How important is your 'look' as a nurse

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Especially when it comes to getting hired, pay raises and such things. I mean, I'm sure hospital administration can't possibly expect us all to look like super models, but isn't there some sort of 'look' hiring managers tend to gravitate toward?

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Who are we to judge? Who are we to say one is more or less worthy than anyone else? That someone is more fit than someone else?

There but for the Grace of God go I

Something in this post of yours made me smile.....it falls under the heading of "Suck it up, Cupcake!!"

You know, when you're having a totally cruddy day, and someone whines about how they were running late to work because their kid wouldn't put on their shoes, and YOU were late to work because YOU were having trouble negotiating your own shoes (and you know it might be worse tomorrow)....and you think "she can't really think that's a problem". But they do. And you know better ;)

Problems are meant to be figured out, difficulties are meant to be overcome, and if we're VERY lucky, we can manage to do all that and still get through our day with some sanity intact.

Something tells me you're very much of the stock that is up to the task ;)

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Esme, I'm so sorry about what you've been dealing with. I would NEVER make fun of you and noone else SHOULD either!!! Sorry if my post offended you. I thought I was speaking in a general nonassuming way. One of my brothers has an autoimmune disorder called Wegener's disease since age 21. He's always on prednisone and so he has the accompanying Cushing syndrome on top of his underlying health issues. He even had to have a hip replacement in his early 20s d/t the effect of the calcium deficiency those high steroid doses caused. Some people are very insensitive and rude. A couple of older men actually had the nerve to make fun of my brother's gait! .... he gets so upset sometimes. We understand why, but sometimes don't quite know.the right words to say.

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

I'm not offended....I just want people to take a moment and think before they speak or assume anything. You never know what burdens lie behind the mask.

I have never been one to judge by appearances and I guess this was the long way around answering your question...yes there is a "LOOK" that people look for...it is right? No. But it is very real.

Same goes for body mods, tattoos, and long hair/pink hair. People ASSUME they KNOW who they are...when they really don't.

Yes there is a "look" that is looked for. When I was a manager I had a very eclectic group that worked with me. I hired talent and skill.

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
Something in this post of yours made me smile.....it falls under the heading of "Suck it up, Cupcake!!"

You know, when you're having a totally cruddy day, and someone whines about how they were running late to work because their kid wouldn't put on their shoes, and YOU were late to work because YOU were having trouble negotiating your own shoes (and you know it might be worse tomorrow)....and you think "she can't really think that's a problem". But they do. And you know better ;)

Problems are meant to be figured out, difficulties are meant to be overcome, and if we're VERY lucky, we can manage to do all that and still get through our day with some sanity intact.

Something tells me you're very much of the stock that is up to the task ;)

Actually....ask my kids...it's suck it up Buttercup! Move on...OKay pumkin? (love that line from will smith)

It isn't the obstacles in your path that makes you...it's how you navagate around them that counts.

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Specializes in LTC.

In LTC it seems most nurses are hired for their experience + overall appearance. Appearance counts, but they don't seem to be looking for the next Miss America. Take me for example. I am overweight, (well, ok, FAT) but clean, hair neat, un-wrinkled clothing, light make-up. I am also articulate and confident. That "bundle" if you will, gets me job offers. In my experience, those that I've seen applying for/interviewing for jobs that are unkempt in appearance do not get the job regardless of experience. It seems few employers want to have a sloppy looking person represent their company regardless of physical size. I tend to agree with them. A person who presents as though they don't care much for themselves appear as though they would likely not care for others, either. That may be an unfair assumption but their appearance speaks volumes. I would have more confidence in hiring an older, larger, but well kept nurse than a younger, thin nurse who looks like she/he was out partying all night, slept in their clothes, and rolled into an interview straight out of bed any day. So, in summary, yes. Looks do matter. It just depends on how the hiring manager defines "looks".

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Actually....ask my kids...it's suck it up Buttercup! Move on...OKay pumkin? (love that line from will smith)

rofl.....I didn't know it was a movie quote! I once got a greeting card that had the most adorable puppy, toting some kind of weaponry and a "bad attitude" face, and the greeting line was "Suck it Up, Cupcake"!

