During nursing school I had a small mohawk (roughly half an inch?) and the sides of my hair like a two. I hope the measurements make sense. Anyways, I shaved it awhile back due to the concern of scaring patients and or fellow coworkers. Lately, I have the urge to get it back and I don't like the look of the fohawk. I want to have my mohawk again. I will soon be working in the intensive care unit, and I'm wondering what my fellow nurses think of this? It would be a small mohawk. I'm trying to end the stereotype of people with mohawks are aholes.
first be an awesome nurse. be the guy everyone comes to for answers. THEN grow the mohawk. you will be the awesome nurse that everyone goes to, and has a mohawk. the thing is you better be really really good. fyi: i doubt you will further your career with a mohawk. i think it is cool though.
For all the ones who think you can not further your career by having a Fauxhawk or a mohawk- I just want to say I HOPE YOU PROVE THEM WRONG! LOL I'm on pins and needles just waiting to see what you will do- LOL Can't wait to find out!! But I am sure you will be a great nurse- reguardless of your hair- tatooes- piercings- skin color- or anything else that is just physical- these things don't make us who we are- they help us to be individuals maybe- but they do not define us. Anyway- good luck still.... and I can't believe this thread has gone on this long- LOL IT'S ABOUT HAIR! haha
ive always had a large beard maybe a good fist in length but its never been an issue though i have been asked about it. and ive worked on med/surg wards and even a stint in theater. to be honest i have no idea what the policies of all the places i've been, but then i had the beard in my interviews so if it was a prob they would have said so.
and the idea that professionalism is 'black n white' cardboard shirts, lego hairdos and blindingly shining leather shoes sounds a little archaic and should be more about your practise as a nurse. of course i get odds looks at times that that almost always changes to smiles and appriciation by the end of the shift.
if anything i think we should get rid of all the old stiffs n let em go rolls their eyes until they pop elsewhere
Your hair does not measure how good of a nurse you are. I say do what you want with it. Patients have other things to worry about other than someone else's mohawk.
It may be judgemental, but if you were to take a survey of who patients would want to work on them, lined them up, and they got to choose by appearance, I'm sorry, but the mohawk would lose every time, along with extensive tatoos and piercings.
I have no objection with people doing these things to their appearance, however, understand that the majority DOES NOT except these.
To be perfectly blunt, I feel that people who engage in WAY off the norm appearance want recognition without doing anything to actually EARN IT.
Anyone can alter their appearance to attract attention...that isn't very hard.
But what kind of message are you going to send?
Like it or hate it...that is how IT IS.
Wow, I'm sorry, but I just have to interject.
That IS NOT "how it is". That is "how it is for YOU". Please do not speak in generalizations, and please do not assume that YOUR viewpoint is the only correct and acceptable viewpoint. Your opinion is valid - but so is mine, and so is the OP's. He's presented a thoughtful and thought-out rationale, and you've responded by shooting it down and insisting that "that is how it is". Untrue and unfair.
I think you are right, the OP will have to deal with people's sterotypical reactions to him for walking in with a mohawk, and he may have to work that much harder to move past those reactions. While I have not read this entire thread, I think that from his initial posts his intelligence and competence shine thru his posts already, so I'm going to have to assume that those same traits will be apparent to the patient as well after a few moments of work.
That same pt that does not want the "nurse with the mohawk" may also not want the male/female nurse, the black/white nurse, the gay nurse, the fat nurse, etc etc etc insert irrelevant label of choice here. None of these (with the possible exception of gender-specific requests for PERSONAL care) are valid in todays society. While I agree, a hospital is not the place for stating your personal agenda......come ON, it's a HAIRSTYLE. As long as it's out of your eyes, out of the way in pt. care, and doesn't look you just rolled out of bed, I don't think a person should have to so mute their sense of individuality and self-expression just to match an outdated concept of "the norm".
And really - some people choose to look different merely as a sense of expression, of individuality - and some people just because they like the way they look. Your appearance can either be a source of confidence and contentment, or it can be a powerful source of anxiety and low self-esteem. Not everyone is trying to make a radical statement, attract undue attention, or receive unearned recognition. I hope you rethink that sweeping generalized judgement, too.
If it's not forbidden by your hospital dress policies, if it still is well-tended and not sloppy, and if you can maturely handle the obvious double-takes pts/coworkers probably ARE going to give you, then good luck rockin' out the hawk. :)
I believe it because it's true...and so does upper management. :)
As i read further, I also have to add that your continued insistance that you are right, and you are on the "winning team" (upper management sides with you, you will never have to worry about getting a job, etc) smacks of such arrogant elitism that i'm going to have to stop reading this thread, it's just THAT upsetting.
And, in terms of maturity, it's one step away from "I-know-you-are-but-what-am-I" kind of elementary school style communication.
Nursing could benefit from new nurses entering the profession who LISTEN a lot more and INSIST alot LESS. There is a lot to be said for (AND LEARNED FROM) in trying to see the merit in others opinions, especailly when they differ from one's own.
Good luck as you enter your new profession. I hope you learn to be a little more open-minded when you get into the field and realize that the opinions you casually gun down on this board belong to real, valid people.
I have a pompador, not too high, sideburns, holes in my ears (I take off my 7/16g plugs @ work), and I come once and a while without my long sleeves on, which show my half sleeve tattoo of a koi fish n waves in color.
Never had an issue w/ management or patients.
OH and I work @ a large, well known hospital in the Los Angeles county...
...and at least I have the advantage of KNOWING that I am with the majority every day, that I work, go to school, etc.
It's a great team to be on, because the CEO, all of our administrators, all of our managers, that do promotions, hiring, firing, etc..."play" on the same team I do.
That is why I never have to worry about not getting a job or not getting promoted, or treated differently because of my appearance.
A professional appearance is always in style and always works.
I really think the conversation ended with MassED's last remark. Your approval is not needed and you just keep adding flames to the fire. Thank you for your comments.
Specializes in Rehab, Nurse Education, Management, ED.
My first post here. I didn't read through every post, but I've got long hair and wear a pony-tail or braid that falls midway down my back. I keep it clean. I've never had any problems from anyone, even those elderly, "uptight" patients. While I agree that the "professional is never out of style," I also believe that most people are now able to look past hairstyles and look at the person. IMHO.
Kevin0507
22 Posts
first be an awesome nurse. be the guy everyone comes to for answers. THEN grow the mohawk. you will be the awesome nurse that everyone goes to, and has a mohawk. the thing is you better be really really good. fyi: i doubt you will further your career with a mohawk. i think it is cool though.