Should nurses with long hair be required to wear it up?

aura_of_laura · Apr 11, 2010

Absolutely. Not only for infection control (which, sorry, isn't a personal choice), but because long hair is great to grab on to, and if it's loose you can really wrap your fingers into it. Seen too many women get hunks of hair ripped out by an aggressive patient. Like, bald spot hunks of hair. In that situation, frankly, they deserve it. Wear it up and out of the way!

llg, PhD, RN · Apr 11, 2010

It would be nice if nurses could be trusted to use good judgment on such matters. But history has proven that we can't. Too many people make bad decisions (dangerous for the patients, dangerous for their employers, and dangerous for themselves) to be entrusted with that decision.

That's sad ... but true.

dscrn · Apr 11, 2010

There have been studies that md's ties are real breeding grounds...don't think I'd want my hair rubbing up against some nasty infection...

Long Term Care Columnist / Guide · Apr 11, 2010

I like to wear my hair down now that it's grown out again, but at work, it goes up and stays there. I'm not a fan of having some confused, combative patient grab onto it and give me whiplash, nor do I want it getting into the action when I'm changing a dressing or cleaning up poop. Easy choice.

cherrybreeze, ADN, RN · Apr 11, 2010

our policy is that we are to have our hair up and out of the way and no fake nails/ long nails, etc.
seems everyone pretty much abides by this.
i have long hair and wear it up. short nails (already screwed up by opening pill packages).
i have worn my hair down in the past, and have been "talked to" about it.
wearing my hair down at work is not an option. i dont even feel like im in work mode with my hair down (my hair is near waist length) and i hate to see stray hairs on things like pt. sheets, and sinks and things like that.
its gross!
work is not a fashion show

Why is it assumed that if someone DOES wear their hair down (and it can be done, without "dragging all over," etc) that it's for *fashion* reasons?

on eagles wings, ASN, RN · Apr 11, 2010

I'm not in nursing school yet but I was at the hospital the other day for an emergency and I saw this nurse prancing around with her bum-long, thick, beautiful curls bouncing all over the place and I was grossed out and in shock she was allowed to do that.... just not very clean for me.

franciscangypsy · Apr 11, 2010

One of the few times I had my hair down for work, we had a pt code and CPR had to be done. I lost the hair tie I had around my wrist (darn gloves). NOT a fan of hair flopping all over the place while doing compressions. Feel so much more professional with my hair in a ponytail, if not completely up.

Intern67 · Apr 11, 2010

Do you think this should be a requirement for doing bedside care?

Yes. Male nurses too.

chevyv, BSN, RN · Apr 11, 2010

I always wear my hair up. It's funny you asked because I also wear my hair up while cooking. I didn't once while making a shrimp dip. Just forgot but my hubby went to dip and got a huge knot of my hair that ended up there! Needless to say the whole dip went into the garbage and I'm now fanatical about it! Ewwwww!!!!!!!

delilas · Apr 11, 2010

You know, there used to be requirements - hair off collar, short fingernails.

My school still requires this and inspects us daily, and I honestly can't imagine ever changing this - I like it this way.

I saw a teacher's long ponytail fall off her back and into the stool of the patient she was changing. She came back to school with short hair the next week.

It's not a matter of micromanagement and being told what to do. Its a matter of looking professional, simple grooming, sanitation, and many other things besides.

I'm not here to look pretty. I'm here to care for my patients. They don't have to be mutually exclusive, but one is definitely more important than the other.

leslie :-D · Apr 11, 2010

Why is it assumed that if someone DOES wear their hair down (and it can be done, without "dragging all over," etc) that it's for *fashion* reasons?

cb, help me understand, why would a nurse choose to wear their hair down?

i have long hair, and i just cannot imagine not wearing it up and away...

seriously, i'm curious.

leslie

cicatrixx15 · Apr 11, 2010

yes, or off the shoulders with some sort of headband.