Nurses please try to look a little more polished at work

[OnlybyHisgraceRN]

To the smokers I work with, please do yourselves and patients a favor by brushing your teeth after smoking. the smell of smoke makes me gag, and I feel sorry for your already nauseated patients.

To the supervisor that baths in his cologne... don't. it smells horrible.

To the nurse with the huge blond hair. it looks like a bomb was set off in your hair. did you use a whole bottle of stiff on it? and you may want to wear better fitting scrubs, I'm curvy as well, but I don't like to show my curves at work.

Yes, I do like to wear make up and manicured nails( no chipping, or fakes nails) to work everyday. not only does it make me feel good but patients notice as well. looks are first impressions, and I like to make a good one.

[QueenMangin, BSN, RN]

Ok, I'll take the bait. Yeah man, if you smoke - you have got to do that on the down low. Excessive perfume or cologne should be a no-no, especially like OP said when patients are already nauseated. Exploding hair or crazy hair color, I would only care about hair as it relates to infection control... you don't want to be doing wound cleaning and your hair is all over the place. What else was in there? Oh fingernails - yeah we are told to not ever wear nail polish and no no no fake nails - for increased risk of infection/transmission. Body odor, sometimes it can't be helped but I believe you got to tell someone, nicely, diplomatically - although some people have no control over that...

[Gordon Gekko]

Well, I am NOT going to bite my tongue on this one, OnlybyHisgraceRN, obviously this is more inspired by your own moral code than anything else, are you afraid to "witness" on your job? I agree with you in principle, but next time, either address those that you are offended by, or have the guts to bring it up at the next nurses meeting, or to administration.

[sherdk]

yep and coffee breath too

[nekozuki, LPN]

Nurse or not, any professional should be free from offensive odors (BO or perfume), come through the door in a clean, unwrinkled uniform, hair pulled back and off the shoulders and with the basic tenets of hygiene (toothpaste and deodorant).

That being said, finding someone's hairstyle uncool, disliking that a fellow nurse isn't wearing clothing as baggy as you prefer or deciding someone is not professional because they won't slather themselves in make-up? There's a word for that: High school. Walking into a patient room attentive, smiling and exuding warmth and confidence will go further on a first impression than nail care will, and THAT is why this profession rocks. Trust me, when you're holding a rectal suppository, no one is going to notice your lovely but subtle lipstick shade.

This might be a case of you needing to step outside yourself and re-evaluate the way you perceive others. I have heard patients complain about many things (justified and often unjustified), but appearance has never been one of them.

[leslie :-D]

i believe makeup is a personal choice, and have worked with many (MANY) nurses who don't wear it.

that should not be considered in the totality of a "polished" appearance.

but yeah...

an elemental self-respect and your basic hygiene, should suffice.

i also believe nurses should wear their (longer) hair tied back, vs just hanging down.

if that makes me judgemental, i'm ok with it.

and while i agree with the premise that we should only care about one's competency, unfortunately appearances do matter and do form impressions on most.

we (nurses) need to be the total package in terms of professionalism and credibility.

we need to be talking and walking that long, arduous walk.

leslie

[Jasel, BSN, RN]

I agree with the OP. I also don't think she was advocating for make-up just saying she goes above and beyond what should be the bare minimum of professionalism when it comes to your appearance as a nurse in a working environment. Fortunately most nurses I've worked with dress and keep their appearance very professional but every now and then you get one with Peg Bundy hair, or tattoos splattered all on their neck, or reek of cigarette smoke that they track all through the facility and in their patients rooms, etc. Fortunately I haven't worked with any nurses who had BO problems but scented lotions and perfumes? Seriously??? *head desk* Really don't see anything wrong with her post. Honestly there are some nurses out there who just don't know these things and need to be made aware of it.

[Stephalump]

And Bump-Its! And unibrows! And colored contacts! And green nail polish! And fake designer handbags! And Velcro wallets! And the word "irregardless!"

I trust all these things will be made illegal, since I find them very annoying.

[MamaStacey]

Yes! And that is why I brush my teeth when I get to work (after my coffee on the drive in) regardless of how many people tease me about it.

[wasthere]

I'm sure if the smokers could complain about you, they would have something to say too. Maybe you pick at your nose or seat and it is nauseating to others. Maybe you have body odor....is this what you worry about at work? Wondering why it is a nurse eat nurse world....

[Nurse Maru]

Baths in cologne, fakes nails?

I must agree with the posters who ask, how professional is poor spelling and grammar? The care you take in writing, especially in an online environment of written communication only presents a first impression as well.

For me, the very good points you are trying to make are lost in your holy tone and the irony of your delivery.

Nurse, cast out first the plank from thine own eye before you consider the mote in your sister's. That is it....

[Jasel, BSN, RN]

I'm starting to agree with my overseas friends that people in this country are waaaaayy too sensitive when it comes to any type of constructive criticism.

[wasthere]

I'm starting to agree with my overseas friends that people in this country are waaaaayy too sensitive when it comes to any type of constructive criticism.

criticism can also be considered rude