Nurse Hijabi advice

Nurses Uniform/Gear

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Hello all!

This is my first post on here, I am in need of some guidance. I just started my nursing program and we were learning to do blood pressure. Since I wear a headscarf (hijab) I had to take my pin out and loosen it order to be able to put the stethoscope in my ears. I am wondering how other nurses that wear hijab deal with the stethoscope issue. Should I wear my scarf "turban" style (neck showing) during clinicals or should I wear it really loose(no pins). I have tried different styles with a loose scarf since I prefer to cover my neck but it is not comfortable on and i keep touching it.Im stressing out because i think this will be a problem when i start clinical in a hospital. For example if i touch a patient then touch my scarf then later on touch my scarf then touch a patient i would be spreading microorganisms. I hope I am being clear.

Thank you for taking time to read this!

Thank you everyone! I will keep practicing different ways to use the stethoscope with my scarf. I appreciate it

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I like the 2-piece Amira style hijab. No pins....stretchy fabric. Nothing dangling and you can tuck it into your scrub top.

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Specializes in ER.

I would also buy one or two for the hospitals, like scrubs. Most people do not wear scrubs out and about (although I am guilty of a quick grocery run after a long shift).

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Specializes in Cardiac.

Hey and salaam...I'm a Muslim RN, work on a cardiac floor and cover. Sis just get yourself some jersey shaylahs...wrap normally, put 1 pin at the top, tucks the ends into your scrub top and you can easily pop the steth in AND out of your ears with zilch issues.

I work cardiac so obv I am *always* manually auscultating BPs and listening to heart and lungs...I cant be fiddling and you dont want to keep removing your pin as you may loose it...which you dont want.

I buy all my jersey shaylahs from Hijab-Ista.com...i have like maybe 10 and I just wear a diff. color wear day at work. They last for 12-16hur shifts and I dont have to adjust at all...even once...which I good as im *busy* as heck during those 12-16hrs so even running to pee is a huge celebration for me...even eating...so I cant waste time messing with my scarf.

DO NOT PUT YOUR STETH OVER YOUR SCARF! I repeat...do not! That is POOR PRACTICE and is NOT safe...because you are oputting your pt at risk. You CAN NOT HEAR through a steth over your scarf!!! I remember trying that to practice a few times at home on family and you can NOT hear low heart sounds or diminished lung sounds or properly auscultate a manual BP! You hear crunching fabric. It also looks unprofessional.

Just do yourself a favor...buy a few normal jersey scarves at hijab-ista and dontnsweat it. Your fee to email me if you need more advice. [email protected]

OK

best of luck. Dont sweat stuff like this...its not a biggie...you have bigger fish to fry...fiddling with your scarf isnt one of them

+ need I mention its also not safe...lost pins...patients who sundowning or anxious and grabbing at things/people/clothing...infection control...need I go on. Keep the shaylah intact...no stress,

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Specializes in Cardiac.
I like the 2-piece Amira style hijab. No pins....stretchy fabric. Nothing dangling and you can tuck it into your scrub top.

Nice tip...I know many covering nurses do the al ameerah too...I personally dislike them but I disliked them even before I was a nurse. I just do reular jersey shaylahs, ends tucked into my scrub top and it is just as good.

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Salam. I used to have the same struggles and don't find enough time to properly and securely wrap the hijab loosely enough that I didn't have to fidget with it the rest of the day at work. Then I found the Jersey Hijab which has made life so much easier for me. It stretches enough to fit in the stethoscope and the face mask we must wear when coming into contact with airborne organisms. I would highly recommend you find any hijab made with jersey material and inshaAllah it will work out for you. All the best!

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Ok this is a super old post but I wandered across it.

Some of my nurse friends are muslim and all did not wear a hijab to work.

