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

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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,

Specializes in Prior military RN/current ICU RN..

Why is it anytime people are told to straighten up they instantly want validation for their bad behavior. Why are you posting that here? Just DO IT. Everyone is "offended" and want to know if they should what...go to the press and look for justice? God forbid people get a little butt chewing. The absolute weakness and unprofessionalism is mind boggling. Yes..it is APPROPRIATE to get chewed out if you show up to a hospital looking like crap. Wipe away the tears and take ten minutes to press your uniform and look like you give a crap.

Specializes in PACU.

I don't understand why the instructors didn't try to enforce the professional dress code policy by immediately sending the violators home. Problem solved--hopefully for their sake they get the message.

That being said, I don't really see what is so offensive about this email? The saddest part is that the instructor thought the situation was so bad that it needed to be publicly addressed towards ALL students. Hopefully it was more a warning towards those unprofessional students, and not an indication that students just pick and choose which policies they like to obey and the school just allows it to continue without consequence.

Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.

I don't think this email is inappropriate. The students were informed of the expectations ahead of time and failed to comply. Following rules/policy is a big part of safe and effective nursing care.

I liked the email! I think it will be more memorable than 'dress code is xxx' and 'be on time' etc. etc. because EVERYBODY has already seen that, they would just skip or delete. This one will stick in your head!

I work in an upscale restaurant, I press my uniform every single day (pants, blouse, apron). I have hair up, (men must shave neat, no growing in facial hair, you have to take a week or so off until it's in!), small earring, neat nail, etc, etc.....otherwise go home. Why? Exactly what your professor said, people will 'talk' badly about us. In general terms. Not "our server was a mess", but " that place was awful, the staff looked so unprofessional, we won't be going back" (This is Boca, it's how they are...lol), so I can see exactly how a hospital (or patients, who don't know the difference between you and regular staff) would really look down upon improper dress code. It DOES reflect on every single one of you, and the school, and the professor. (Oh, you're from THAT class? The one with the (choose infraction).....sorry, no job here....)

Maybe it's happened before. I'm surprised your class got another chance, she was probably just being PC and can easily say 'you've all been warned multiple times, sorry no more chances' and it probably went out to ALL the class to cover her butt in case somebody NEXT time (there is ALWAYS a next time) says they didn't get an email warning THEM like so and so did.....

Worse case, you can call her out on it and ask if you did anything you should be aware of??

I'll bet they weren't imaginary quotes. Dollars to doughnuts.

I think your professor showed admirable precision, restraint, and professionalism in this note, and anybody who ignores it is too dense to continue on in nursing school anyway.

Someone can say they don't like it, personal expression is in the Constitution (no, actually, it isn't), it's a free country, nobody understands how significant my tats are to my self-image, if I take out my piercing the hole will close up and it cost a lot of money, my nails are too ugly without polish/gel/acrylics, and all that other happy horse pucky. It doesn't matter. Clinical absence. Got that?

One point that a couple of posters have touched on is that those facilities where you're doing clinicals are doing you and your school a huge favor by allowing you to learn at their "shop". As a clinical student, you not only represent your school, but patients and their family members have no idea who you are and will often assume that you're all hospital employees. So, like it or not, you and your fellow students represent the hospital as well. Clinical sites are in short supply, with many hospitals simply not interested in dealing with the extra work and disruptions. Nursing schools place a high value on those clinical site relationships, and they are far more important to them than catering to the sensitivities of one or two inconsiderate students, hence the "two strikes" dress code rules. Be glad that your instructor values that relationship enough to protect it, not only for you but for future classes as well.

Some people want everything sugar coated. Your professor is right! The things he was saying that people would say is reality! That's how people will talk about those students who don't look professional.

Specializes in Med-Surg, NICU.

I agree with the instructor and it is a shame she even had to send out the e-mail.

You are joining a profession, so be prepared to act and present yourself like one.

Specializes in PICU.

The email the instructor sent out was professional, to the point, sited examples, and stated repercussions for not following dress code. It seems a shame that it had gotten so bad all students received the email.

However, by sending it to all students it serves as a firm warning, that the instructor does note everything, and is giving everyone a free warning that deviations from the dress code will not be tolerated. View this as the last get out of jail card.

As a nurse, your manager, directors, MDs, etc may send out mass emails if an error has been made, if several people are not following policies and procedures or practice guidelines. Mass emails can serve as an open communication of expectations. It outlines what has happened, what needs to happen, and how to follow the rules.

Good Luck with your semester

My school has a strict uniform policy. That email was professional and to the point. It was nothing unprofessional about it. The uniform policy was taught and discussed in an earlier class. When you are in uniform you should take pride in it, you should be professional and represent the school and yourself at all times. If you think that email was unprofessional well I seriously think you need to rethink your profession. Listen, follow the rules and procedures and don't sweat the small stuff.

Specializes in PCCU, tele, Med/Surg, ED, Psych.

I am a nursing instructor, my problem with this email is that it avoided directly dealing with the individuals who were not in compliance with the dress code. Unfortunately, many instructors, and floor nurses, are not comfortable in resolving issues. You hear things such as "I don't like confrontation/conflict"; that is like saying you don't like doing your job when you are in a position of authority. Speak directly with those who are the problem. Provide the a written counseling, or student improvement plan. Do your job.

Beck, I respectfully submit that such an email to the entire group interjects a certain amount of peer pressure and thus serendipitously removes all possibility of 1) plausible denial ("I never saw that!") or 2) victimhood ("My instructor's been picking on me since the first day of clinical!")

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