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 bedâ€; the nursing students with the one student with tons of earrings in their ear, it sure was not like that when I went to schoolâ€; 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 patientsâ€; 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!â€
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.
I think the email is perfect and the hypothetical quotes are really nailing where they should, we are nurses and as such we should behave everywhere we go. I don't think anything wrong, actually her tone is much maternal than offensive, honestly I don't see a bit of disrespect or unprofessional language. It does not matter if you went with uniform or not, it de s for everyone to read if it does not apply to you, just read it, leave it and move on but have it always present. Uniform is mandatory, appropriate and professional behavior and attire should be as well.
Specializes in Nurse Case Manager, Clinical Supervisor.
I agree with everyone else. I do not find this email to be unprofessional. I also don't think she was rambling or inventing stories about comments people have made regarding students who did not follow the dress code. She wrote the email b/c there clearly was a need for it. I think you may be a little overly sensitive.
Fifty+ shades of white here, and I'd say this is unanimous. Believe it or not, when you have been in nursing for more than a semester or four and know more about it, you'll see why and agree, even though I know you don't think so today.
Welcome to nursing, and try to take yourself a little less seriously! If you're in uniform, then you can let this one reach the ones who need it, and go on about your business...nothing to see here.
We all have our own ideas on how to handle such situations. Our students sign an acknowledgement of these rules prior to beginning clinicals. So the written warning/counseling puts them on notice. People who are doing their best to be good students often resent this type of mass hand slap.
We all have our own ideas on how to handle such situations. Our students sign an acknowledgement of these rules prior to beginning clinicals. So the written warning/counseling puts them on notice. People who are doing their best to be good students often resent this type of mass hand slap.
I agree to a point. But the original post included the idea that this had already occurred, and for some reason some students chose to ignore it. I still think that nonpersonalized peer pressure is a useful way to start, and removing deniability and the "she's picking on me" (the response is, "No, she's not, we all got that note") pays dividends in the longer run. The personalized counseling may not even be needed after that. YMMV.
Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
I still say it could have been said more succinctly. I could barely stick it out, reading all that stuff. I also think the instructors are partly to blame, if things got this bad to begin with. THEY make policy; therefore THEY are just as responsible for maintaining compliance. I am an adult learner. I don't need communications like this to push me to do the right thing.
By the very nature of the beast, Nursing students *are* assumed to be adult learners. They either make the cut, or they do not. Maybe that is why the attrition rate at my school was so high. (over 30%). SO many did not follow instructions or stick to policy. IMO those people will make lousy nurses, if that is their ethic, so washing out is the best thing that can happen. I never went to the hospital or other clinicals looking sloppy; rather I ironed my white clothes and lab coat, and made sure I was clean, nails cut and hair up. I showed up early, came prepared, and was always ready to start at report. I did not need a baby sitter Instructor or professor to tell me more than once what was expected.
I carried that ethic into my career and it serves me well. I think it may be best those unwilling or unable to meet standards should wash out and find another career. Nursing demands solid work ethics and great responsibility. May as well learn that in school, early on, or get out.
I stand by my original opinion. The email was ridiculous. I indeed, would take this hand-slap as an insult to my sense of ethics and personal responsibility.
I only feel bad for the people with tattoos. I used to think they were exceedingly unprofessional but let's be a little progressive here. A tattoo should not represent someone's competency. Obviously if someone's face or neck is tattooed, you might wonder about their decision making skills and responsibility, but aside from that, I really don't see why professionals with tattoos (on their arm, for example) are perceived in such a negative light. Also, it should be noted that I don't have any tattoos.
Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
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.
YES YES YES YES YES. You made my point better than I did.
Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
I also have noticed in nursing, so many clinical managers and school professors/ instructors do not take problems head-on. Writing a mass email like that was ineffective and too indirect. The "problem children" never see themselves as the problem and disregard. Deal with them directly---- head-on---- and you will get their attention without bothering those who ARE meeting the standard. Blanket discipline is a cop-out and in some cases, just plain lazy.
as everyone else, I don't think there's anything wrong with the email. I do think the line up might be a little too much since you're all adults but oh well. if you were one of the ones who complied, you shouldn't be worried or offended by it. Some people, even some adults still have to be reminded of the rules over and over. That's when you know who will break any rules given to them and those asf the ones who should worry!
cubrnjvm, MSN, RN
61 Posts
I think the email is perfect and the hypothetical quotes are really nailing where they should, we are nurses and as such we should behave everywhere we go. I don't think anything wrong, actually her tone is much maternal than offensive, honestly I don't see a bit of disrespect or unprofessional language. It does not matter if you went with uniform or not, it de s for everyone to read if it does not apply to you, just read it, leave it and move on but have it always present. Uniform is mandatory, appropriate and professional behavior and attire should be as well.