I received this email from a professor. I was a little shocked. Opinon?

[kdflet]

Greetings. I just received this email from a professor. I was blown away by the content. I found it unprofessional. I wanted to see what other nursings students had to say. Have you received similar emails before?

Hi NUR 150 Students!

First of all, I would like to thank the majority of students who took to heart the need to dress professionally at clinical this week. The faculty of NUR 150 appreciates your dedication to learning and professional behavior.

This email is aimed at the small number of students who were not in uniform at clinical this week. I wanted all students to read this email, because the unprofessional dress and lack of professional behavior reflects badly on all NUR 150 students. I do not want your clinical group referred to as: the nursing students with the one student whose uniform was so wrinkled it looked like they just rolled out of bed”; the nursing students with the one student with tons of earrings in their ear, it sure was not like that when I went to school”; did you see the fake nails, do they not teach infection control at that college, I am not sure about that clinical group doing anything on my patients”; or lastly WOW, what is with the tattoos that student had, I sure do not want them to be a RN on our floor, my patients would be shocked!”

Your first impression is often what you will be judged by for the whole clinical rotation and nursing school career. Being in a clinical group with students who do not follow the dress code and professional policy, does reflect back on you. Every day you wear your uniform you are on a job interview. You represent every nursing student at the college. Your dismissal of the uniform policy and/or professional behavior standards is a direct reflection on every student, faculty member, and alumni of the college.

I know that the uniform policy has been taught and enforced previously. I know students are sometimes counseled in their weekly feedback about how to properly follow the professional standards. I am also very disappointed about the dismissal of the policy, since this was discussed in the NUR 150 course and clinical orientation on Monday. I stated the faculty knows that you are able to effectively follow the professional standards and uniform dress code, since you have completed NUR 121. I clearly stated that student who are not in uniform will be sent home for being unprepared. I fully believed that this would be a non-issue, since you are all adult learners.

Next clinical day at the beginning of your clinical day, you will line up and your professor will inspect your appearance to ensure that you are fully following the dress code. Students who are not in their proper uniform in accordance with the policy will be sent home. This will count as a clinical absence. No exceptions or excuses will be entertained by the faculty. Dress code policy from the ADN program handbook has been added to the end of this email for your convenience.

Again, I would like to apologize the large number of students who were following the uniform policy this week. The college faculty thanks you and is proud of you.

Thank you,

[xokw, BSN, RN]

There's nothing wrong with this email. We wouldn't have even been given an email warning after being told repeatedly about the dress code and likely would have been asked to leave.

[icuRNmaggie, BSN, RN]

Why is it that people in a position of responsibility chastise, reprimand or just remind the whole group in an email or a staff meeting?

Why can't they counsel the individuals who can not dress correctly or send them home?

I would be somewhat offended if I received this email and it did not apply to me.

The instructor needs to be an adult and give the verbal warning to the person who is in violation of the dress code instead of sending an email blast to all of her students.

Whether the students like it or not, there is a pecking order, and a direct chain of responsibility in this business, and you listen to your supervisors or go elsewhere. They need to learn that right from the start.

[SmilingBluEyes]

ICU MAGGIE, you are singing the song of my people!!!

[rehric00]

I do not think this is unprofessional. This is real life. Every hospital I have worked at has had strict uniform policies. My current hospital goes as far as to say what kind of badge clip we can wear- which must represent the hospital logo, or be plain white or black. If we do not dress to the standards, management issues a write up. The profs are probably sick of sounding like a broken record, year after year, preaching the uniform code to adults, who should be able to follow simple directions. At least she laid out the expectations early on! Good luck this semester!

[imbatz, BSN, RN]

I also think the email was out of line and judgmental and inappropriate. I have nothing against dress codes for clinical days. Our dress code is a bit antiquated but it is what it is. However, if the guidelines are clear and a student violated the policy, then that student should have been sent home. The rest of the class should not be subject to a line up or a condesending email. As nursing students, you are adults and should be treated accordingly.