One day a new grad new hire(now a friend) I was paired with to orientate came in wearing her hijab pinned but she kept touching it which then leads to an infection control issue and technically I'm supposed to comment it on her weekly report but I sat down with her at the end of the first week (lol after making sure with my friend that it wouldn't be considered offensive especially what I was going to discuss come across as racist or disrespectful) and asked her about her hijab and the current issue and other alternatives. She had told me about a ton of different styles which they are all names I couldn't even begin to remember let alone spell. She was off for 2 days and then came back and she had seriously come up with the most amazing genius idea ever. She had one that was more like a cap and her hair and everything was covered but her ears were exposed and then she had a very loose head scarf over all of it that she very easily slipped the stethoscope under without even touching it with her hands, just touched the ear pieces to her cheeks and back to her ears. I've also now seen her wear a turban style with a turtleneck under her scrubs and a loose head scarf over it so she still has her ears out but covered.

I ended up thanking my friend for kind of guiding me in how to discuss it and the specifics of the "rules"(not even sure rules is the right word), I honestly had no idea your ears were supposed to be covered. I had asked my trainee if I could take her picture to send to my friend and now a good amount of my friends actually wear theirs the same or quite similar when they come to work.

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[...]

One day a new grad new hire(now a friend) I was paired with to orientate came in wearing her hijab pinned but she kept touching it which then leads to an infection control issue...

[...]

Please tell me you're kidding.

If not, please tell me how touching a hijab is any more of an infection control issue than touching a scrub top, lab jacket, tie, stethoscope, bar code scanner, etc.

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Please tell me you're kidding.

If not, please tell me how touching a hijab is any more of an infection control issue than touching a scrub top, lab jacket, tie, stethoscope, bar code scanner, etc.

Her touching it to put in the stethoscope then touching it again after touching the patient's clothes and body when the patient had a questionable rash makes it a very clear infection control issue. If you have to wear gloves with a patient then you shouldn't be touching your face or head with those gloves even if you need to adjust the ear pieces especially if what you are touching isn't disposable or possible to wash in the sink then wipe down with a steri-wipe and keep going.

I did not liken it to any piece of clothing but the fact it was in direct contact with her face and she had to manually move it to then use her stethoscope and now what she has touched on the patient is on her skin and her hijab it means any time she touches it through out the day it is now spreading the germs. That's only one example of the times I observed. If I personally was wearing a headband or glasses and I had to touch them I would be concerned with infection control as well.

Maybe be you missed the NEW GRAD portion of my comment. I'm sure many experienced nurses who wear a hijab are much more skilled and stealth at maneuvering their hijab to use their stethoscope but it doesn't change that she broke infection control. I'm also sure she isn't the only healthcare professional to wear a hijab and struggle with how to maneuver the stethoscope or putting on ear loop face masks given the OP posted this about the same issue.

I actually thought, and still think, she is amazing and was quite the genius for what she came up with to maintain her religious convictions without compromising her standards and I'm glad some of my friends were inspired by her to start wearing their hijabs to work.

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Specializes in progressive care. med surg. tele. LTC. psych..
Please tell me you're kidding.

If not, please tell me how touching a hijab is any more of an infection control issue than touching a scrub top, lab jacket, tie, stethoscope, bar code scanner, etc.

I was just about to ask this! It's apart of the uniform. You wouldn't wear the same pants to work as you do while lounging around the house right? No.. you have pants that are designated for work. Which get washed frequently or replaced.

Lol. Yikes.

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I was just about to ask this! It's apart of the uniform. You wouldn't wear the same pants to work as you do while lounging around the house right? No.. you have pants that are designated for work. Which get washed frequently or replaced.

Lol. Yikes.

It is not that she is wearing it but it is what she is doing while she is wearing it. A nurse not wearing a hijab can also break infection control. Please refer to my response above.

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Specializes in Family practice, emergency.

When I first started wearing hijab, I was reported to infectious disease because it was "An infection control issue." Their response? So is everything else everyone wears in here: ties, lab coats, jackets, shirts under scrubs... I was glad to have that support.

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