the RN's appearance

[Olli]

I was just reading another forum here "What do you bring to work." Many RNs mentioned they bring gum. One RN though said that she forbids her staff to chew a gum on the floor. I sure understand that it does not look good when you obviously chew the gum when taking to a patient or a family but on the other hand... are we to much restricted when it comes to our looks and actions? In nursing school they provided a long list to us of what we should not wear to a clinical. My uniform was dark blue and made of polyster! I could only wear plain white shoes, white socks, white Tshirt, etc. No make up, no nails, no earrings. A hair should be in a ponytail. My instructor even suggested I do something with my bangs (they are long and to the side, not in my eyes though). But have you seen female residents? High heels, skirts, jewelry, hair done... maybe it's just at my hospital. Anyway, while in nursing school, I modeled too and I appreciate women's beauty. I refuse to accept that "plain" stands for "professional". I do use some make up, buy nice uniforms (no flowers and sponge bobs though!!!), and even though I have short nails, I always have them done and I still have my bangs to the side... I also always have a pack of gum with me and I only heard the compliments from coworkers, my supervisors and patients , noting about being unprofessional... Maybe we are not just RNs, but women too...

[nightyngale]

Ah yes, chewing gum. I personally love to chew mint gum because I think it is a favor to my patients. After downing a quick cup of coffee or a cheese stick, I can get nasty breath. A breath mint or a quick brush just doesn't cut it. I've talked with some nurses who have the worst breath I've ever smelled. And when we bend over patients while auscultating or adjusting linens, many patients have no choice but to smell it. I think a small piece of gum, discretely chewed, is more professional than awful halitosis.

What do the rest of you think?

[fizz2Nurse]

I was just reading another forum here "What do you bring to work." Many RNs mentioned they bring gum. One RN though said that she forbids her staff to chew a gum on the floor. I sure understand that it does not look good when you obviously chew the gum when taking to a patient or a family but on the other hand... are we to much restricted when it comes to our looks and actions? I also always have a pack of gum with me and I only heard the compliments from coworkers, my supervisors and patients , noting about being unprofessional... Maybe we are not just RNs, but women too...

For one with the gum, I always have gum.... forbidden or not and keep from chewing it when with a pt. Easy to keep under the tongue. Do you think the pt wants to smell the last drink/instant snack I grabbed in the two second break I had or my breath after I've been there 9 hours? I've never had a complaint.

As to appearance; the managers say "don't dress up and look like a professional" and then hospitals are all changing dress codes because so many look like slobs. Well duh!

I say dress professional and be made up. It reflects upon you and will carry over into pt care and your pt's (and pt's family's) feeling about you.

This doesn't just go for the women in nursing but the men too. The people that look good and professional have a far different experience. First impressions are not alwyas right, but it sure helps if the first impression is one you want to project, rather than one you hope people get. Nursing school breeds uniformity and political correctness, the reality is different.

[zenurse]

I'm not against it in principle, but there are some people who just can't seem to control themselves when they've got gum. I think we all have to abstain because the few crackers, smackers, poppers, and open-mouthed chewers have gone too far....:anbd:

[knob]

Agree with the breath issue. People that are against gum haven't smelled their own breath after a long day!

I'd rather stick hot irons in my nostrils.

[Marie-SC]

Although I am not a nurse yet, I have been a patient quite a few times and I think it is perfectly fine and maybe even better for a nurse to chew gum. Not Bubblelicious with all of the smacking. But absolutely a piece of mint gum as opposed to smelling their tuna that they had for lunch.

As far as dress/make-up. I do not wear a lot of make-up or have a fancy hair style but do try to look my best and plan to continue once I become a RN. I think that someone who is very neatly groomed (make-up or not) makes a good first impression and that gives the patient more confidence in their nurse. I know this is how I feel when I am the patient.

[Wendy_RN]

I had an assistant NM that really had it in for me. I was called into her office numerous times because she did not like the way I wore my hair, she didn't think I should wear make-up, she thought my nails were too long, etc. I pulled out the employee handbook and took her to the NM office. In the end, the ANM had to step down because I followed employee guidelines. I never understood why she gave me such a hard time when I looked professional. She should have been concerned with the employees who came in with their hair soaking wet and looked like they had slept in their clothes for days!

As far as the issue of gum, I always have it. As long as a nurse is not smacking and popping it I don't see a problem. I agree that it is actually a favor to all not to have to smell our lunch, coffee, etc. after we have been at work for such long hours.

[dream'n, BSN, RN]

Funny this topic has come up. I despise chewing gum. Truly I would rather smell bad breath than that horrible, icky mint smell. It makes me nauseous. JMO.

[november17, ASN, RN]

I go through a box of trident each night that I work. I also chew tic-tacs. Wintergreen all around...I love wintergreen. One of the main reason that I go through an entire box is that I often spit my gum out before I get up close and personal with a patient, or when I am talking on the phone, etc. I also have a toothbrush and toothpaste that I keep in my locker for after I eat, or when I come on shift if I've had a cup of coffee in the car on the way into work. I don't really think gum is that big of a deal. I'm not OCD or anything, but I don't like the thought of having bad breath. Then again, I'm one of those people that gives myself a small shot of cologne after I shower when I get home from work - just to clear my nose of the work smells (the hand sanitizer, body fluids, the soap, etc)!

PS I'm a guy not a woman...

[CABG patch kid, BSN, RN]

I totally agree that gum is a must, should be chewed to keep breath from being offensive to patients.

As far as makeup is concerned, nice natural makeup is fine and I think acceptable to all patients. Not to be conceited, but I have gotten compliments by many of my older patients saying that I'm a pretty girl, things like that, nothing out of line. I agree that it is important to have a nice appearance at work, as long as the message you are sending is that you take care of yourself. I don't agree with extreme blue eyeshadow, horribly drawn on eyebrows and things like that. I saw one nursing student at school last semester before I graduated and was horrified when I saw how her makeup was done because she was telling me how she had just been to clinical earlier that day. EEK!

Fingernails have been proven to harbor bacteria, so I believe they should be kept short and natural (please no acrylics) and polish should be chip free because apparently bacteria like to grow in the chipped areas.

Overall I think all nurses should have a professional appearance but also keep infection control as the number one priority when choosing hair, makeup, and nail style, as well as clothing.

[luckylucyrn]

I wear makeup to work, i definitley agree that it improves my appearance. I feel like a slob without it! I definitley think about the choices I make as to what "looks" I might do. I wear more subtle colors than when I am going out with friends. I do like to wear professional-appearing scrubs. My favorites are my embroidered scrub jackets with my name and title on them. I feel like that helps me look as professional as the MDs, who can wear whatever they want.

[JBudd, MSN]

Sorry to disagree with the majority here, but gum is disgusting in a hospital setting. I don't like it with store clerks either. If you re talking to me, your mouth should be empty except for your tongue and whatever pearls of wisdom are in there. Now, if you are discreet and I don't know its there, that's one thing; but far too many think they've concealed it when they haven't.

As far as the bad breath goes, gum is not the only solution. Breath mints, tictacs, Altoids are all temporarily in the mouth, and you are not perceived as a gum popping teenybopper.

Can you see a lawyer addressing a judge with gum in her mouth? Or any other professional? Yes our job can get up close and dirty, but don't add to it with gum. JMHO.:bowingpur