|
You are how you look. Look at yourself
each day and always be proud of what you see. At a recent
NURSEWEEK career fair in Phoenix, I looked around and
saw a professionally dressed woman. I thought she might
be an exhibitor, so I asked her. Debra introduced herself,
and replied that she was a nurse looking for a change
in position. I complimented her on her businesslike
appearance.
"I'm here for a job interview and I mean business
today," she said. "I want to convey an image
of trust and ability. I have been a nurse for 21 years
and for the last 12 years, I have been in OR. I need
to explore different things." We talked a bit about
the image of nursing and how nurses sometimes give the
appearance of not caring how they look to others, as
long as they do their job.
Debra said she feels that people should see that nurses
are detailed, honest, qualified and present themselves
in a professional manner. I reflected on my professional
orientation and recalled many years ago being advised
to wear a hat and gloves for a job interview. We also
had our uniforms checked before we went on duty each
day and had to be in compliance with regulations, including
length of uniform, cleanliness, no jewelry, hair above
the collar, no nail polish, neatly trimmed nails, polished
shoes and whatever else a school of nursing required.
No, I am not suggesting that we return to that era,
but how we look to our patients and colleagues is important.
When nurses decided to change how we looked in a hospital
where I was an administrator, we had a fashion show
for our consumer advisory board and the bottom line
came from an elderly patient who said, "My daughter
is a nun and she is changing her habit. If nuns can
change their habits, nurses can change their uniforms."
It isn't what nurses wear, but what they do with and
for their patients. Now, with so many different health
care operators, it is important that each nurse has
a clear designation of being an RN. When we are portrayed
as less than professional in the media and in our own
work settings, we do not have the best image.
Actions speak louder than words. What a nurse does
and how a nurse conducts himself or herself are the
hallmarks of building public trust and a positive image
for the profession.
Discuss this and other topics with your
colleagues at www.nurseweek.com/rnvillage.
|
