not looking "put together"

sharpeimom · Sep 30, 2010

i have pulled lots of chin hairs for older ladies in my day. for both grandmas, my dying mom, patients, etc. and it never bothered me. it does, however, bother me when i read in various allnurses threads, that young newer nurses think such tasks are not of a professional nature and, therefore, they will not

do them. that makes me sad because tasks like that are so important for patient dignity, whether or not they are "professional" or not.

ok...off my soapbox for now.

shoegalRN, RN · Sep 30, 2010

Ok, here's the thing:

I wear solid navy blue scrubs. No variety is allowed. I am a fashionista and have been before I became a nurse. I used to work corporate where I had to wear suits and heels everyday. I ENJOYED getting all dressed up. I am also a shoe addict and I wear 5 inch stillettos on my personal time out on the town.

I am an African American woman and yes, I HAVE to get my hair done. I wear a curly afro, but for work I will pull it back in an afro puff. Sometimes I wear Goddess braids that are ALWAYS neat and well kept. My eyebrows are ALWAYS on point because work is not the only place I hang out at. My scrubs are always ironed, and I wear a nice blazer style lab coat (only when I work the GI lab). When I work ER, I wear my navy blue fleece. I have two pairs of Dankso's, one pair for the ER and one pair for the lab. My scrubs are navy blue, but I will go out of my way to find cute cuts and styles that are still practical. I always wear a white long sleeve t-shirt under my scrubs and they fit my body type.

I get a manicure and pedicure once a month. I wear my nails short and I will wear nice nail color that is not chipped. I do not wear make up to work, I barely even wear makeup because I really don't have to. I may play up my eyes when I got out on the town and throw on some gloss, but that's it.

Yes, I do take pride in my appearance, but I still look professional. I do not wear rings to work, but will wear small earrings that do not dangle.

I really don't care how others percieve me because I take pride in my appearance. I really don't care how others choose to look when they come to work. All I know is that this woman's hair HAS to be done, and that's the bottom line.

wooh, BSN, RN · Sep 30, 2010

What makes going to work any different than going out shopping, dinner, etc.

I don't get puked and peed on, trach secretions shot at me, when I'm shopping or at dinner. Also don't have to lift people or climb up on their bed to reposition them or give CPR when I'm shopping or at dinner.

Oh, and I don't go shopping for 13+ hours with a 2+ hour commute that I have to somehow find some sleep before the next shift of "shopping or dinner."

I could cut down to 4 hours sleep, but I think I'll be more likely to save someone instead of kill them if I get 5 and let my hair just wash and wear and my face show as the one God gave me.

sharpeimom · Sep 30, 2010

afrocentric,

i think that since you work in gi, you are physically safe. i'm glad you are safe. it also gives you a great deal more freedom to use makeup, to have alternate hairdo choices, etc. my hair is fine as it was when i was two, sad to say. i usually pulled mine back into a ponytail or up on top of my head.

i don't think people meant what you dois unnecessary or wrong at all. i've seen nurses and aides who

looked like overly made up china dolls and i think that's what the objection is to.

shoegalRN, RN · Sep 30, 2010

afrocentric,
i think that since you work in gi, you are physically safe. i'm glad you are safe. it also gives you a great deal more freedom to use makeup, to have alternate hairdo choices, etc. my hair is fine as it was when i was two, sad to say. i usually pulled mine back into a ponytail or up on top of my head.
i don't think people meant what you dois unnecessary or wrong at all. i've seen nurses and aides who
looked like overly made up china dolls and i think that's what the objection is to.

yes, but i also work er. when i read some people objecting to having hair "done up", i had to say something. i have no choice but to get my hair "done", although i have no chemicals in my hair and its in its natural state. i still have it done professionally twice a month.

on the other hand, i have seen some of my co-workers with a face full of make up everyday, but i figure that's something they just do. i don't wear make up to work, but i probably own more pair of scrubs than they do simply because i like variety, although it's still navy blue. :lol2:

sharpeimom · Sep 30, 2010

yes, but i also work er. when i read some people objecting to having hair "done up", i had to say something. i have no choice but to get my hair "done", although i have no chemicals in my hair and its in its natural state. i still have it done professionally twice a month.
short of you dying your hair purple and orange (or whatever) it is really no one else's business how you wear your hair, if you like it. as my mom used to say, "sometimes you have to be a little deaf, a little blind and a little dumb."
on the other hand, i have seen some of my co-workers with a face full of make up everyday, but i figure that's something they just do. i don't wear make up to work, but i probably own more pair of scrubs than they do simply because i like variety, although it's still navy blue.

less laundry to do and more variety in your day, both of which are fine. :up: :)

BabyLady, BSN, RN · Oct 3, 2010

Really? The CEO of your hospital was once a nurse? All your managers, VPs, and various other administrators were once nurses who are now managers who still spend a significant amount of their time on the floor? That's truly progressive.
Our administration has it's own wing. They don't actually come to the floor unless they are passing out pats on the back or slumming. Our middle managers (ie, unit managers) do spend time on the floor, and attempt to be helpful when they can, but their mostly concerned with administrative tasks.

Our manager has her office...on the floor where we work.

She wears scrubs and a lab coat to work every day, unless she will be in meetings, then it's business attire with a lab coat.

She will come in and work the floor on those rare days (usually during the winter), when no one else could be called in.

I have a lot of respect for my manager b/c she has never forgot where she came from.