Nurses please try to look a little more polished at work

[OnlybyHisgraceRN]

To the smokers I work with, please do yourselves and patients a favor by brushing your teeth after smoking. the smell of smoke makes me gag, and I feel sorry for your already nauseated patients.

To the supervisor that baths in his cologne... don't. it smells horrible.

To the nurse with the huge blond hair. it looks like a bomb was set off in your hair. did you use a whole bottle of stiff on it? and you may want to wear better fitting scrubs, I'm curvy as well, but I don't like to show my curves at work.

Yes, I do like to wear make up and manicured nails( no chipping, or fakes nails) to work everyday. not only does it make me feel good but patients notice as well. looks are first impressions, and I like to make a good one.

[SHGR, MSN, RN, CNS]

My husband says "broke" a lot, as in, "The cup is broke." ohhhhhh This makes me want to throw a kitten. I totally correct him. It drives him nuts, but I'm worried my kids will start using it that way. I don't blame him-- he's around truckers and inmates all day long and it's normal to pick up on peoples' vernacular. It still sounds like fingernails on a chalkboard to me!

Both truckers and inmates? What does this poor guy do for a living?

[workingharder]

Just to keep the thread off track, why the phrase, "hot water heater"? Isn't it enough to heat cold water? What is the point in heating hot water?My many years in construction has given me this minor pet peev.

[sapphire18]

Wait...it's rediculous?!? By the way, this thread is AWESOME.

[sapphire18]

I remember that. I always thought it a bit funny that he would use the word "nucular", especially since, while in the Navy, he (President Carter ) had been an officer aboard "nucular" powered submarines.

Ok, maybe I can settle this debate (among coworkers) of the proper pronunciation of the drug "cardizem"? The right way (the way I say it;)) is: card-i (short "i" sound)-zem (with a short "e" sound). SOME people insist that it is pronounced: card-ee-uh-zem. Not sure where they're getting that extra syllable from!!! It's not diltiazem- it's a totally different word! Come on people!!

[rubato, ASN, RN]

Just to keep the thread off track, why the phrase, "hot water heater"? Isn't it enough to heat cold water? What is the point in heating hot water?My many years in construction has given me this minor pet peev.

Or, ATM Machine. PIN Number. VIN Number.

[sapphire18]

ATM machine!! Nails on a chalkboard to me:(

[healthstar, BSN, RN]

Wow! Anti makeup war is on! I consider make up an art, beautiful, I love change and different looks. I know that makeup is not everyone's favorite, it can only make you look better if you have the right techniques. I personally consider make up part of my daily hygiene, this may not be the case for everyone else. I m glad yo comb your hair and iron your scuba, sad to say, many nurses don't. In my opinion tattoos r trashy, unprofessional, and not feminine at all......can't stand females with sleeves, animals, crazy stuff eww. A butterfly, a flower would be a lil more feminine. Family names, your kids names, in your private areas?! That is just wrong in so man ways, you will not forget names, don't you worry people........people w/ tattoos might be the best nurses, docs, w/ best personalities ....but I just can't stand tattoos!!! I also tell my husband tattoos r unprofessional....so don't take it personally :)

[bagladyrn, RN]

Wow! Anti makeup war is on! I consider make up an art, beautiful, I love change and different looks. I know that makeup is not everyone's favorite, it can only make you look better if you have the right techniques. I personally consider make up part of my daily hygiene, this may not be the case for everyone else. I m glad yo comb your hair and iron your scuba, sad to say, many nurses don't. In my opinion tattoos r trashy, unprofessional, and not feminine at all......can't stand females with sleeves, animals, crazy stuff eww. A butterfly, a flower would be a lil more feminine. Family names, your kids names, in your private areas?! That is just wrong in so man ways, you will not forget names, don't you worry people........people w/ tattoos might be the best nurses, docs, w/ best personalities ....but I just can't stand tattoos!!! I also tell my husband tattoos r unprofessional....so don't take it personally :)

Don't you think that perhaps you are being just a little sexist here? Why should such things as makeup be considered work appropriate for one gender and not the other. Why should one pattern of body art be "unfeminine?

By the way, lack of knowlege about makeup is not the reason I choose not to wear it at work. I spent years doing stage makeup. I "do up" the face when going out on the town but consider it, just like a fancy outfit as decorative, somewhat frivolous, not the persona I don for work.

[Morainey, BSN, RN]

I wear eye makeup on night shift because otherwise I will rub my eyes or poke at my contact lenses. True story.

[faithoRN]

I always figure if the patients care THAT much about how I look, then they are healthy enough to go home.

That being said... a little common sense goes a long way. I always be sure I'm at least in a clean scrub set, my hair is pulled back and my teeth are brushed, although most of the time don't bother with makeup and definately NEVER do my nails.

[OCNRN63, RN]

​makeup is not hygiene. soap and water? yes. toothpaste? yes. mascara, lip gloss, rouge? no.

[Spidey's mom, ADN, BSN, RN]

Forgive me if this has already been noted (I got to page 14 on a very slow computer and have to get to work) . . .but the OP on the first page stated she didn't mean everyone should have manicured nails and wear make-up. (See quote below). It's the quote that had "flammed" in it though so maybe folks focused on that.

Personally I think she made some very good points about keeping to the dress code, not wearing perfume, not having long nails, etc.

And yes, I have seen women wear scrubs in a way to show off their curves - we are not talking about those of us who are overweight. Two examples of women where I work - one has large breasts and wears low cut tops so when she bends over her breasts look like they are being served up on a plate for the patient to feast upon.

Another nurse wears her scrubs pants rolled down and a short scrub top so when she bends over while sitting down to chart you can see her tramp-stamp, her thong and the top of her butt crack.

Both women have been counseled - both women continue to show up at times with the above issues. (That is management's fault).

Bad breath, coffee breath, smoke breath . . all can be taken care of by having a toothbrush and toothpaste at work.

The issues she brings up are all legitimate.

(Gotta go to work -hope this slow computer works!).

I believe everyone should look professional. My personal preference is light make up as it makes me look more chipper and awake. I'm not saying every nurse should wear make up or maniucured nails.