Hijab (headscarf) Nurses

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Do any of you know of any nurses who wear their Hijab (headscarf) to work? I have yet to meet any. Only once did I run into a medical professional who wore one, but she told me she had been hired a long time ago, way before the whole Islam conflict began in the States. I would really like to know of any who have been hired within the last 10years and how do the patients react to them when they see them. Thank you all :-)

Strangely at both my current and my last job, no nurses that wore headscarves, but LOTS of respiratory therapists. While my current job is "in the city" so not so surprising, my last job was in a "not so diverse" area, and as far as I know, the ladies there didn't have any problems. At least no more than the rest of us did! :)

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Specializes in Critical Care, Capacity/Bed Management.

NurseRivera, I think it's so awesome that you are Puerto Rican and Muslim. I like you am from Puerto Rico and in college minored in Middle Eastern studies focusing on culture and religion. I fell completely in love with Islam and while I haven't made the conversion over I admire those that are proud of their faith.

In terms of hijab I work with a muslim nurse in the ICU that chooses to wear it to work, she is not singled out and treated like everyone else. Best of luck!

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Specializes in Emergency; med-surg; mat-child.

I haven't seen any nurses (at least I haven't seen name tags that say LPN/RN), but I've seen quite a few Somali women in khimar hijab (down to about the ankles). At least, I think they must not be nurses because of infection control issues. either way, it's nice to see they can keep hijab on campus.

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Specializes in ER, ICU.

Please wear it! The freedom to wear it was paid for in blood by many Americans. We need as many positive Muslim influences as possible.

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Specializes in Cardiac.

Well...I'm a Amercian whose Muslim who covers AND I'm a RN to boot! LOL. Personally I generally dont get problems from patients because of my professional attitude. I work Cardiac in a Hospital. yes now and again I get patients who are uneducated or whatever and think all Muslims are foreigners or I cant speak English or some nonsense but frankly...I dont shy away and I dont get scared of them...if anything it makes me want to show that patient that we are normal people just like they are! My last such pt said some nonsense to me right at shift change which the other Nurses with me found embarrassing...I just was like whatever...by end of shift he'll adore me...and as I predicted...said indiviual by end of shift adored me and told me I was cooler than he thought...because I made a point to relate to him and his family. Neway, all I'm saying is...I view it as an opp to educate them about a part of society they may not have interacted with..dept on where they live.

I do find it tedious that some individuals assume all covering Muslims are foreign, that we arent American, or some thing like this. yes I know plenty of foreign born Muslim Nurses and Doctors but there are just as many who are straight up regular Americans! Also...I dont see how there is necessarily an "Islam conflict" in the states...as far bac as I can recall there have been issues with the mainstream media and how it reports Islam and Muslims...but nothing new...right? at every point in history some group or other has been targeted. But...I dont really feel like it impacts me too much. Again...I'm American by birth and culture and everything else...just my religion is Islam...so perhaps it doesnt bother me as much...I also ignore stupidity and ignorance in general. LOL

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Specializes in SICU, trauma, neuro.

We have a lot where I work, and I've never seen a reaction from our pts. I live in an area w/ a loooooot of Muslims, though; last statistic I read said that by religion, my area's Muslim population is second only to its Catholic population.

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In Miami Florida, there are many in Jackson Health System as well as Baptist Health South Florida system. No problems here.

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Specializes in SICU, trauma, neuro.

Oh my goodness, seeing my comment from 4 years ago lol... I’m a Christian but have since adopted similar modesty practices. Christians were covering before Islam existed, and Jewish women were covering before Jesus’ earthly life. ? ... and it was a personal choice that was right for me. Maybe 3 months ago I dreamt I went out without a scarf, and it felt JUST like the dream where you’re naked in public! ?

Anyway most people who don’t know me assume I’m Muslim, and I’ve never had a problem. For work I typically wrap the tails of the scarf around my bun... I sometimes cover my neck and chest outside of work but I’m just not used to the feeling enough to be comfortable for 12 hours.

As far as the infection control issue, I didn’t notice before I started covering, but the typical hijab style is pinned in place. If done correctly it’s secure enough that it doesn’t dangle into the patient’s bed. If I need to wear a mask I stick the elastics under my scarf and behind my ears as without the scarf. If my patient is getting an EVD the bouffant cap wraps around my wrap. When I get home my scarf goes into the laundry with my uniform. It’s not that difficult. (Well *I* am not extremely proficient at the typical hijab style, but most women who wear it have been wearing it for decades. ?)

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On 8/21/2010 at 8:21 PM, mammac5 said:

I would have no religious or cultural objection to working with or (as a patient) having a nurse who wears the hijab. However, I would have objections from a microorganism standpoint. The hijab or any other headcovering must be held back away from the face and up off the neck, the same way a female or male's hair must be for safety and sanitary purposes.

A few years ago there was a study done about how nurses' caps were sources of nosocomial infection...I would think the hijab would pose the same sort of risk. I am not sure of the rules for posting links to studies here, but it can be found by using Google scholar and searching for nurse cap infection.

The women I know who wear hijab have hijabs that match their clothing. They change them frequently. I don’t see how a piece of cloth on someone’s head, securely fastened, and changed and washed with the same frequency as her scrubs would be more of a germ risk than any other article of clothing.

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4 hours ago, Here.I.Stand said:

Oh my goodness, seeing my comment from 4 years ago lol... I’m a Christian but have since adopted similar modesty practices. Christians were covering before Islam existed, and Jewish women were covering before Jesus’ earthly life. ? ... and it was a personal choice that was right for me. Maybe 3 months ago I dreamt I went out without a scarf, and it felt JUST like the dream where you’re naked in public! ?

Anyway most people who don’t know me assume I’m Muslim, and I’ve never had a problem. For work I typically wrap the tails of the scarf around my bun... I sometimes cover my neck and chest outside of work but I’m just not used to the feeling enough to be comfortable for 12 hours.

As far as the infection control issue, I didn’t notice before I started covering, but the typical hijab style is pinned in place. If done correctly it’s secure enough that it doesn’t dangle into the patient’s bed. If I need to wear a mask I stick the elastics under my scarf and behind my ears as without the scarf. If my patient is getting an EVD the bouffant cap wraps around my wrap. When I get home my scarf goes into the laundry with my uniform. It’s not that difficult. (Well *I* am not extremely proficient at the typical hijab style, but most women who wear it have been wearing it for decades. ?)

That's awesome. I didn't even realize it was a 4 yr old pot! ? I've known several Christian women who wear ththe hijab as well, just because they love how men respect them more with it on (according to them). I myself have mistaken Orthodox Jewish women for Muslims because some cover just like them.

Indeed, the hijab or head scarf has been here since before Prophet Muhammad s.a.w.s. was sent with the final revelation. By the way, Islam started with Prophet Adam p.b.h., not with Muhammad. It's one GOD, one Creator, one religion that got its name when it was "completed", not when it "started".

I've seen nurses wear the short version of it that they tuck in their neck line or leave it out because it won't dangle. It's called an Amira, one piece style.

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Specializes in LTC, home health, critical care, pulmonary nursing.

I work with a nurse who wears a hijab. It’s never been an issue.

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