Nurses wearing flowers?

Is it true that Hawaii nurses wear flowers in their hair while at work? I think that is so cool.(and beautiful I bet) I hope to visit Hawaii one day,(maybe travel nurse, maybe just vacation) but I would love to see this in person. I can only imagine that if I was a patient how that would brighten my day!

No. Nurses here are no different than anywhere else. It's no more "romantic" to work here than it is to work on the mainland.

Case in point: The seven-week nurses strike five years ago.

Well Pardon me! I just thought it was a nice way to incorporate the local culture into the work place.(If it was true, obviously it isn't) Didn't mean to offend. If I remember correctly it was on all nurses that I read that bit of info.

Well Pardon me! I just thought it was a nice way to incorporate the local culture into the work place.(If it was true, obviously it isn't) Didn't mean to offend. If I remember correctly it was on all nurses that I read that bit of info.

LOL---your post wasn't offensive at all. And you CAN wear flowers in your hair if you want to, I guess. On special occasions (birthdays, etc) you might see people wearing lei but it is not an everyday thing. :)

I would not want my nurses wearing flowers. I am allergic to various flowers/grasses/perfumes. I never know what is going to trigger my allergies. I know I am miserable when I have an allergy attack walking by someone wearing perfume, I can't imagine how someone with asthma/copd and allergies might feel.

I would not want my nurses wearing flowers. I am allergic to various flowers/grasses/perfumes. I never know what is going to trigger my allergies. I know I am miserable when I have an allergy attack walking by someone wearing perfume, I can't imagine how someone with asthma/copd and allergies might feel.

That's certainly something to be considered. In addition, what I hadn't thought of until after I posted were possible infection control issues, especially in the units. We don't allow any fresh flowers and some immunocompromised patients are forbidden fresh fruits, etc. So flowers in your hair would also be frowned upon.

I've seen a few nurses at my hospital wear Plumerias behind their ear...

I love it.

Maybe they're plastic though? *Never thought to ask*

PS: Hawaiian Nursing is different. We don't give report, we just talk story. =)

No. Nurses here are no different than anywhere else. It's no more "romantic" to work here than it is to work on the mainland.

Case in point: The seven-week nurses strike five years ago.

Oh don't remind me, Windward!!!!!! LOL. I wonder what the next contract will bring.

Oh don't remind me, Windward!!!!!! LOL. I wonder what the next contract will bring.

We're headed for the contract year. I guess I don't have to tell you, Pua----it's going to be a tough one. Have you seen the "occurrence" policy?? I'm sure you have. Unbelievable!

Our hospital and HNA just negotiated a new contract last November. Didn't hear anything of a "occurence" policy. Negotiations were tough though... and the economy is looking even worse this year.

Can you shed some light on that policy? =)

No. Nurses here are no different than anywhere else. It's no more "romantic" to work here than it is to work on the mainland.

Case in point: The seven-week nurses strike five years ago.[/quote

You mean coconut bra's and big ol' hibiscus aren't part of your dress code? Wait a minute...I bet you don't even serve mai tai's when you make your rounds... or perform a brief hula upon admitting a new pt.

BAD Hawaii nurse, now go back to your little grass hut and take a time out!:p:p:p:p:p:p

No. Nurses here are no different than anywhere else. It's no more "romantic" to work here than it is to work on the mainland.

Case in point: The seven-week nurses strike five years ago.[/quote

You mean coconut bra's and big ol' hibiscus aren't part of your dress code? Wait a minute...I bet you don't even serve mai tai's when you make your rounds... or perform a brief hula upon admitting a new pt.

BAD Hawaii nurse, now go back to your little grass hut and take a time out!:p:p:p:p:p:p

I have to defend Windward Nurse here. She is right on the mark when she talks about what is going on in the Islands. I looked at her old posts and I have to agree with her. I know she is not from here but she certainly understandes the problems here. For all those who have lived through the strike, this is no joke.

I have to defend Windward Nurse here. She is right on the mark when she talks about what is going on in the Islands. I looked at her old posts and I have to agree with her. I know she is not from here but she certainly understandes the problems here. For all those who have lived through the strike, this is no joke.

It's true that striking is no joke. I feel grateful that I have never been in a strike situation (so far!) and didn't mean to make light of that subject.(The idea of it gives me a stomach ache!)I really was just joking and apologize if I offended anyone.

I DO think its funny how people romanticize what it is like to work in Hawaii (me included, before I moved here 3 years ago!).

The sad truth is: you go to work, you bust your a$$,you encounter some wonderful people and some real jerks.You do the best you can and some days you save a life and some days you know your best was not enough.

You get off work and your feet and back hurt. You go to the store you feed the kids you love the kids and put 'em to bed.You pick up the house and then crack a beer and zone out on the TV. You get not-enough-sleep, get up, and do it all over again.

Same thing in Hawaii, Montana, New York City, and Kalamazoo. Flowers or not, nursing is always hard work and Hawaii is not the Shangri-La of nursing:

As Windward said, nurses seem to be struggling here to be recognized as professionals (which didn't seem to be an issue to me where I lived on the mainland). And while the pay rate looks good on paper, it doesn't make up for the high cost of living in the islands. Living here is tougher than I ever imagined, and all the nurses I've seen come and go in just 3 years are proof of that.

All that said, I do still love this place and am honored to call Hawaii my home.(And I do wear a flower or lei at work on occasion!)