004

The employer has the right to standards of appearance, but I do wish they were enforced equally. I find it odd that some people think a small nose ring is unprofessional, but see no problem with Elvira makeup, wrinkled uniforms, LOOOOOOONNNNNNGGGG nails, etc.

purplemania, BSN, RN · Feb 11, 2004

our profession is unique in that we SHOULD be patient centered. Work is not the place for showing off. There are other ways to express yourself without wearing costumes. Also, some of the "expressions", like false nails, carry infection.

eak16 · Feb 11, 2004

Fergus- I couldn't agree more. If you crack down on the nose rings you better be cracking down on the hideous 80's perms, fucia lipstick with matching inch long nails, and (dare I say it?) Spongebob Squarepants fluorescent scrubs. Or, you could just accept a great nurse as a great nurse and make quality of care a priority......if I was a paitent I wouldn't care if my nurse had goth makeup or a foot high beehive as long as he or she provided excellent care.

rollingstone · Feb 11, 2004

As a new generation begins to enter the nursing profession, we are beginning to see more and more who express their uniqueness in various ways. We see nose rings, eyebrow piercings, more visible tattoos etc. Do you think that nurses should be allowed this freedom of expression at work or does a facility have the right to set limits on what is and is not acceptable in their institution? Are people's rights being trampled on if they are not allowed to express themselves the way they want to?

The facility has the right to set limits on what is and is not acceptable in their institution. As an educated professional, the nurse should exercise enough common sense to dress appropriately for work. Could anyone imagine an attorney approaching the bench to confer with the judge with a giant BB stuck on his tongue, or maybe orange hair spiked out in a mohawk? But this might be the attorney representing the poor clown whose "rights were trampled on" because they couldn't express themselves the way they wanted to at work.

Shellsie · Feb 12, 2004

ok....let me start off by saying i have 7 tattoos.....when i was hired....i had 7 tattoos....when i am in my nursing scrubs only one is visible ( it's on the back of my neck). i think that any person who gets tattoos/piercings needs to be aware of the fact that no matter how "free" and "equal" our country is people are still judged by appearances...why do you think everyone gets dolled up for job interviews? It's to make an impression. Do you think i would have gotten hired if i had long snake tattoos going down both of my arms? probably not. so yes i think its wonderful to express yourself...but its better to do it on your own time if you want to work in a professional environment.

live4today, RN · Feb 12, 2004

I'm with mj. All the new stuff might be mistaken for the nurse not being a nurse. :chuckle and I definitely believe nurses should show the role they command; that of a caring professional. After all, they are the BACKBONE of the medical profession. :) Even if they don't get the credit for it from all the umm, strings?

And I'm with mj and Fran! Right on siblings! :balloons:

alk3rainbow · Feb 12, 2004

Some things are easily concealable such as piercings and most tattoos...I only think it is fair that when you are working with patients who may be offended by your appearance that you dress professionally. I don't know of too many people, especially older people, that would feel too comfortable being cared for by someone with blue spiked hair, piercings everywhere, and tattoos showing left and right. I don't think its trampling on freedom of expression either. Nurses get to show a lot of expression through their scrubs in lots of facilities. As one poster put it, neon sponge bob squarepants scrubs...hey I have care bear scrubs and I love them - thats my way of having freedom of expression.