Published
There is a limited amount of time one can spend in the beauty parlor... I am sure that patients are not interested in eyebrow fuzziness, pimples, gray hairs, manicures, facials etc. They just want a nurse who can provide them with the care they need and advocate for them.
One's appearance is not indicative of one's nursing skills.
I personally avoiding fixing myself up to much before work. I'm already smarter and have a better personality than my coworkers. I'm also younger than many of them. If I put on makeup and spent extra time on my hair before work, well then I'd be more beautiful too.
And we all know what happens when you're smarter, younger, nicer, and prettier than your coworkers....
What about the other end.... those nurses who are thinking more about how they look. I swear some are feeding into the old steriotype that all nurses are out to land a rich doctor. Globing on the makeup, wearing way too much purfume (which is not good for any patient with a breathing problem) fake nails--a no no for infection control.
clean and neat is the way to be. just about the time you have a really good hair day, you will be the one stuck taking care of the patient that has head lice.... so that nice net bonnet will ruin those hours you spent on your hair that morning!
"fuzzy eyebrows" ???? really ??? i guess the only time i notice someones eyebrows is when they are painted on.
well, i do notice if there is a unibrow...one that goes all the way across as one long furry brow. but i understand what the op is saying. i have seen a few staff members who do have that "i slept in my uniform" look.
on the other hand, i have seen those staffers with the makeup and fake eyelashes and every hair sprayed in place and they even so much as hiccup and their mid-drift top comes up and their thong shows. there are even a few who wear the printed undies with the thin white scrub slacks and you think to yourself....that is what gives us all the bad reputation.
just saying ....i am glad that the days of the crisp starched crunch-when-you-walk dresses and the flying nun nursing caps are history...but the "guess my thong" game is too much for me.
Otessa, BSN, RN
1,601 Posts
I have been guilty of this as well.......occasionally
Do most nurses have trouble looking "put together" at work?-hair out of their eyes, 'fuzzy' eyebrows-the list goes on.
I think I have co-workers that truly try to look their worst at work-rumpled scrubs, etc.
Do you see the same thing?