The sloppy image of nurses today

Nurses Professionalism

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Imagine a hospital in which all nurses and doctors exhibit professionalism, beauty, splendor, and awe among colleagues and patients. A place where the people taking care of you appear greater than human, larger than life, infallible figures, portraying an image that captures total trust and total confidence from those nearby. What a wonderful place that would be. But alas, we have work ahead of us.

This thread is designed to discuss the importance of impressions in nursing. While many nurses take pride in appearing beautiful or handsome, many walk in to work with a case of the feck-its when it comes to appearance. Unfortunately I feel that nurses are much worse than doctors in this arena. Where I work the majority of female doctors wear their hair down, liberally apply makeup, wear form fitting clothing, and hard soled shoes. They try to appear as beautiful as they can. Likewise, the male doctors come in with tailored clothing that had been ironed, they have well-oiled hair, nice watches, and other things reminiscent of the show "General Hospital."

Meanwhile, in the ICU I've worked in, we've got a female nurse with a buzz cut, one woman wearing a pirate-like black eye patch, nurses with baggy wrinkled scrubs, nurses wearing those ugly skechers shapeups, everyone wearing their hair up or back in a plain boring pony tail instead of letting it flow, men or even women with untrimmed or unneatly trimmed facial hair and people exhibiting other drab or and in my humble opinion, embarrassing features. I feel like no other college educated profession dresses down as much as nurses do and it bothers me.

What do you think of nurses and the images they portray in the professional setting? Use this thread to talk about what you like or dislike, what you think should change and what shouldn't.

Specializes in Cardiology, Cardiothoracic Surgical.

I have to say, I did feel pretty 'splendorific' after having the time this morning to bathe my two stepdown patients. Their families were in 'awe' at the event.

It was easy with my flowing locks, makeup liberally applied, high heels and form fitted clothing. One of the patients even got frisky and gave my tush a squeeze,

and then I tittered and said "You're not supposed to do that, Mr. Smith!"

:up:

I have to say, I did feel pretty 'splendorific' after having the time this morning to bathe my two stepdown patients. Their families were in 'awe' at the event.

It was easy with my flowing locks, makeup liberally applied, high heels and form fitted clothing. One of the patients even got frisky and gave my tush a squeeze,

and then I tittered and said "You're not supposed to do that, Mr. Smith!"

:up:

As you blushed prettily.

Specializes in Critical Care, Float Pool Nursing.
I have to say, I did feel pretty 'splendorific' after having the time this morning to bathe my two stepdown patients. Their families were in 'awe' at the event.

It was easy with my flowing locks, makeup liberally applied, high heels and form fitted clothing. One of the patients even got frisky and gave my tush a squeeze,

and then I tittered and said "You're not supposed to do that, Mr. Smith!"

:up:

Splendid!

Specializes in Med-Tele; ED; ICU.
It wasn't a loss of thickness that I was seeing. It was just a shortening of the hair to like a crew cut.

It was shorter though -- like actually buzzed as if she were in the military.

Wow!

Can you please cite the study which shows a direct correlation between short hair on a female nurse and decreased level of care?

Geez, short hair equates to "bulldyke" or military?

Just wow.

If the doctors I see looked as good as a tv doctor ( esp that young aussie guy from "House")I probably would be too distracted at times, paging good ol Doctor Rumple

It wasn't a loss of thickness that I was seeing. It was just a shortening of the hair to like a crew cut.

It was shorter though -- like actually buzzed as if she were in the military.

I like the hair on the left.

I do not like pretentious snobs who look down their well groomed, perfectly sculpted nose at everyone.

*flips her short red hair and flounced her big mama body outta here*

I actually don't like looking good at clinical or work. I look "put together" and have good hygiene, but I don't see the need to look sexy by wearing tight fitting clothing and heels in these environments. I've been sexually harassed just wearing loose fitting scrubs at work. I'm not there to be noticed. I'm at my job to care for others and I'm at clinical to learn how to care for others. End of story.

The problem with the woman with the military style buzz cut was that it was cut so close to her scalp that you could see like, pimples from ingrown hairs or something, and a wart/mole thing on the side of her head. That is just freaking gross.

On behalf of all people who get pimples on their head, face, and everywhere else, I apologize that sometimes you have to look at us. I can't imagine the pain you must feel every time you work with this nurse.

And now maybe a representative from the warts/moles sector of Skin Problems Anonymous can offer this user a much deserved apology. Just so we can make sure the buzz cut nurse is covered from all angles.

Specializes in LTC,Hospice/palliative care,acute care.
It wasn't a loss of thickness that I was seeing. It was just a shortening of the hair to like a crew cut.

It was shorter though -- like actually buzzed as if she were in the military.

And AGAIN let me remind you there are a number of health reasons why this may have been necessary . Maybe she cut her hair in honor of a friend undergoing cancer treatment.At the very least it's a personal choice,as well. Are you a runway model? Why are you so focused on appearance? Where does skill come in for you? I think I'm done here,I know a pot stirring troll when I read one and I just don't want to waste my positive energy in a negative way,I have my own issues.Now,to remember how to 'ignore' someone on here...

Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.
Now,to remember how to 'ignore' someone on here...

You can add users to your ignore list by following these steps:

1. Go to your dashboard. If you are on the desktop site, you can get there by clicking on your username at the top of the screen and then clicking "Dashboard". If you are on the mobile webpage, the dashboard link is at the bottom in the dark grey area.

2. Click on green "Click here to view all your account options"

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3. Select "Ignore List"

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4. Type the name of the poster whose posts you wish to ignore in the field and click "Add Member".

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Here ya go!

As an aside (because, really, how much more can this thread go off the rails?) I just want to say that short hair is much harder to manage than long!

I've always had long hair.

Right now I have a long bob, which is short for me. I can still put in a pony or up, and I use no product in it because it's pretty much one length. Short hair you have to style. It's kind of more high maintenance than long.

I had the Dorothy Hamill hair cut when I was a little kid. I will never have short hair again. I'm scarred.

I love it on other people, though. One of my friends just got a cute pixie cut. It suits her.

Imagine a hospital in which all nurses and doctors exhibit professionalism, beauty, splendor, and awe among colleagues and patients.... the majority of female doctors wear their hair down, liberally apply makeup, wear form fitting clothing, and hard soled shoes. They try to appear as beautiful as they can.

I realize that I'm somewhat late to this party..

OP, seriously.. This sounds like something from the back cover of a Harlequin Romance novel..

the male doctors come in with tailored clothing that had been ironed, they have well-oiled hair

A romance novel from the 1940´s! :eek:

Anyway, who in their right mind wears hard soled shoes when they spend most of their workday on their feet? That just doesn't seem like a smart choice.

A place where the people taking care of you appear greater than human, larger than life, infallible figures, portraying an image that captures total trust and total confidence from those nearby.

I admit that I've been poking fun at your description of the ideal nurse but the following isn't said in jest, I'm dead serious. I have no need for nor do I want my patients or my colleagues to think of me as greater than human and definitely not as infallible.

I am human. Therefore I am fallible.

It's perfectly possible to project professionalism and and be a competent professional despite that "flaw".

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