[sandib1253]

What I find shocking is that such an email would even be necessary. Have the attitudes of future nurses changed so much in the 35 years since I started nursing school that discipline and professionalism are no longer part of what a nurse is? We had to wear the most hideous uniforms that required ironing AND starching prior to wearing. Wrinkles and stains meant demerits, as did a scuffed shoe or run in our hose. Even our shoe laces had to be clean and white. Hair was always worn off the collar and nail polish and long nails were never worn. Our wedding rings were pinned to our uniforms, a single, post-style earring was permitted and religious medals were allowed as necklaces. We never questioned these rules as we knew that the waiting list to enter the program was long. In addition, second year students had no problem calling out first years for making them look bad. We had pride in our program. Then, there's the issue with the lack of internet or even PCs back then. We charted with paper and ink and there was only one trip to the Dean's office. No one wanted that.

[jynxx]

I don't see anything wrong with this email..you should be proud to wear your uniform and do so professionally

[gypsyd8]

We have a winner! I was wondering when this would devolve into typical high school backbiting. I also noted all the other replies saying, "we talk about you nursing students." I am sure some people think it is appropriate to talk about people behind their backs, but that is not professional in the least. It actually shows us to be working class, as does the haughty accusation that anyone who has a different opinion is not a "nurse"

This is how nurses have been socialized to view professionalism. Engineers do not do this to each other:

Ok are you serious?? This isn't "hazing" or "meaningless". All your other quotes are nothing along the lines of nursing protocol. I doubt you are a nurse

Back to the original post, the problem isn't with "this is our dress code. Follow it or be sent home"

That is perfectly reasonable and expected.The problem is with the following derogatory statements that do qualify as hazing (Hazing is the practice of rituals and other activities involving harassment, abuse or humiliation used as a way of initiating a person into a group) and are meaningless. They have nothing to do with nursing. Professionals do not behave this way:

the nursing students with the one student whose uniform was so wrinkled it looked like they just rolled out of bed”; the nursing students with the one student with tons of earrings in their ear, it sure was not like that when I went to school”; did you see the fake nails, do they not teach infection control at that college, I am not sure about that clinical group doing anything on my patients”; or lastly WOW, what is with the tattoos that student had, I sure do not want them to be a RN on our floor, my patients would be shocked!”

By the way, I am a Real Nurse. I even went to university.

[Conqueror+, BSN, RN]

No one wants a fat personal trainer, an accountant in bankruptcy, or a dirty nurse. If peers in the profession don't sharpen and challenge one another, who will ? You're right I don't want some ragamuffin representing my profession and to think that you can be a slacker and no one will say anything is naive at best.

[NuGuyNurse2b]

Why is it that people in a position of responsibility chastise, reprimand or just remind the whole group in an email or a staff meeting?

Why can't they counsel the individuals who can not dress correctly or send them home?

I would be somewhat offended if I received this email and it did not apply to me.

The instructor needs to be an adult and give the verbal warning to the person who is in violation of the dress code instead of sending an email blast to all of her students.

Whether the students like it or not, there is a pecking order, and a direct chain of responsibility in this business, and you listen to your supervisors or go elsewhere. They need to learn that right from the start.

Agree. My school does the same, we're all addressed as one single entity instead of having the individuals be addressed. I don't necessarily think that e-mail was bad, though. Ineffective? Perhaps. But nothing unprofessional.

[Gooselady, BSN, RN]

What's the issue? Dress codes are universal. This is not a place to take a stand. It sounded like a fairly effective email, it didn't single anyone out, and those who DO dress per dress code can just move along.

What is this with asking another member "are you really a nurse?"

[TeeZee]

Nurses are not waitresses. A hospital is not a restaurant. We do not "serve." When taking care of patients we work as a team; there is no distinction between nurses and "regular staff." We are all medical professionals.

Ummm, it's called an analogy.

And sadly a lot of nurses do 'serve'...though they may not WANT to....lol