Low rider pants on nurses

Nurses General Nursing

Published

It's becoming a problem in many workplaces according to yesterday's Wall Street Journal: Low rider pants.

I'm seeing some nurses wearing them, and they're steadily moving south of propriety in my opinion. Latest styles are all flared, too.

It's one thing to stand at a bar wearing them, or accept a Grammy wearing them. But in a nursing setting...?

Originally posted by stldmbfan

Some people are going off track and talking about gum popping, loud makeup wearing, whore smelling women. THAT IS NOT what we are saying is okay in the workplace. Just becuase you like the low rise pants, DOES NOT mean you promote wearing loud makeup, etc.

I really don't see what is getting everyone so worked up. I went back and read the post that you are referencing and the poster didn't say that those wearing the flare-legged pants were also the same that wore too much makeup, perfume, etc.

Attire is only part of the whole person. Whether we like it or not, however, we are judged by our appearances in nursing. That is a fact. I don't like unprofessional images be they long, dagger-like finger nails, loud make-up, stinky perfume, etc. If low-rider pants ARE CLEAN AND NOT REVEALING as in the picture, I have no problem with it. There are worse things bringing down our nursing image---so I have changed my stance a bit on the pants. BUT it's part of the WHOLE PACKAGE....perfectly ironed-scrubs do NOT make up for the gum-popping,perfume-reeking, loud, outlandish makeup, loud-mouthing many nurses display. Never will. It's a whole package-deal. And we need a lot of cleaning up, frankly.

really, she was saying that the profession has a lot more the worry about than low-riders/flare legged pants. Read the post again, I don't see anywhere where she said that wearing lowriders makes you a "gum popping, loud makeup wearing, whore smelling woman"

A

If it were compulsory to show my midriff at work I might have an incentive to lose 4 stone. :chuckle :chuckle :chuckle

Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.
Originally posted by stldmbfan

This is not an arguing contest. You first attacked at what I posted so I was answering you back. I wasn't even entirely directing that to you. I was talking to evryone who has posted negative things about the pants.

And as for minding your own business, I was defintely talking about everyone because that just really makes me mad that some women and one women even said that they hope they get banned! Just because it is somthing they don't like, it should be banned?

and in my first post I WAS talking about the pants in the picture!

You quoted my post. And I never attacked you. And it was never my intention for a contest on arguing. EOM.

Originally posted by Mito

Could you be more specific about which hospitals are doing this so I can check it out for myself just soley for research purposes you understand. If it seems like I am making fun of this issue its because I AM there are plenty of other things to worry about in nursing than the type of pants someone is wearing.

Mito RN

True Mito there are other issues in nursing, however the issue of professionalism is paramount in my mind.

I have experience in a critical care setting where a nurse wore low ridding pants and exposed her middle - belly button and all. She flaunted her sexuality in a way that was not professional. We have to deal with countless residents in our setting and it was clear from their comments and looks that they did not take her seriously.

You may debate the issue regarding the importance of pants, but Mito what we wear is what gives others the first impression of ourselves to others. It is important. Professionalism is huge in my mind as a nursing issue. It is the basis for our practice.

We need to promote professional behaviour. We talk alot about wanting to be treated as professionals, but the first step is the look like one and even more important ACT like one.

My 2 cents.

Do you guys realize how many views and posts this thread has compared to others?

Amazing, all of this talk about clothes, fashion, and what people look like, and the "cat-fights!!"

Let's me know what most nurses think is important, where their priorities are. Perhaps I waste my time on this BB.

The issue is professionalism, plain and simple. Professionalism is desperately needed by nursing, in appearance, behavior, knowledge, skill, communication, interpersonal relationships, inter-action with each other, and on and on. Professionalism is timeless, it knows no generations, fads, it does not come and go, it remains. Like a classic song that remains good over the years no matter what is popular.

Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.
Originally posted by ainz

The issue is professionalism, plain and simple. Professionalism is desperately needed by nursing, in appearance, behavior, knowledge, skill, communication, interpersonal relationships, inter-action with each other, and on and on. Professionalism is timeless, it knows no generations, fads, it does not come and go, it remains. Like a classic song that remains good over the years no matter what is popular.

