Pinning up long hair

Nurses Safety

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I am wondering what everyone's opinion is about wearing long hair down in the work place as an RN. I work at a hospital and I see this with alot of the RN's and I think its a safety hazard to our patients because nurses do sterile procedures and work with food, not to mention a combative patient could grab hair.

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Specializes in onc, M/S, hospice, nursing informatics.

Our policy simply states, "Hair must be worn in a way that prevents contamination and does not present a safety hazard." Seems rather non-specific to me. But I've noticed that this organization is quite lenient on some of their policies, yet very strict on others. There are some nursing staff who wear artificial nails, other office staff who wear thong-type shoes. I know it takes a lot to enforce, but if they stuck to the policies all the time it would not be an issue. Getting off my soapbox now...

:uhoh3:

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

When I went to school and first in nursing we had some really strict rules. Hair was to be OFF the collar and not hanging down the back......but I think as long as when they bend over it doesn't drape across the patents face and can stay out of a sterile field then a pony tail or braid is just fine.

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Specializes in LTC.

I do wear my hair down but i keep a scrunchie on my wrist and tie it up when i need to. (meal times, dressing changes, foley insertions)

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The one and only time I had my hair down at work, a psych patient thought my hair would make a great 3am snack when I was positioning her. Never again. When it's long it's in a pony tail and when I chop it off, it's pinned back with a head band.

I happen to like my hair on my head, thanks.

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Specializes in Home Health.

Definitely a pony tail. Can't stand hair in my face and that's how it seems to want to grow and hang. Besides I get hot very easily!

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Ours must be off the collar but once its presentable and off your face they arent so strict about it

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Specializes in ED, ICU, PSYCH, PP, CEN.

our policy says off the collar, but nobody listens. I put mine up cause I don't want poop on it. But some have waist length hair and son't put it up. I don't understand why so many people won't go with the policys.

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Specializes in Medical Surgical Orthopedic.

We have a nurse with long, tousled/bedroom, 80's rock band hair. I'm not the hair police, but that would drive me crazy! I'm always waiting for her guitar solo when she gives me report.

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The policy to my nursing school states that if you have hair that touches your shoulders, you have to wear it up off your collar. But, no hair is to be left hanging in the face, so even if you have short hair, it has to be pinned back and away from the face. Needless to say, there are a lot of headbands and ponytails going on!

For me, though, since we're not allowed to wear a lot of makeup (I didn't anyway, so no biggie for me) or nails (mine don't grow and I see a waste in paying for nails), and we can't wear jewelry except for a watch and a simple pair of studs in our ears (if you're married you can wear a smooth wedding band, but I'm single, so there goes), I see my hair as really the only way that I can show a little bit of my personality. Some days its straight and in a pony, some days it's scrunched and pulled up, some days, it's curled, some days (when I'm not rushing around in the morning) it's in a French twist with curled ends!

Of course, some people don't go by the policy, but then others get busted for what they go against... For example, I've got an upper lobe peircing (not exactly lobe, not exactly cartilage) and I was told I couldn't wear it to clinical, no problem I can take it out and then put it back in when I get back to my car; but, there is a girl that has a cartilage peircing, and she wears it everyday, and has never been told not to do so! I guess you can't win them all!

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Specializes in LTC, Psych, Hospice.

Mine is always in a bun or a pony tail. It is just too hot to wear it down @ work.

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Specializes in ER.

Ponytail for me on most days and the rest I wear it back in a hair band (I too keep a scrunchie or clip on me just in case).

If I could part with my hair I would opt for a short professional style.

Hair all hanging long and in your face = unprofessional (in my opinion).

Should be common sense and not a policy...but hahahaha:devil:

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