Long hair at the bedside

[kakamegamama]

I have a question. Have things changed in hospitals at the bedside to the point that nurses who have waist length hair are no longer required to have it in a pony tail or braid or bun? A few weeks ago my husband had a procedure done in the GI lab. One of the nurses came into the waiting room to call the next patient back into the patient admit area and her hair was long enough she could sit on it, and not restrained in any way. All I could think of was "yuck" and "fomite!". I wanted to run up to her and give her my infection control talk, but didn't....maybe I should have...

[Orion81RN]

Davey Davey Do..where are you??

Trimming his chest length upside down triangle shaped beard.

[cleback]

I've seen it too and yuck. If food workers need it pulled back, then Healthcare workers especially need it pulled back. Who the heck wants hair falling over when an IV is being placed?? I would be furious as a patient.

[brownbook]

Agree with all, I'm hoping maybe she was a CNA who's only patient care contact was bringing them back to their beds and getting vitals. Still the hair should be off the shoulders.

[kbrn2002, ADN, RN]

I work with a nurse with long hair that she leaves down. All I can think is YUCK! I can't even think of long hair dipping into some of the gunk we are exposed to every day. Incontinent residents? Yep, I sure want my hair sweeping through a pile of urine or poo. Dressing changes? Sure, just let me include a few of my foot long hairs in your new clean dressing, or just dip the tips of my hair with God knows what germs on it into your wound. Cross contamination much?

[curious nature, ADN, RN]

Also with long hair, and wear it up every day for hygiene and convenience. If your bun gets too tight and/or hurts, try just twisting it up in a bun and use small to medium claw clips to hold it in place. I find them to be perfect even with thick hair, as they can be readjusted easily. I've seen some nurses and other bedside staff with hair down, and I don't know how or why they do it!

[Crystal-Wings, LVN]

I think it's nasty to not pin up your hair in our line of work. It's just as gross as having long artificial nails.

[TriciaJ, RN]

I've seen it too and yuck. If food workers need it pulled back, then Healthcare workers especially need it pulled back. Who the heck wants hair falling over when an IV is being placed?? I would be furious as a patient.

I once had a patient complain to me about her previous nurse. Apparently when inserting a foley the nurse had long hair hanging loose. I didn't know what to say to the patient. I completely agreed with the patient but couldn't weigh in against a coworker.

[pixierose, BSN, RN]

I don't get it. Who would WANT their flowing locks floating into the C-diff they're cleaning, the Foley they're placing, or the wound with MRSA they're dressing? Gag, no thank you!

[nursel56]

Completely gross and nasty, and I say that as someone who has had long hair for most of my life. Having your hair fall forward as you're cleaning up a patient, suctioning someone with lots of secretions...

[Have Nurse, ADN, RN]

It is usually part of the dress code for those doing patient care or those who work in Maintenance or Housekeeping. If a staff member is noticed with it down and loose, they are instructed to tie it back immediately. It is an infection control concern as well as a safety one. The docs in some hospitals are not allowed to wear ties for the same reason.

[Leader25, ASN, BSN, RN]

It is disgusting what I see on some nurses,waist length crap all hanging down, or hair all unkempt,sticking up and out,unbrushed,if you don't want to blow it out then uses curlers,and get those roots taken care of,either white or black roots,all coming out,big mustache on upper lip ugh,they don't enforce this part of the code,,they don't enforce clean shoes,some shoes look like a dog was chewing on them, old once white jackets all grey and dirty looking,throw them out already,...im just saying.

[VivaLasViejas, ASN, RN]

It is disgusting what I see on some nurses,waist length crap all hanging down, or hair all unkempt,sticking up and out,unbrushed,if you don't want to blow it out then uses curlers,and get those roots taken care of,either white or black roots,all coming out,big mustache on upper lip ugh,they don't enforce this part of the code,,they don't enforce clean shoes,some shoes look like a dog was chewing on them, old once white jackets all grey and dirty looking,throw them out already,...im just saying.

You lost me at "roots". There is no requirement for nurses to keep their hair color touched up or their upper lips waxed. While they may not be aesthetically pleasing, nurses go to work to WORK, not walk down a runway. I'm just saying.