Would wearing a sexy nursing outfit to a party disrespect the profession?

[smartnurse1982]

Ok,just want some opinions.

I am Rn,I've been a nurse for 9 years.

But I just want to attend a lingerie party in April.

Do you think it would be sort of disrepecting my profession if I I wore a sexy nurses outfit?

In the back of my mind it might be,but I'm unsure.

Also,could I be reported to the board if someone I know just happens to see me?

Thanks in advance.

[uRNmyway, ASN, RN]

OP, first, congrats on your weight loss!

Second, if you want to wear a sexy nurse costume, do it. Who cares? Like others have said, it's not like wearing the costume will undo all the hard work of our nursing um.. 'ancestors' ? And anyone who sees your costume and DOES all of a sudden think that nurses are just dumb slutty sexpots or wtv, well, they probably aren't the brightest things to begin with.

What DOES concern me is the fact that it is a public party. In this day and age of social media, you never know what will end up online. Do you want pictures of you dressed that way to end up gracing the computer screen of a potential employer? Or worst, end up having a patient recognize you in your little outfit? That might affect your therapeutic relationship, you know?

Personally, I don't care what you do on your own time. Heck, even if this was an orgy as another poster has speculated, eh, whatever floats your boat, as long as you are careful! I'm just saying there could be negative repercussions professionally, even if not legally with your licensure.

[subee, MSN, CRNA]

Because we're seen as an expense. The more doctors and specialists and therapists a patient sees, the more they are billed. The more nurses a pt has during his stay has no impact on billing. From an economic standpoint, we're overhead.

When people choose a hospital for the quality of the NURSING care, we will be seen as more than an expense center. When we can sell the public on lower infection rates, faster discharges, etc. our employers will have a different attitude about the nursing staff. The faster the patients are discharged SAFELY (because hospitals will be docked a fortune for readmissions) the more money the hospital makes on a particular diagnosis. I wonder if nursing turnover rates are considered when designating a hospital magnet status. Decreased nursing turnover is good for all entities involved.

[SDALPN]

It's getting off topic, but the hospitals should be charging for the procedures we do. They charge for the procedures the doctors do. We could do the same procedure and the hospital wouldn't make money.

Back to topic...I'm curious what the OP decided to do.

[Kdrenee]

Me too, so what did you decide OP?

[Julia77063]

I don't personally see an issue with it but it's been really played out. When I think of my job sexy doesn't pop in my mind...try sexy belly dancer

[Morainey, BSN, RN]

I dressed up as a sexy nurse once. My hubby wore scrubs. We had fun. We're both healthcare workers who don't take ourselves TOO terribly seriously.

[green34]

I don't see anything wrong with it. I did a zombie paramedic for Halloween. Not sexy, but awesome.

[JericaL]

On the one hand I think it's great you're asking this question because it shows that you care about how nurses appear and you care about your profession and its ethics. That's awesome. A lot of people wouldn't even think twice about it.

In my personal opinion I do feel it devalues a profession when it is sexualized. Not only because "sexy lingerie" is really about the male gaze and titillation, I do feel that perhaps a real nurse shouldn't dress up that way. Perhaps someone who isn't a nurse, who doesn't abide by the code of ethics and who doesn't know that nursing is very hard and demanding work can do it. I wouldn't expect someone who isn't a real nurse to honor the profession, but I think perhaps a real nurse should.

I know it's a bit cute and funny and ironic, "oh look she's a nurse and now she's Nurse Sexy!" but you obviously sound like you respect your profession so while it literally isn't poking anyone with a stick, I feel it does harm to the nursing population (especially female nurses because there is no sexy Male Nurse equivalent and therefore reinforces the female in the "she's not a doctor, she's just a nurse" role.) and how the general public views that profession.

In response to "To say a sexualized nurse costume is "degrading" is rather reductionist, who does it degrade?"

I would recommend reading the American Psychological Association's task force report on the sexualization of women and girls. This report details the myriad ways the female gender experiences bias due to sexualization. It has been scientifically proven that harm is possible, so I wouldn't overlook it.

[subee, MSN, CRNA]

I don't see anything wrong with it. I did a zombie paramedic for Halloween. Not sexy, but awesome.

Well, that just isn't sexy is it?

[OCNRN63, RN]

I agree with llg and Grn Tea. I wouldn't want to do something that represented my profession in a bad light; I've worked too hard and too long to let a party ruin that.

[cfaith]

Private party: I would not be offended, but would differently not wear it myself, out of respect for all the work I so everyday to increase the level of professionalism in the field. I'm more concerned with the "sexy uniforms"

I see on the wards".... just saying. let the flames begin :)