Too ugly to be a nurse..?!?

cleback · Jun 24, 2018

Ugh. My heart ached a bit reading your post. PPs gave you some good suggestions but even if you didn't follow any of them, you could still be a dam good nurse. No one is going to recoil from your touch as a caring competent nurse. It is really sad that you think you're somehow undeserving of this. Please take care of yourself and build your self esteem.

PS got the whole oily skin and acne scars too (had to have accutane as a young adult). I get the ugly duckling syndrome but it can't hold you down. Happily married and gainfully employed as nurse now!

beekee · Jun 24, 2018

I'm allergic to make-up, do I don't wear any. Ever. I can't seem to remember to get my hair cut, so it's in a ponytail every day. I'm fat. Technically, I'm obese.

You know how much of that matters in nursing? Absolutely none. I wish I could give you a big hug and convince you that you are beautiful on the inside AND outside (I've never seen you, but your inside beauty shines so bright there's no way you aren't beautiful on the outside too).

Confidence, intelligence and empathy are beautiful. Take your beautiful self to nursing school. We need you!

Qing · Jun 24, 2018

Hospitals do not hire based on looks and someone who has skills to take care of the sick is their main concern. Who cares if you are not that tall and it should not be a factor in you deciding to apply to healthcare. I have known a couple of not so tall nurses that had no issues with doing their work. As someone else has mentioned in other replies, its your skill that really counts. And getting skin care that works will make you feel better. I have an issue with oily skin and scars too, so finding skincare that works for you will make a big difference. Go for it and apply! Don't let anything stop you and believe in yourself. Give yourself a fair chance at everything and don't be so hard on yourself.

Have Nurse, ADN, RN · Jun 24, 2018

My dear young friend,

When I read your post, it brought tears to my eyes. Not because of your described appearance, but because of your sweet sensitive nature and my understanding due my many years of experience just how valuable and how very needed your touch is in this profession.

There isn't enough love in this world. Anyone who has a longing to help the human condition and do it with the compassion that I know you possess, should venture forward and claim that prize!

There are many many people in the world, who aren't touched enough. They are lonely, sad and in great pain both physically and emotionally. There aren't enough of you. Please please take that step!!!! You have a gift.

We need nurses of all kinds with compassion, safety and intelligence. You GO, Girl!!!

Liza50 · Jun 24, 2018

I am sure you are much prettier than you think you are! Anyway, true beauty is on the inside which comes through with compassionate caring. Most of us do not look like the portrayals from TV! If you want to be a nurse, be one. Your patients/clients just want someone to care for them compassionately and who are competent! Go for it!

nightlightnurseaide · Jun 24, 2018

i use proactive

i don't really have breakouts much its more of a preventive approach

and to be honest you can look like a troll, but if your there to help in a ltc facility i could not care less

Ruby Vee, BSN · Jun 24, 2018

Before I begin... I want to say,
HELLO EVERYONE! I'm new to this site. I recently signed up after researching information on nursing and found this forum.
I'm in college studying health care sciences I'm trying to get into the LPN program. I know have the brains and I will make the grades but, I'm a little insecure about the way I look. I don't think I look like the average nurse you'll see in medical offices or hospitals.
1) I'm very short (5'0ft)
2) I weight 135 but I have tiny measurements & limbs. I'm like the size of an 12 year old.
3) My face.. isn't that hot either ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½. I have a big nose, ance scarring and chin dimple. I hate!!!!
4) I could wear foundation to cover up the ance scarring but, I have super oily skin so, after hours of wearing it. My face is so greasy & shiny.
I know it sounds like I'm beating up myself, but, I'm not. I'm constantly overhearding people calling me, "ugly" or I look like a man. Idk... If I should apply for the program because of it.
I don't want anyone to not want me to touch them because of my physical appearance.

They say that beauty is only skin deep. I think they're wrong. I think true beauty is what's on the *inside.*

If you are smart enough to make it through nursing school and pass the licensing exam, kind and compassionate enough to put your patients first while you're at work, and hard-working enough to get through 12 hours without losing your mind or your compassion, I think you'll make a fine nurse. Those who think you're "too ugly" to be a nurse are not only wrong, but mean-spirited as well.

TinaMWrtr · Jun 24, 2018

Please stop watching tv shows and looking at those nurses on there. I can tell you in my hospital, we have your typically attractive nurses and some that aren't quiet my type. I am overweight and have great skin genes as I have these wonderful skin tags everywhere and a lovely dark spot about the size of a nickle on my forehead.

As for your small stature, I would just make sure you can physically do the job. I am 5'8" and >300lbs but I work out and am strong. I used to work with a small statured nurse in a rehab hospital and she couldn't lift the patients or anything, so I'd come home at the end of the day, if I was her aid, hurting and sore all over because I alone was picking up the 600lb CVA patients.

macawake, MSN · Jun 24, 2018

I know have the brains and I will make the grades but, I'm a little insecure about the way I look. I don't think I look like the average nurse you'll see in medical offices or hospitals.

