I don't know how many of you get the Medscape articles but this week a very interesting topic is being discussed. It's an article in Nursing Economics wherein a former ED nurse wrote about a taking a friend to the ER and her opinions of the appearance and caring of the various personnel.
If you get a chance check it out. You will have to register, but it's free. They have some really excellent CE articles there too.
The shoe didn't fit me either. I always try to look my best. I'm just sick of people that don't know the first thing about what nursing is (like an attorney, for example) going on about what they think nurses should look and/or act like. Most people tend to have the impression that nursing is a desk job -- we just sit around all day until someone saves us from our boredom by asking for (or demanding, usually) something.
RN4NICU, high five and standing ovation for an excellent post.
I confess to not reading the article because I'm too lazy to register, but I get the gist of it from the posts.
I'm clean and neat. I have tidy hair, clean fingernails, and even 'morificecape' my hairy chest so those chest hairs don't stick out of my scrubs, and I wear clean clogs. My demeanor is profressional, calm, open and very friendly. I'm smart and when I talk to patients they seem to respect what I have to say. I get feedback from dayshift nurses that patients have complimented me and are glad to see me come back to take care of them.
I don't look like a degreed profressional with a suit and tie. I feel that given the oh so accurate job description by RN4NICU above that I need to do anything else for my "appearance". My nursing hands on actions speak more about my profressionalism than a suit.
RN4NICU, LPN, LVN
1,711 Posts
The shoe didn't fit me either. I always try to look my best. I'm just sick of people that don't know the first thing about what nursing is (like an attorney, for example) going on about what they think nurses should look and/or act like. Most people tend to have the impression that nursing is a desk job -- we just sit around all day until someone saves us from our boredom by asking for (or demanding, usually) something.