Nurse Practitioners are at the forefront of healthcare reform. Many patients only contact with a healthcare professional will be with a Nurse Practitioner.
My question is this: Do you cringe when you see a nurse practitioner dressed inappropriately for the professional setting?
Tell us about a personal experience that you have had with a nurse-practitioner who did not dress appropriately for their setting.
Examples would be a male nurse practitioner who wore skinny jeans and a muscle shirt, or perhaps a female that wore yoga pants and high-heel boots.
Nurse Practitioners are perfectly capable of policing themselves. It is my belief that those who dress like they are going to a bar after work are the ones who did not have a proper role model.
Those of us seeking higher degrees should remember to be the change that we want to see.
Are you really quoting Gandhi to stress the importance of appropriate dress for NPs? I wish a tube top on you the next time you see your NP. I'm kidding. BTW, uniforms ARE for adults in certain positions, not just children.
47 year-old male nurse with 16.5 years of nursing experience. Strong science and psychology background early in my education. I have worked in LTC, Acute care, and all seven levels of ICU hell.
ADN from a community college, BSN from UTA and currently in UTA MSN Administration (Both AP).
Travel nurse for three years in California and Kentucky. In LTAC at the moment because it is the only job in which I feel like a "real" nurse.
Ready for a change and will be heading for administration and educator roles after completing my MSN. No desire to be an NP, unless the market forces me into being one.
I firmly believe that the Nursing curriculum should include more science, technology, and math.
so neither an NP nor a female professional. Think I've heard enough!
I believe the medical profession should wear some sort of uniform. Although, I'm not thrilled with the scrubs that are seen these days. I've seen too many medical assistants were scrubs that look like they found them at the bottom of the laundry basket or under the bed. Scrubs are associated with nurses. You were scrubs at a doctors office, patients "assume" you are a nurse and medical assistants are not nurses. I think a slightly different uniform would be a new trend --- khaki/navy/blck docker style pants w/ collared polo shirts for summer and long sleeve collared shirts for winter. Possibly the same sweater that they all can wear if they want. Some of the "jackets" that I have seen worn at the office is horrific. Team logos, automotive logos, bar logos -- not the appropriate for a doctor's office. The administrative staff could also have a uniform too, same pants and then one color of shirt. I don't think the NP's or PA's should wear the long white coats. They should be dressed like everyone one else. name tags should be worn, identifying who they are and title/position. As far as the MD's go. They should also dress apprpropriately, but I, myself, do not like the white coats to be worn. I feel the majority of patients would open up to their doctors if they were not wearing the white coat. I would say - casual fridays would be fun w/jeans, but still the uniform tops. But -- get rid of the scrub tops ... or nurses, back to white uniforms and hats.
Are you really quoting Gandhi to stress the importance of appropriate dress for NPs? I wish a tube top on you the next time you see your NP. I'm kidding. BTW, uniforms ARE for adults in certain positions, not just children.
Gandhi makes everything a little more important.
I love tube tops and wish that they would make a comeback.
Uniforms keep those who wear them in their place and often defines who they are to the rest of the world.
I have no problem with the NPs. Just the inappropriate attire.
Not to go off on a tangent, but how do you judge a Nurse Practitioner as competent?
Incompetent is easy to spot.
Competent is not.
By what comes out of their mouths as opposed to dress.
It doesn't matter what they wear, if it is all covered up with a lab coat anyways. The yoga pants/3" heel situation? Under a lab coat, yoga pants would look like black slacks. And some clogs have 3" heels, maybe not spike heels, but.....honestly, if someone (NP and/or whomever can wear "street clothes" to work--)wears heels to work, I would think that they are looking professional.
But LOOKING professional and BEING professional are 2 entirely different things.....and as a candidate for an MSN in administration, you would be in a position to talk about dress code, your expectations, and follow through of same.
I am also old school--I did not wear jeans until I was over 18--and it astounds me what people wear in a lot of situations. But "dress up" now involves jeans and a nice top--hardly anyone under the age of 29 or 30 own or know what "dress pants" are (for some areas of the country these are chinos/khakis) and this is equal for both male and female.
Content of knowledge and how it is applied, not if they wear heels to work...
Well this is an interesting discussion. I suppose we all have our own idea of what "professional attire" should be. However, one thing that hasn't been mentioned is the difficulty finding such attire.
As a very curvaceous woman (boobs and booty, tiny waist), I have such a hard time finding clothing. I can't wear button downs because they pull across my chest and if I get a big size, it just looks ridiculous. I try to wear sweaters as much as possible.
As for dress slacks, they are made for women with no butt so the seam/zipper presses uncomfortably against my sensitive bits. Again, if I were to size up, they'd be falling off me or I'd pay more than the cost of the slacks in terms of tailoring.
I live in a cold climate so in the winter, I wear thick leggings with leather boots, knee high, no heel. My lab coat covers me past the hip so I don't think most people notice. In the summer, I'm able to wear A-line skirts and kitten heels so it's not so much of a problem.
You use the frustration emoji because you lack any type of experiential or contextual understanding of why it is inappropriate for a male nurse to make comments about tight pants worn by women NPs, and to re-trench your position when most posters here are gently suggesting that you have failed to prove your premise (NPs dress inappropriately). This is called a "male gaze" and this type of argument reflects negatively on the argue-r, rather than the subject.
Forgot to add that I would strongly recommend you discuss this with your professors, they might be able to help you understand how problematic your attitude in the first post is.
Honestly, as a male, you probably want to pick a different battle to fight. Maybe one that directly effects you. There are a myriad of issues in nursing and you could very easily pick another to fight.
The only time I ever comment on a female staff/student wardrobe is when it is grossly inappropriate and I have female staff with me as witnesses. I have had many NP students and medical students and I have only ever had to address this once.
Not your battle and a dangerous battle for you to wager as a male.
Nurse Practitioners are at the forefront of healthcare reform. Many patients only contact with a healthcare professional will be with a Nurse Practitioner.
My question is this: Do you cringe when you see a nurse practitioner dressed inappropriately for the professional setting?
Tell us about a personal experience that you have had with a nurse-practitioner who did not dress appropriately for their setting.
Examples would be a male nurse practitioner who wore skinny jeans and a muscle shirt, or perhaps a female that wore yoga pants and high-heel boots.
Female nurse practitioners were not singled out in the original post.
skylark, BSN, RN
636 Posts
I disagree.
I think pattern scrubs look unprofessional, all those flowery, pastel, multicolor patterns that look like kid's clothes.
But clean, well-laundered solid color scrubs are smart and professional.
People with their hair loose look unprofessional too, no matter what they are wearing. Same with those wearing too much jewelry.
Handwashing when all those bangles slide around must be difficult : )
And I firmly believe that the nursing curriculum should include commons sense and compassion!