not looking "put together"

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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?

Specializes in Trauma Surgery, Nursing Management.
I pulled out the iron once when my children were in elementary school. I hardly ever used it, but my husband wore a suit every day to work at that point in his career, and would iron his clothes routinely.

When I plugged it in, both the girls scolded me soundly. "MAMA! That's PAPA'S iron! Are you supposed to be using it?!"

OMG! I am STILL laughing! "That's PAPA'S iron!" Thanks for the laugh! How cute were they?!?!?:lol2:

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Specializes in floor to ICU.

I work with a great nurse who has the worst BO ever! I was standing behind him. The RT was in front of him. He raised his arm up in front of me and I nearly passed out. The RT saw my eyes rolling back in my head and had to turn around to hid the snicker.

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Specializes in ER/Ortho.

The biggest thing I have noticed it massive bad breath when a fellow nurse is giving me report or comes up to tell me something. I mean so bad it makes you take a few steps back. Anyway, I have a small bag in my locker with a travel toothbrush, toothpaste, mouthwash, deodorant, and a light body spray. I try to freshen up by at least brushing my teeth after lunch. I also carry a small little spray bottle of breath freshener in my pocket cause after a few hours of not drinking and running around I get a bad taste.

I have empathy for the poor pt. trapped in the bed, when bad nurse breath coming at them...GROSS!!!!

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Sorry to go a little off topic, but it bothers me when people come down on others who place SOME kind of importance on their appearance. It doesn't automatically mean you're vain to want to put the best possible foot forward in the looks department.

who's coming down on others?

seriously, i must've missed it (and i'm sure i did- airhead here).

absolutely nothing wrong with grooming oneself and taking pride in one's appearance.

quite another to dress for work, as if you're ready to go clubbing.

that's my issue, and my only issue.

leslie

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Specializes in Peds Medical Floor.
I work with a great nurse who has the worst BO ever! I was standing behind him. The RT was in front of him. He raised his arm up in front of me and I nearly passed out. The RT saw my eyes rolling back in my head and had to turn around to hid the snicker.

That's pretty much the only standard my work has...that you can't smell. We had some refugees who came to work as CNAs and my DON had to verse them in American standards of hygiene because none of them wore deodorant. She had a quick talk with them and it's been fine ever since.

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Specializes in M/S, MICU, CVICU, SICU, ER, Trauma, NICU.

Well, I hope I am not the only one who likes to look nice.

I enjoy it--I always have.

But that is me =)

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Specializes in Ante-Intra-Postpartum, Post Gyne.

I always get compliments on my cute scrubs, its my saving grace. But I shower the night before and roll out of bed 20 mins before I have to leave for work. Quickly slick back a pony tail, Bare Minerals and Mascara if you are lucky, eat my peanut butter toast during report. I drive 45 mins, I do not have time to "look good". Fortunately for me, I live in a "crunch granola" area and work in L&D where screaming women do not notice if my make-up or hair is not perfect.

The O.R. folks have it best. My husband had surgery last week. He could not remember anything from the time he got the Versed in Short Stay until I saw him on Med/Surg. The next morning he had to ask me if he was still in the ICU he was so disoriented. A nurse with a uni-brow, big wort on her nose, and Micky Mouse Scrubs could have been his nurse in the O.R. and he would have never been the wiser

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Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.
. . . .When I plugged it in, both the girls scolded me soundly. "MAMA! That's PAPA'S iron! Are you supposed to be using it?!"

Scoooooore!!:rckn:

But seriously, this thread has made me think- as I am in an area of nursing where street clothes are allowed "so as not to remind the patient they are in a hospital-like environment or draw attention in public"-- I think I may get a teensy bit too casual with it.

Normally I would wear water-proof mascara, a light lipgloss or lipstick and maybe a little powder. I have "combination" skin and many times I will splash water on my face when I wash my hands if my face feels icky from whatever is in the air. I don't want to have to undo foundation blush etc etc to rinse my face off. I always try to grab a few minutes to brush out my hair at lunch or break. These stories about crooked eyebrows and sleep-face are so funny I have to stop now.:lol2:

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i will admit, i wear full face makeup to work. but that is just out of habit. i dont think it offends the patient if a nurse isnt wearing makeup. and if it does offend them, then they should be worrying about their health instead. WHICH IS MORE IMPORTANT!

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Specializes in School Nursing.

I totally get what the OP is saying. I am not a person who puts much thought into my appearance unless it is a date night with DH or something special. Jeans and tees, ponytails, etc are my "uniform" when I am off work. I rarely wear makeup beyond a tinted moisturizer and powder to set it.

For work, I try to make an effort to see that my scrubs are at least marginally wrinkle-free, I try to get a little blush and lip gloss on, and make sure my long unruly hair is corralled in a tight bun. No perfume EVER! It is not difficult to make sure one's appearance gives the impression of a professional, and that is not the same thing as a beauty pagent contestant!

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Specializes in NICU, Post-partum.

I think too many nurses in the profession, especially the ones that work the night shift, let themselves go.

I can't stand to see it and feel that it is very unprofessional. We see family members around the clock and I don't want some family member questioning the type of care that I may/may not give by my appearance.

Every day, I wear a clean uniform, I iron it (because it ALWAYS looks better), my lab coat is starched and ironed, I fix my hair, put on some small earrings and wear full makeup, which I touch up during my lunch.

If you look, very, very closely as to who is in charge at your hospital, upper-level managers, etc...I would wager 90% of them look the part, and probably did long before they were promoted.

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Specializes in Pediatric Pulmonology and Allergy.
I've learned over the years that appearances really do not mean much. There was once an RN who always looked spectacular, hair right from the salon, nails that were french manicure and near perfect, uniform pressed, make up flawless. I thought at first, this woman is dang near perfect!

Well fast forward just a few months later. Major narcotic issue. They set up a camera, and guess who was caught!

I would of never guessed at the time that someone who looked so put together could have issues that big. Lesson learned.

I thought the same of one of the patients when I was doing psych rotation. She was beautiful and always looked well-dressed and put together... but borderline with multiple suicide attempts.

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