homehealth nurse in heels & scrubs while working!?

dblpn · Jul 18, 2009

I am a HH nurse assistant and when I go to work , I occasionally run into a nurse (RN) that wears heels with her scrubs I mean real High heels. She wears scrubs with big hoop ear rings and messy hair. And shes rude also , l and she parked next to me one time , and in her car she had paperwork scattered everywhere . Just to let you know we DO NOT work for the same agency and do not work on the same account/ case. I can not believe how incredibly unprofessional some nurses can be . Is this odd or is just me ?

When i was working as a tech at a local hospital one night we were short of help. really working our butts off. i was asked to come in like an hour before shift starts. there was this young fresh out of nursing school RN that had on dingy white pants and a red top that was tight and showing her belly button. i'm like wth! this was sooo inappropriate. the supervisor should have made her go to the L&D floor get some scrubs and put them on. very unprofessional.

leslie :-D · Jul 18, 2009

One time while I shopping I saw a nurse with exposed tattoed on her breast,and high hills,sprayed platinum blond hair everyone was looking at her and it was seriously gross!! But they do exist!!!!

:lol2: :lol2: :lol2:

not sure why, but got a good chuckle out of your post...

esp your last sentence.

and you're right.

it takes all kinds and "they do exist".

heh.

leslie:yeah:

coffee4metech · Jul 18, 2009

Although I don't wear heels or hoops I find it amazing that you would care about what someone else wears enough to post and complain about it. You don't work for the same company, or on the same case. She might be the kindest nurse in the world, but darnnit, her car is messy!

She is not the kindest nurse , I have said hello several times and she just ignores me. I am not trying to slam this nurse I just wanted to get a opinion on a nurse that wears heels to work.

SunnyAndrsn · Jul 18, 2009

The messy car thing would only bother me if she was transporting pts. in her personal vehicle. I'm wondering (not excusing, I think it's weird) if she was doing intake or if she had something else going on. Truly, the weird hair doesn't bother me because I have thin, stick straight hair and after 1/2 a shift of running I look like I just rolled out of bed. I DO take the time to carry a comb, barrettes, etc to try and fix it...but I rarely get the chance.

Now, the clothes thing...maybe she was doing intake/paperwork vs. bedside care? Perhaps she thought (wrongly) that the scrubs/hoops/heels was a good combination between bedside and office? IDK...

She is not the kindest nurse , I have said hello several times and she just ignores me. I am not trying to slam this nurse I just wanted to get a opinion on a nurse that wears heels to work.

NurseJeanne · Jul 18, 2009

My concern is that paperwork. Hopefully it's not possible for passersby to see it. Not that they'd be trying to read it, but who knows? Could this be a HIPPA violation? Patient info in view of others not involved in their care?

I believe your appearance does say a lot about you. People (especially those who don't know you) judge you by your appearance. That's all they have to go on, initially anyway. I notice a great difference in the way patients and families respond to me if I just put on a nice neat long lab jacket. Like it or not, we are judged by how we present ourselves visually. Heels with scrubs? Get that woman on "What Not To Wear" STAT!!!

RNSUEIA · Jul 18, 2009

Maybe we should remember to look for the good in our coworkers. Some people spend too much time worrying about looks and clothes. Nursing spawns a lot of petty criticisms of one another. I am just not down with that. Lets be nice. : )

nrsang97, BSN, RN · Jul 18, 2009

I deffinately don't understand wearing scrubs and high heels. Just the thought makes my feet hurt.

I really don't think the OP is looking down on the nurse for that alone, just thought it was strange she wore heels with scrubs. As far as her car, my house and car look like a bomb exploded inside. So I won't say anything about the car.

boggle, ASN, RN · Jul 19, 2009

Even if you put the professional image aside, heels with scrubs is like wearing old time nursing shoes or sneakers with a formal gown. I just looks odd to me.

(now back to my jeans and t-shirts please.)

erroridiot · Jul 19, 2009

As long as the the mode of dress does not reveal anything it should not and the hygiene is appropriate I fail to see any problem. Dress and appearance are an individual choice and variety is the spice of life. It is her back and if she wants to end up with some nasty back pain, or an orthopedic injury, "heels" would be her own issue. Potential for injury and altered health maintenance are her own choice to make.

I have worked with folks with foul hygiene and revealing attire for years. I asked one manager if they were paying the poor nurse enough money to purchase soap and deodorant. And over the last several years I've had several female supervisor/managerial types with a great deal of cleavage and breasts exposed in the work place. I've observed that this can make quick promotions in spite of knowledge and budget deficits.

belgarion · Jul 19, 2009

There was a male HH wound care nurse in town a few years ago. He wore cowboy boots with full riding heels on them. He was also one of the best wound care nurses around. Of course, this is Texas

allnurses Guide · Jul 19, 2009

Some observations I've made over 5 years in Home Health. . .

The dress code is not as regimented as it is in the hospital. Safe, clean, neat clothes-always, but there are other factors to consider. First, when you are doing shift work, ie private duty, many of the PATIENTS do not want their nurse to be wearing scrubs. Especially children and teenagers. It's hard enough to be stared at because of a wheelchair, trach, vent etc. but the nurse in scrubs often makes them feel even more different. Thus, though the agency requires casual business attire or something--- many people go astray in, er, unique ways :eek:

Don't know for sure, but that RN may be a Case Manager, who doesn't do a lot of hands on care. I've seen some wear street clothes, some wear scrubs, so a mixture of the two seems plausible-- and who knows, maybe she's a dear-heart at her job.:redpinkhe The blizzard of paperwork is also symptomatic of the Case Manager. They work long hours, operate from their cars, it just gets very stressful w/traffic, families, crises, etc etc

Most patients and families will complain if somebody is really offensive in some way. I remember one guy who told his nurse please don't wear scrubs, so she showed up the next day in cut-offs and flip-flops!!!! Ah, can you say "called in to office and written up"? yep. Anyway, just my 0.02 :)