Agreed

Originally posted by ainz

Amazing, all of this talk about clothes, fashion, and what people look like, and the "cat-fights!!"

Let's me know what most nurses think is important, where their priorities are. Perhaps I waste my time on this BB.

Maybe sometimes we have to just talk, no more no less. Maybe this thread should be in the Break Room, either way, it's just to talk. .

What is your purpose here? You say you waste your time, but you keep comming back to this thread. I'm not trying to flame, I just want to understand

IMHO I don't think all this has anything to do with differing generations, it all comes down to good taste. The pants that started the thread are not bad, by any strech of the imagination. What is bad, is that some people are being allowed to run around work looking unprofessional. That is a problem with management.

Simple guidelines should be no excessive skin, no excessive makeup and no perfume or colonge. Wear whatever you want when you're not at work!! When I'm at work I take out the nose ring, I pull my hair out of my face and I don't wear makeup. I have a strong feeling everyone here does pretty much the same thing. It's always one or two bad seeds that ruin it for everyone.

Specializes in oncology.
Originally posted by LPN2Be2004

I think the gerneral opinion's been no-show the middrift/skin and no cracked rear views.

"Some people are going off track and talking about gum popping, loud makeup wearing, whore smelling women. THAT IS NOT what we are saying is okay in the workplace. Just becuase you like the low rise pants, DOES NOT mean you promote wearing loud makeup, etc. " No one SAID anyone thought it was ok for that in the workplace nor was it said that it promoted a sort of tackiness.

"I mean honestly, IS IT SO BAD IT IS KILLING YOU? Does it really effect your work?" In a way it does if someone's (did not say ALL) low-rise pants are hanging too far below the equator. If ppl can see the crack of dawn, that's flat-out gross, and franky not something i'd really want to see as a pt. when my nurse is bent down emptying my Foley.

Heck i like the semi-flare legged pants, that aren't the ones with the cuff dragging the floor. Of course THAT'S not really a problem with me, being 5'10" with 34 inch legs, my main leg problem is making sure i don't look like i'm ready for the flood.

No actually you were the first to.

Personally, i have no probs with low rider pants. You have to remember, it's all about context. I wear them when i do my pracs, and i see no problem with it - i don't feel a need to wear a midriff top just because my pants sit on my hips. and i don't wear a g-string with them.. you have to remember the rule - hipster underwaer with hipster pants!

it's not so much the fact that people are wearing this style of pants that i think is the problem, it's more the fact that people aren't dressing tastefully for the setting.. for some people, low rider pants look fine.. on other people it's totally not on! One peice of clothing can be worn 100 different ways!

As someone before me has said, sometimes it's nice to look half decent - even at work. it's just that sometimes what makes you feel good might not be someone elses cup of tea.. I know i don't like to look dowdy or (heaven forbid) larger than i am, so i wear what i think looks good on me, and hope to hell that no-one's talking about how bad i look behind my back.

All in all, worn right, i think low rider pants are fine and look good (at least on the right person). It's just that there's such a huge capacity to wear them wrong!

I was wondering what you guys thought about nurses or any healthcare provider wearing headwraps..........not for religous purposes but fashion wise..................... any input?

I think nurses should be able to wear low-riders. And halter tops and short shorts if they want.

Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.
Originally posted by stldmbfan

No actually you were the first to.

Thing is, like another's previous post said, it's all about professionalism. The rules apply to everyone, and when a pt comments about the nurse's tanlines, belly ring, or other area that wasn't necessary to being showing, then evidently there's a problem with their dress code. Doesn't matter which type of pants they are wearing, if they are intended to ride around the hips or not, then the shirt needs to come down further. The nursing home i worked at had a rampant problem with the low-riding pants and the LPN's wearing a regular t shirt with them, exposing a 2 inch strip of midsection. People really should not have to be TOLD that this is inappropriate for the workplace.

Yes, i did quote first, i NEVER "attacked". Since inappropriate, skin revealing pants/shirts "kill" me.

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