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...

[chare]

Deleted.

[LM838]

My hair isn't too long its only about 4-5 inches past my shoulders but I CANT imagine working with it down!!! yuck! talk about 1) my hair shedding everywhere and 2) getting so damn hot. I get hot enough with it up and running around never mind down and running around.

[tesa0414]

I'm a student and I have hair that goes past my waist, and it is in our uniform policy to keep long hair restrained and away from our faces. Even on the few clinical days I've worn it in a ponytail, I end up tying it into a bun within the first hour. I definitely don't want my hair flopping onto a patient or into any fluids, and I'm sure the patient doesn't want that either. I've noticed a few nurses on the floor who leave their hair down but it's normally not longer than chest length. Having to flip your hair back while wearing gloves is not very hygienic.

[Anna S, RN]

I remember as a teenager in the 1980s, visiting a friend in the hospital.

His nurse had hip-length loose hair, and very long hot pink fingernails.

At the time, I was a clueless teenager, and I remember even then, thinking she was unprofessional.

[Silver_Rik, ASN, BSN, RN]

I keep mine short enough that my patients can't grab me by my hair - but understand not everyone wants theirs cut like they just reported to boot camp 🙄😏

[EDNURSE20, BSN]

I have long hair and won't even wear it in a ponytail. Always a bun.

Although nails are my thing. Long nails in general gross me out, and the amount of **** that will be under there. But can't understand why any nurse would want them.

[calinurse60]

That's nasty, and I would have to say something to the charge nurse (after I've left). Who knows what all is in that hair. Yuck! I leave mine down sometimes, but mine is just below my shoulders ( and it's only on days when I forget a hair tie, haha). It is in all facilities' dress code, that I'm aware of, and when you're doing procedures - that is a genuine infection control concern.

[silverbat]

When I worked bedside nursing I had waist length hair. Always sore it up or in a ponytail. One night I left it down and a patient projectile vomited in my hair. That was it for me wearing it loose.

[TravelNurseCoco]

I have thick waist length hair, and i *never* wear it down. Infection control for patients aside, i cannot imagine leaning down to clean a patient and my hair getting into whatever I'm cleaning. Oh my god, cleaning a c diff patient and seeing your hair get into the poop? I'd 100% cry. I would just cry.

Ive been on contract for many facilities where i see nurses with their long hair down. It makes me so sick. Same thing with nails/acrylics/gels. They're bacteria havens and i see nurses with them all the time. What happpened to 1/4 inch unpolished??

protect yourself, always. No one else is going to do it for you.

[NurseBlaq]

I suddenly feel the need to shower and wash my hair after reading the comments in this thread. LMAO

[Ann E Willett RN]

We were taught in college to keep our hair up to avoid infecting patients. Such as changing dressings and have hair fall off & into the wound.

I firmly believe in this! Should one be changing a Swanz Ganz catheter or trachea dressing with their hair down? Absolutely Not. Hair sheds & you have no idea when it will or where. To me this should be common sense!! We should know better!,

[guest317]

I find it extremely unprofessional for hair to be dangling down in the patient's face, or over food. Hair should always be neat, tidy AND up and off the neckline!!! Off the collar to be exact. No need to make fashion statements when providing patient care.