What about this, inappropriate or teambuilding?

Nurses General Nursing

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I'm not sure about this one. I floated to Med-Surg the other night. This one young nurse is rather likable, sometimes annoying, energetically bubbly, went to school with my son. She's new to the hospital and has been filling in on Med-Surg alot, and has a tiny FTE. She has this obsession with make-up and brought out all her make up acquistions the other evening on Med-Surg, I was there for a 12 hour night shift.

I took the pt with the family from H$LL who had given other nurses grief that past few days, and I had the pt and family eating out of my hand. The son of the pt was staying the night and had been extremely demanding and weird.

Anyways, it was super quiet, we were overstaffed, and this young nurse decided to do a little facial on the young CNA, and she pulled out her tweezers and did a big pluck job on the CNA's eyebrows right at the nurses station at around 2200. They were giggling and the CNA was leaned back in the chair, I thought the whole thing was gross and unprofessional. Of course the son of my pt came up to the nurses station to request something in the middle of this, and I was mortified. I mentioned immediatly afterwards to the young nurse in the back room that the eyebrow plucking wasn't a good idea in front of families, and she looked like she thought I was out of my mind.

What do you all think? The Med-Surg at my hospital has a history and reputation of being dominated by immature people, one of the reasons why I moved to ICU/CCU. It's that group mentality that can be really hard to counter.

Specializes in Med-Surg, Trauma, Ortho, Neuro, Cardiac.

I know I'll get flamed, but nurses for a long time would think nothing of doing their nails at the nurses station, or at least filing them (isn't that dirty?). The secretary was doing that the other day. Of course now that polish is banned it's a moot point. But polishing nails, getting out a mirror to put on more makeup, etc. has been done as long as I've been a nurse.

I went to ICU once a long time ago and one of the nurses was shaving the supervisors head. He was bald and she thought he'd be cute completely shaved. (They were both middle aged folks, not that age matters in unprofessional immature /teambulding behavior).

I think that kind of behavior is grand for the break room, but not the nurse's station. Sheesh! Our ER had complaints from patients about doctors and nurses giving each other back rubs at the nurse's station. It's unprofessional, IMHO.

I kind of look at the nurses station as a stage. We are in the public view, anyone can walk up at any time. People get so familiar with one another, and forget that fact.

Gosh, I can imagine what it might have looked like when one of our nurses gave a complete haircut to another nurse at the nurses station one night. It was an inside joke. He was so androgynous, that his gender was questionable, so she gave him a masculine haircut. Middle of the night. Luckily no outsiders to see. Not nearly as unprofessional as some of the other goings on, both at and away from the nurses station.

Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.

I think that kind of behavior is grand for the break room, but not the nurse's station.

Same here, if the hairs are not on the same table i'm eating from :stone

Specializes in Utilization Management.

I think that kind of behavior is grand for the break room, but not the nurse's station. Sheesh! Our ER had complaints from patients about doctors and nurses giving each other back rubs at the nurse's station. It's unprofessional, IMHO.

I agree, it's unprofessional to do that at the nurse's station. But it's not

hard to figure out how stuff like that gets to be OK with some people:

Right next to the eating area in our break room is the bathroom.

No vent fan, no soundproofing, just a potty and a sink. And hopefully, some Cavicide. :(

I almost wonder why they bothered with a bathroom door.

Specializes in Critical Care, Pediatrics, Geriatrics.
I think you're out of your mind. It's perfectly acceptable to pluck eyebrows at the nurses station. Why are you being such a backstabber, eating their young, old troll constantly complaining out immature younger people?

Oh yes. I agree. ABSOLUTELY out of your mind! How dare you imply that plucking one's co-worker's facial hair in public is anything but sane, cleanly, and an effort to strengthen the team! You should have such professional sensibility to join in on the plucking fest. Heck, invite the patient's son. It could be a therapeutic bonding experience for all.;) Jacho would have a ball with this one.

Well....I've seen alot in my 25+ yrs & I've worked alot of hospitals, but that type of behavior would NEVER be acceptable anyplace I've worked!! Save your personal grooming for your time off- the hospital is not paying you to play makeup artist/hair stylist!! Sheesh!! Are we not professionals?? :uhoh3: :uhoh3: :uhoh3:

Specializes in FNP, Peds, Epilepsy, Mgt., Occ. Ed.
Oh yes. I agree. ABSOLUTELY out of your mind! How dare you imply that plucking one's co-worker's facial hair in public is anything but sane, cleanly, and an effort to strengthen the team! You should have such professional sensibility to join in on the plucking fest. Heck, invite the patient's son. It could be a therapeutic bonding experience for all.;) Jacho would have a ball with this one.

And next time, take your wax kit with you and join in the party!!! :lol2: :lol2:

I think any "surgical" procedures are totally out of line at work and also dangerous, due to bugs everywhere. What if those brows get infected? Hmmm???????

So sad this girl went all through school and no one addressed the idea of professional conduct, presenting a positive image. Or she was too busy plucking, filing, painting, and primping to listen. Never had this happen.

Thanks for the feedback, I don't feel like such a stuffy old biddy now. Next time I'll suggest taking such teambuilding activities to the breakroom.

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