You don't LOOK like a nurse

Nurses General Nursing

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So, after having the most overwhelming week at school with tests in all classes and CPE's, I was excited to get together with my monthly bunco group last night. Not everyone in the group knew I was in nursing school until last night and when one of the girls overheard some of us talking about it she looked straight at me and said, "What? You don't look like a nurse!".

I was in a total state of shock that she said it, and I didn't reply because I knew if I said something it probably wouldn't be nice. I am not sure why I am letting it get to me so bad, but I can't get past it.

Has anyone else ever been told this before? I have never had an image of what a nurse should physically look like, do other people and I just don't know about it???

I don't know why this has got me so upset....I guess I just feel like I have worked so hard this week, and somebody took the wind out of my sails.

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Specializes in oncology, trauma, home health.

She's just jealous and bunko is her only outlet from Grey's anatomy and the fact that she still can't get into a program!

Some of the nurses I work with look very young-but when it comes down to it we all lool like nurses when we are running around on the floor! I repeat..She's just jealous!

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the absolutely frustrating thing is to be confronted by something like and not thinking of a comeback until the next day

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Specializes in DOU.

Maybe it was meant as a compliment.

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Specializes in LTC, office.

What an inane statement. :uhoh3:

Nurses come in all shapes, sizes, ages and genders. I wouldn't give it another thought.

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Specializes in M/S, dialysis, home health, SNF.

I've gotten upset because someone said I DO look like a nurse!

Count your blessings. It says someone has a preconceived notion of nurses, and you don't fit. Which means you look like nothing but yourself! :)

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Specializes in Neuro/Med-Surg/Oncology.

It doesn't seem like it was intended to be nasty. She probably just blurted out what came to mind. I would have asked her what she meant. Is there a certain way I'm suppossed to look that I don't know about? One of the things you will be required to have/develop as a nurse is a thick skin. I would use this incident as a starting point. You can't read things that may or may not be there in every statement someone makes. Just my .02.

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not to get personal, but what do you look like, what was she talking about? do you dress a certain way? or did she just think you were too tall or short or fat or skinny?

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Specializes in Psychiatry.
not to get personal, but what do you look like, what was she talking about? do you dress a certain way? or did she just think you were too tall or short or fat or skinny?

Why would that matter??

The comment was ridiculous in itself, regardless of her outward appearance.

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Ah, don't worry about it. I'm too short to be a nurse. And, according to all the 200lb patients that are kept waiting because they are two person transfers, too skinny.

I wonder what nurses are meant to look like?

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Ah, don't worry about it. I'm too short to be a nurse. And, according to all the 200lb patients that are kept waiting because they are two person transfers, too skinny.

I wonder what nurses are meant to look like?

I think something like this!! :icon_roll

lvtk8.jpg

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not to get personal, but what do you look like, what was she talking about? do you dress a certain way? or did she just think you were too tall or short or fat or skinny?[/quote

I am not short or overly tall (5'8") and neither fat nor skinny, just average size 12. I am no beauty queen, but I can definitely hold my own. I always wear my makeup because I am pale and look dead without it.

I guess to me it's what's on the inside that makes someone a nurse. I guess I am just confused on what some people perceive a nurse to "look" like.

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