I guess I'm too HOT to be a nurse.

MunkiRN, BSN, RN · Jul 7, 2009

I worked in corrections as a Tech for a year before transferring to our county hospitals ER. While I can see the point that the nurse was trying to make, she was sadly mistaken. If you have the right attitude while working then it doesn't matter how you look, you won't have any problems. We had nurses that were gorgeous working in the jail. In close contact with the inmates for extended periods of time. This would only cause problems if the nurses didn't immediately stop an inmate from making inappropriate comments, because then they would think they could get away with it and then trying to stop them would be more difficult. However, when the nurses had the attitude of "don't even bother you would never have a chance in this life or the next" the guys behaved themselves and everyone got their job done without incident.

So I see where this nurse could think that looks could potentially cause trouble. However, those nurses must have allowed the behavior to continue or shown they were affected by it i.e. embarrassed, shy, uncomfortable... any weakness will be exploited by the inmates. But if the nurse handles themselves correctly then it would never become an issue. Plus, as long as you're female, you're a potential target, attractive or not. Its what happens when you coop a bunch of guys together for a while.

So you are right to be confused, you honestly can't judge a good corrections nurse by looks alone. If you have the right attitude it won't ever be more then an annoyance. She was mistaken and you're better off not working there. Who would want to work for a manager that is that out of touch with the attributes needed of the people they hire?

If you have any other questions please ask. Sorry you had to deal with that.

Sparrowhawk · Jul 7, 2009

Isn't that...illegal?

oramar · Jul 7, 2009

I don't know what to make of this interview. I'm not getting the job but I am totally confused about why the person interviewing me stated this.
She stated that what she was going to say was illegal, and would deny it in court. She said, " I like your experiences and I think that you would be a hard, diligent, loyal worker. I don't want a lot of turnover and we've had that lately. However, I don't think that I am going to give you this position. " I said ok, fine. I appreciate you taking the time to interview me. Please consider me for other positions if they become available.
Then she said, "The reason I am not hiring you is because you look too young. You look 23. Another thing, you are too attractive to work with inmates. That has caused a lot of problems with inmates in the past, when the nurse was too attractive. Inmates try to get to medical just to see the cute nurse. Our nurses here are older and less attractive. That is the way I want it. It makes it easier on the unit. It would also cause problems with my nurses that are employed now because it would upset the balance of the team due to your appearance and the attention you would receive from inmates.":bugeyes:
OK, WTH!!!. SERIOUSLY, I'm 35 and nowhere near being Ms. America. In fact, I'm on a downhill slide. What does this have to do with my qualifications!!! I can understand wanting a nurse that works well with other nurses and not wanting a lot of fighting, but I totally don't understand the comment about my appearance. In what way, would this affect my ability to be a good nurse to inmates???
I was very angry at first, then I decided I do not want a job at this facility after she stated all this. I'm just CONFUSED as to why she said it. I would rather she have said you're not qualified, no openings, not enough experience, whatever she wanted to say. Not this load of horse crap she was stating. What is your take on these comments?

You don't want to work for anyone that is so stupid as to put their career on the line by saying something like that. She should have shut her trap right after she told you she wasn't interested.

KY RN · Jul 7, 2009

Yeah I agree. I didn't want to work there after that. I don't mind someone being honest and stating various reasons they don't want to hire me , such as no experience, not fitting in with the unit etc. I can take someone being brutally honest because that is the way I am. However, to disqualify me on grounds beyond my control has me scratching my head in confusion. Heck, I almost felt like I was doing an intake psych evaluation on her. Her statements just sounded so loony to me.

hypocaffeinemia, BSN, RN · Jul 7, 2009

I can't evaluate whether or not the interviewer's claims are true without photographic evidence.

llg, PhD, RN · Jul 7, 2009

I can understand why you are angry ... but I don't see why you are confused. She told you flat out why she didn't hire you. Isn't that better than making up some lie about how you were not qualified? Then you would come away with the wrong impression, wondering what was wrong with your qualifications.

If it were me, I would be happy to know the real reason rather than wonder about something in my background/qualifications/etc. that might be insufficient.

beachbutterfly · Jul 7, 2009

Take it as compliment and move on:)))

KY RN · Jul 7, 2009

I'm glad I have a reason why she didn't hire me. I'm just confused as to why she didn't use a more reasonable sounding excuse,something such as education level, interview tips, etc, something that I can work on and change. I can't change how she perceives me. Being attractive or unattractive is a matter of opinion. That is not something I can change about myself or change that person's perception. That doesn't affect my ability as a nurse.

I just want to know if this is common in corrections. Do your looks determine whether you get a job or not? I had always read, in different studies, that attractiveness sometimes helped to get a job. Would someone's appearance really undermine a nurse's credibility with inmates? These are the questions I am wondering about.

beachbutterfly · Jul 7, 2009

I think that it doesnt matter how the nurse look as long as she does a good job,but I can see how the looks can interfere with working on psychiatric ward or arleady mentioned jail house....

Jolie, BSN · Jul 7, 2009

I think she was trying to tell you that there is nothing that you need to work on or change.

In any other setting, she would hire you.

In corrections, no.

I've never worked in corrections, but having some experience with incarcerated patients in the hospital setting, I would have to say, "Yes." A nurse's appearance certainly has the potential to affect her interactions with inmates, especially a young, petite, attractive woman with a less-than-aggressive personality and manner.

MunkiRN, BSN, RN · Jul 7, 2009

Like I said earlier, your looks don't play as important a role as your attitude. Inmates like to play games and get at people if they can. It's all in how you handle yourself. In this situation there was nothing you could have done differently, the manager wanted something very specific whether it came with the right experience and background or not. Don't let it get to you and don't assume is a "correctional" thing. It was one person who wasn't very smart, that's all.