Stuck with me :)

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Specializes in ICU.

Esme, I hope you realize what a valuable resource you are on here. Your knowledge is invaluable on here. You contribute so much to so many people around the world. You would think that the medical community would have a better understanding but unfortunately that is not the case. But what you face is a whole other topic than what I thought to be the op. you have faced discrimination which I think is horrible. Your experience should speak for itself. I thought this was about how someone should present themselves because I find that dressing appropriately, speaking well, and coming to an interview clean and neat has somehow been lost. I have had people come to interviews in pjs before. Weight has never really played into my decisions unless it was painfully obvious the person could not do the requirements of the job. I have had employees who could not vacuum without getting out of breath and having to sit down. There is nothing wrong with someone being expected to do their job. I am overweight. I have terrible acne. I have a condition called PCOS that causes it. I am terribly self conscious about it. I hate being 38 with teenage acne. I have never been turned down for a job though. I think it's the way I present myself in the interview.

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Again, it's silly to compare the thin supermodel who drinks and smokes to the obese person who eats organic foods and takes walks daily.

The comparison should be a person with a BMI of 32 to the same person with a BMI of 25. All else being equal, the person with the BMI of 25 is going to have fewer health problems than if their BMI is 32.

I don't feel that this is true. I have taken care of many unhealthy patients with normal BMI's and when doing pre surgery assessments there are plenty of thin people on Bp meds and with many health problems and I have also had overweight patients who have no health problems. I have also taken care of people who were too thin which in itself had become a health problem.

In my nutrition class our instructor even openly admitted that a lot of times you will run into healthy overweight people. And a lot of overweight/obese patients I have had to care for, their health problems came from neglecting themselves.

Back to the intent of this post, I think it depends on the person hiring. If you are clean and dress professionally and give a good interview you should be fine. I think people that hire based on looks are making a huge mistake. At my husbands doctor's office, the supermodel nurse clearly has no idea what she is doing and cannot even take a blood pressure correctly.

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Looks are everything. IMO, the only time I hear people say it's not are 'normal' looking people.

Can a subjective 'freak of nature' get a job as a nurse? Sure. But let's face it, attractive people have an advantage.

My own tidbit.. It's not science, I notice when I throw my hair in a pony tail, wear my glasses and don't wear makeup, I get a different reception from patients than I do when I put on the paint, wear the contacts and straighten my hair. Again, not science but for some strange reason, patients are friendlier, more cooperative and seem to be more satisfied when I spend the extra 30 minutes making myself appear more attractive.

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Overweight nurses giving education on a healthy lifestyle is always ironic. Look matters.

Spelling might be a factor as well as a person's weight.

I remember getting a packet of orientation materials from my nursing program telling me several important things that I will be evaluated on. I did crack a smile when one sentence discussed the nurse's 'roll'. And no, that was not a sly cut back to the comment on weight.

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Perhaps, but I truly and absolutely like folks with minimal to no makeup on. They still should be clean and kempt. But that's my bias, and I try to avoid assuming that a person might be more interested in their looks than their job - but the more makeup they have on, the harder it is for me not to go there.

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Looks are everything. IMO, the only time I hear people say it's not are 'normal' looking people.

Can a subjective 'freak of nature' get a job as a nurse? Sure. But let's face it, attractive people have an advantage.

My own tidbit.. It's not science, I notice when I throw my hair in a pony tail, wear my glasses and don't wear makeup, I get a different reception from patients than I do when I put on the paint, wear the contacts and straighten my hair. Again, not science but for some strange reason, patients are friendlier, more cooperative and seem to be more satisfied when I spend the extra 30 minutes making myself appear more attractive.

Perhaps, but I truly and absolutely like folks with minimal to no makeup on. They still should be clean and kempt. But that's my bias, and I try to avoid assuming that a person might be more interested in their looks than their job - but the more makeup they have on, the harder it is for me not to go there.

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