There is no such thing as an average nurse "look". Nurses span the entire spectrum in all areas; looks, intelligence, integrity, sociability, likability etc. etc.

You do not apply to nursing school based on your looks, and you aren't accepted into nursing school based on your looks. You don't become a competent healthcare professional based on your looks. Sure, some schools or employers may have a policy against things like for example visible body piercings when you're "on the clock", but you do not have to pass a "beauty test".

I'm constantly overhearding people calling me, "ugly" or I look like a man.

I get the feeling that you might be young?

Some people are idiots. If they talk about you like this, they qualify in that category.

Of all the fun, challenging, interesting, pleasureable, rewarding or meaningful things a person could spend their limited time on this earth doing, these individuals choose to hang around discussing another person's looks :rolleyes: Pretty darn pathetic if you ask me. Like I said; idiots. I realize it might be hurtful and painful to overhear something like that but really, just ignore them.

I don't want anyone to not want me to touch them because of my physical appearance.

I'm a nurse but like most of us, I've also been a patient. The first time I lay eyes on a nurse or physician I haven't met before, I notice the way they greet me. Do they look me in the eyes and introduce themselves? I judge them on how I perceive their intellectual acuity/ability. I look for empathy. I subconsciously notice things like for example personal hygiene, but beyond that I really don't give a crap about how they look.

I'm a tall female, 185 cm or 6'1'' in your part of the world, who works out a lot. When I was younger people would describe me as beautiful. These days courtesy of a facial scar running from ear to mid-jawline and a nose which has been broken twice in an easterly compass heading and once towards the west, my looks can best be described as... interesting... :lol2:

I wear my blonde hair in a messy updo at work. Sometimes it's blonde hair with mauve or pink highlights... in a messy updo... Apart from a rather severe lipgloss addiction, I detest makeup. Or rather taking the time to apply it.

I got my scar from a "run-in" with a knife-wielding man in my former job (not healthcare) and the nose mishaps from wrestling matches with criminals and at self-defense training. A reconstructive plastic surgeon I work with, told me once during a lunch break that she'd be happy to do some work on my facial scar if I wanted her to, but I told her I'm quite fine with it. I really am. It's a part of my life experience. I wear it with pride.

The reason I described my physical attributes is to show you that there is no such thing as a typical nurse. If I was an actress I would most likely be cast in the role of ice queen serial killer or maffia don (donna:laugh:). While I do exude warmth when I smile, my neutral face is quite austere and imposing. Despite that my patient's like me and trust me and I have no problem connecting with the majority of them. I've never had a patient recoil from my touch.

Just one piece of advice regarding touching your patients, and this has nothing to do with a nurses' looks. It's just basic healthcare professional etiquette. Talk to your patients, inform them about what you're about to do. I'm going to palpate your abdomen in order to or because... [xyz] and ask them; Is that okay?

OP, if you think nursing is the career for you. Go for it!

Best wishes!

brandy1017, ASN, RN · Jun 24, 2018

Your looks are not going to stop you from being a nurse. If you still have acne see a dermatologist who can prescribe a retinoid cream to treat and it will also dry out the skin. As far as acne scars check into chemical peels and/or laser skin treatments at your local medispa, ideally a hospital based medi-spa.

I do understand how you feel as I lived with terrible cystic acne for years and developed melasma, dark patches on my cheeks from post acne inflammation and a hormone imbalance. I wasted years trying to cover it up and trying different creams. I tried a glycolic peel and it temporarily eliminated the discoloration but reversed as soon as a went out in the sun. I went to several places and finally found a medispa that offered TCA peels, a deeper peel and it permanently removed the discoloration.

There are treatments to remove acne scarring, check them out. I believe peels and laser treatments can help. Be aware laser is more expensive. I went to many dermatologists and tried several creams, but I wish they had offered me the chemical peels as an option as they worked faster. Even the glycolic peels helped my acne better than the prescription creams. I don't know if they didn't offer the peel/laser options or just decided I couldn't afford it, but I wish I had been given the choice sooner. I also used Clinique oily skin bar soap and used OTC salicylic acid acne products as maintenance between the peels, and at one point used MD Forte glycolic lotion prescribed by a dermatologist, but the peels worked the best for me!

Lizzythewhizzy, BSN, RN · Jun 24, 2018

I understand how you feel in a way. I'm short as well and I feel like it may be detrimental in a way. I look young, I have small hands (makes it hard to place rescue breathing masks properly on one's face if they're above child age), quiet voice, not strong at all. It sucks. I am smart but that's about it. I'll probably go into teaching once I finish my BSN and get some experience.

Just work hard (and work out if you're not strong). You can make it. You don't need to be pretty to be a nurse. Just be competent.

Ruas61, BSN, RN · Jun 24, 2018

Might be a problem in Hollywood.....