Will they make her cut her hair?

baby&mommynurse · Jul 30, 2005

I suppose it all depends on how strict or what the guidelines are for dress code and appearance at your school. I know a pediatrician that has dread locks, but she always has her hair pulled back and it never interferes with her work or her physical assessments of the babies.

cursenurse · Jul 30, 2005

why should she have to cut her hair? as long as it is up off the collar/contained, who cares? and just because a person has dreadlocks doesn't mean that their hair is dirty. people with dreads wash their hair like everyone else. if they don't allow her to wear them, i say that they need some training in cultural sensitivity and/or diversity.

nursey_girl · Jul 30, 2005

My very good friend has beautiful, long black dreadlocks and a pierced nose. We worked in a catholic facility together where nothing was ever said about her appearance. She had a great rapport with her patients, and was very well respected and loved by her friends and co workers. I didn't see the dreads or piercings, just the awesome person that she is!

Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN · Jul 30, 2005

A girl in a local nursing program had to cut her dreadlocks, after the nurses at their clinical site complained about the odor coming from them.

(Turns out she didn't shower much, hence the odor!)

madwife2002, BSN, RN · Jul 30, 2005

I dont think she should cut her dreadlocks, I think that would be discrimination.

I am sure she will be able to tie them up.

**RosesrReder, BSN, MSN, RN** · Jul 30, 2005

There is a girl that has been in some of my classes that is applying to nursing school with me. I am not trying to be judgemental or anything, but she has dread locks, and I have taken Medical Microbiology and...do I need to say more? Do think they will make her cut her hair before they let her do clinicals? I've never seen a nurse with dread locks before.

In the area I live in there are lots of nurses, cna's etc that have dreadlocks (some long while others short). I do know they have them pulled back in a pony tail or pinned down and look very nice. If she has dread locks, I don't see why it might be a problem (unless of course she did not shower or wash her hair oftern like Marie_LPN mentioned). They might just ask her to keep her hair pulled back or if it is very short pinned down and that is it.

Again, like someone else mentioned it is ultimately up to the school's policy and guidelines. She might have to cut her hair or not. :)

suzy253, RN · Jul 30, 2005

Why should they make her cut her hair? I mean, ppl w/dreadlocks do wash their hair, you know? As long as it's above the collar--pinned up. Honestly, I've seen students with some skanky looking hair that was not done in dreadlocks. :stone

**RosesrReder, BSN, MSN, RN** · Jul 30, 2005

Why should they make her cut her hair? I mean, ppl w/dreadlocks do wash their hair, you know? As long as it's above the collar--pinned up. Honestly, I've seen students with some skanky looking hair that was not done in dreadlocks. :stone

Yes, I agree. There is huge misconception about them not washing their hair, but it isn't true. You can wash your hair and pat dry. :)

chattypattyCRNA2B · Jul 30, 2005

There is a girl that has been in some of my classes that is applying to nursing school with me. I am not trying to be judgemental or anything, but she has dread locks, and I have taken Medical Microbiology and...do I need to say more? Do think they will make her cut her hair before they let her do clinicals? I've never seen a nurse with dread locks before.

Yes, you DO need to say more......just because the woman has dreadlocks does not mean her hair isn't clean. You are misinformed. On the contrary, she has to put in extra care to make sure her hair IS clean and free from dirt, so that the dirt doesn't stay trapped in the hair. Maintaining dreadlocks (the proper way) takes much more time than the average hairstyle.

There are those whose dreads are not kept well, and that would be the only exception and would validate your concerns, however, an absence of hygeine can be found in people with other hairstyles if the hair is not properly cleaned. So it depends on the individual NOT the hairstyle.

So to assume that her hair is not clean because she has dreads is a myth and asking her to the cut them is discrimination. Only if her hair is visibly dirty or smelled would I be concerned enough to approach her and then it would be on the lines of "you need to wash your hair", but NOT " you need to cut your dreadlocks off". I just think that just goes too far. Contrary to popular belief, although the hair is locked, soap and water CAN penetrate! :rolleyes:

Mandarella · Jul 30, 2005

One of our cardiac surgeon's PA has dreads...he pulls them back and If he's in the OR he caps them.

**RosesrReder, BSN, MSN, RN** · Jul 30, 2005

Your handle says "heartswideopen" but clearly your mind is closed shut. You have a lot to learn and hopefully some of it will be in the area of diversity and culture.

.

I would certaintly not look at it this way. She has a valid question to which she is seeking an answer to. It has nothing to do with her screename, good heart, or lack thereof :rolleyes:

Maybe she is not familiar with this situation (as she stated she has never met a nurse with dreadlocks). Anyhow, to each is own.