Vent! What part of the word NO!! do nurses not comprehend???

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Specializes in Oncology/Haemetology/HIV.

So I go to my new assignment orientation.

During the interview, the nurse manager clearly states the staff dress code. All staff must dress in white or X color on this unit. NO PRINTS, no all white, no other colors permitted.

It is annoying and seems childish but I figure that I can deal.

Before I accept the assignment, my recruiter, and later her assistant, reinterates the dress code. There is no confusion.

The standard paperwork comes for the assignment...and the dress code is again reinterated.

I stop by an outlet discount shop, on the way down from Baltimore, and buy enough of the appropriate scrubs for the assignment. While not my favorite, it is more than tolerable to do this. If not, I would have...as a responsible traveler...declined the assignment.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

So I show up (promptly) at 0650 for the 0700 orientation, wearing the appropriate attire.

So why is it that over half the orientees show up in the wrong colors, street clothes, or prints? Many from the same company that I work for and some with the same recruiter. Many had the same folder paperwork....with the same dress code handouts.

I won't even get into the ones with attire that was completely inappropriate: flip flops, sleeveless tanks, low rise pants, jeans, shorts. Or the ones that showed up late, or didn't shut off their cell phones. For goodness sake, one of the ICU nurses was wearing a tinkerbell scrub.

Several were sent home to change clothes...and of course whined and moaned about how "petty" it was.

Did they read the handouts, hear the rules? Well, yeeeaass, but they Really didn't think it was serious/didn't think that it referred to jackets/vests, etc, etc.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------We sit through orientation. At one point, the topic of limiting restraints comes up, and someone asks about sitters. The speaker says that there are almost no sitters - unless the pt and family will pay for them. The nurse that asked proceeds to question why not and argues why they are needed ( I agree but also recognize that in the culture of this state, facility and area that there will be no sitters and if you pull an aide to sit, you double the chances of other patients falling, leading to the need for more sitters).

She cannot get the word "NO" through her head.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Nurses sit here on the BB/and IRL and gripe and about professionalism, and being seen in a better light. But if one cannot dress properly - especially when carefully instructed in the rules.....where is the professionalism? If you cannot follow a simple set of rules, why would administration trust you to dress like a professional when left to your own devices.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Unfortunately this is true of a lot of different areas, and not just nursing (re: uniforms). Just go into any classroom, an instructor will say numerous times that NO CELL PHONES...and yet, it never fails that someone's cell will ring.

In this sense it is important for one's own self-preservation just to do what we can, we can't control others behavior, and if we try it'll only bother us...it certainly will not bother them.

Just chalk it up to human nature...the fact that you are doing what you require will be noticed by the higher ups, just as the fact that those who dismiss what is required will.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Assumed from post that this is a travel position. Looks like you got with at least a few misfits. Thank your lucky stars that this is not a permanent job with some of these people as your permanent co-workers.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

You're right - what part of no don't they understand?

I hate going to unit meetings or orientation. Invariably, there is always 'the one' that will drag out a 30 min meeting into 2 hours fighting with management about petty things. What color your scrubs are doesn't affect how you do your work, so learn to live with it.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Unfortunately this is true of a lot of different areas, and not just nursing (re: uniforms). Just go into any classroom, an instructor will say numerous times that NO CELL PHONES...and yet, it never fails that someone's cell will ring.

Went to my first Chemistry class yesterday. Professor told us FIVE times to turn cell phones off. Guess how many went off?

Six. One phone was set to "SexyBack" by Justin Timberlake. Really pisses me off. He told us enough times. Whenever a phone rings in class I completely lose my train of thought. Very inconsiderate.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Oncology/Haemetology/HIV.
Assumed from post that this is a travel position. Looks like you got with at least a few misfits. Thank your lucky stars that this is not a permanent job with some of these people as your permanent co-workers.

Yes, it is a traveler position. But unfortunately it reflects what I have found to be the norm....many nurses will not attire themselves properly unless "forced" to...by being sent home.

And they wonder why patients don't obey I/O restrictions, visitor restrictions, etc. Why should the patient obey "NO" if the staff won't obey "NO"?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Oncology/Haemetology/HIV.

Six. One phone was set to "SexyBack" by Justin Timberlake. Really pisses me off. He told us enough times. Whenever a phone rings in class I completely lose my train of thought. Very inconsiderate.

I can beat that. I was helping provide care for a pt that was dying...as in final stages...the family is at the bedside. Suddenly, a cell phone rings out. The ringtone was a country song about how "tequila makes her clothes fall off".

Up Vote Up Vote ×

It happens everywhere. Nurses are told not to wear midriff-baring clothes, or sweatshirts and t-shirts with logos and words on them, and they ignore it. They say they must protect their "individuality."

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Went to my first Chemistry class yesterday. Professor told us FIVE times to turn cell phones off. Guess how many went off?

Six. One phone was set to "SexyBack" by Justin Timberlake. Really pisses me off. He told us enough times. Whenever a phone rings in class I completely lose my train of thought. Very inconsiderate.

Hopefully, the professor will make the offenders leave his class. I'm serious. Will you talk to him? Or to Administration if you get nowhere with the prof? Without consequences, a lot of people don't follow the rules. I think the phones should be allowed to be on vibrate, though, as people do need to be able to be reached by babysitters, their children's schools, and other vital callers - like maybe your car is in the shop and your mechanic needs to talk to you.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Day Surgery/Infusion/ED.

I'm just wondering how civilization managed to survive before the advent of the cell phone.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

On the subject of cell phones in any public place - it's rude. I have my ringer on at home, sometimes while in the car, but when at my employer, at the store, in a class, etc., I either leave it on vibrate if I'm expecting an important call, OR I just turn the phone off, and loved ones know to leave a voicemail that I check at my convenience.

There was also some study some time back to the effect of phone amongst healthcare providers being amongst the most contaminated of items.

What I find interesting is how cell phones were a commodity primarily used among rich people at $0.60+/min 15 years ago, now every other teenager has one. Seems 75%+ people think their social world would end without the almighty cell phone! *steps down from soap box*

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Education, Acute, Med/Surg, Tele, etc.

LOL, I loose my phone constantly because I always have it on vibrate for work, and I keep forgetting to turn the ringer on when I am not at work! LOL! I keep mine on vibrate and it doesn't disturb anyone and I answer it when I am able in the breakroom or outside.

I don't know where the OP went to go work but OMGosh! The total lack of professional respect is way beyond what I have ever seen or thought of! You wear the appropriate attire, you are clean and look as professional as the uniform allows (some uniforms are just plain silly or comical so you have to play the part!). You come in ready to be a RN...not off the street ready to go! My goodness! What happened to the personal professional respect for ones self!

I work in a hospital that has a very nice dress code, scrubs and can be of any color or print. That has lead to nurses actually looking quite professional because we all see eachother in the latest and greatest and want to look good too! It is catchy! Many of us do not like large prints, or loud comical prints so that has been a relief (we respect that we work with adults and don't need sponge bob scrubs to thrill folks). Typcially it is a balance of finding a good color for the individual, and a mellow nice print that you know you will never find on a mumu later on! (LOL!).

What I fear is that the OP that showed up properly is going to get the bulk of the hardest cases and be worked to the bone because they showed they are professional and trustworthy...where as the others did not. Always happens to me, I show I am trustworthy and boom...hardest cases and most challenging assignments..uhggggg! I hope that doesnt' happen (not fair to dump that on one nurse all the time!).

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment