?? for long-haired female nurses/student! How do you wear your hair at the hospital?

[Athenas83]

Silly question I know. I'm starting nursing school this month, and I have long hair (past shoulder length) and I'm assuming I can't wear it down in the hospital. The thing is (not to be vain), I look better with my hair down, and I don't want to cut it. Half of my hair up and rest down is probably not acceptable either?

So how do you all wear your hair? I was thinking a low ponytail.....blaaah boring. Maybe I'll get some side sweeping bangs to make it look more interesting.

[Quickbeam, BSN, RN]

I have long hair, no bangs. Nurse for 20+ years. I wear it up in clinical settings. A pinned up braid or a hair clip. Remember, you are often bending over patients and dealing with body fluids and wounds. You need to keep it out of your way.

[ellieRN06]

My hair is not terribly long and the hospital doesn't have any strict policies on how we dress or wear our hair. I usually wear it up, however last week I wore it down...big mistake. I had a brain injury pt with C-diff/MRSA grab me by the hair. Last time I will do that!!! Rather be safe than cute.

Ellie

[Silverdragon102, BSN]

when I had long hair I always had it up either completely or just in a pony tail. As said in previous post dealling with body fluids need to keep risk down of getting hair involved. Also makes it a little bit harder for someone to grab

[Athenas83]

Thanks for the replies! Wow, I would not want to get pulled by my hair or carry microbes home.

[Preemienurse23]

I wore mine in a clip or a ponytail. I finally decided to cut it after it almost landed in my pts c-diff filled BM. I never had it grabbed, but that was always a big fear of mine, still is.

[miko014]

My hair is long (mid back). I usually wear a low or half ponytail or a bun. I don't like to do the bun a lot 'cause I don't want to look "matronly", but I get a ton of compliments when I wear it like that. Occasionally I'll wear it in a braid, but it's hard for me to keep it looking nice for long (layers stick out). I have never had my hair pulled or "land in" anything, but that's because I keep it up. I have seen lots of nurses wearing theirs down, and it's so gross!!! Also never had my hair pulled, but I am nervous about grabby pts. That's the same reason I don't wear anything around my neck (except my stethoscope, of course!).

[pkapple]

twist, clip, pin, headband,pony..anything that keeps it from hanging over pts or in unamed yuck. Hard to start an IV with long or half bangs across your visual field, too.

Your school will have a strict clinical policy re: hair, nails, and jewelry.

[MAISY, RN-ER, BSN, RN]

In nursing school (recent) it was mandatory that hair was pulled back-not necessarily up but back. I too hate wearing my hair up, so I'd leave it half up and half down. During one clinical in a telemetry unit, I was literally accosted by an APN who actually berated and threatened me because I had changed a surgical dressing, meanwhile the staff all had "tons of hair(NJ)" all down, stood around watching her like she was nuts! I was shocked....I bit my lip to keep from reacting...later when I spoke to my clinical professor and told her what had happened. She told me that the APN had been a former director of nursing at our school and was a terror! At that time, hair could not touch your collar! Times change.

I would advise you consider your hair styles carefully depending on your area of expertise. There is nothing quite like having someone grab your hair(with yucky fingers...ew) as you are inserting a foley, or having in fall in your face as you struggle with a altered patient, etc....

Maisy;)

[StudentNurseSteph, BSN, RN]

my school's policy includes wearing your hair up and not having it touch the shoulders.. i have hair about 3-4 inchs past my shoulders when it's down...so i typically where it in a high ponytail or a low to mid bun.. i'm not a big fan of buns but i also don't like having my hair look the same day after day.. =) Hope it helped..

[Grumpygs, MSN, RN]

Congrats on starting nursing school! :balloons: The policy at my school is that it has to be up, controlled and not touch the uniform or be visible (to you) if you bend forward at the waist - which basically means in a bun. I suppose that how you wear your hair in school/clinical will depend on their rules. Good luck!

[ICRN2008, BSN, RN]

My school and hospital both have policies that hair longer than shoulder length must be tied up (so as not to fall over the shoulders when leaning down). When you get into the clinical setting you will likely see that cleanliness is more important than how you look. Good luck in school :)