I'll never be professional....

I just have to let this out a bit here.... I have a lot of issues with the healthcare system but this one is just the latest to sprout up.....

NEW POLICY AT WORK:

"ACCEESSORIES: Piercing of eyebrows, tongue, lips, nose, etc. are not to be worn on duty. All tattoos must be covered at all times when on duty. Long fingernails, excessive make-up, unusual hair color and other adornments are not appropriate professional attire. For safety and patient care, excessive jewelry should be limited (two rings per hand, two bracelets per arm, no more then 2 earrings per ear, or visible body piercing except in ears). "

Ok, I'm no stranger to a dress code policy. Working at the hospital before I was well aware of all the rules.... no chipped fingernail polish (could contain bacteria in the cracks), no long fingernails (could scratch a patient), ironed clothes (duh), neat and clean hair (duh again), and so on and so forth.

I always followed the rules. I always made sure I was dressed to policy. Even if it took ample amount of my own personal time before I was on the clock.

Then I started dying my hair pink, purple, red. All very pretty colors. I wasn't working at the time so it didn't bother anyone. Then I got hired working for the hospital docotr's offices and I got hired with pink hair.... well all right then, guess it can stay. And why shouldn't it? I have NEVER had anyone complain. Working with kids, they absolutely love it :-) Even working with adults, you would be surprised at how often I'm told it's pretty or that it is a really "nice touch". Even cranky old men I can get a chuckle out of :-)

Now we all received the above new policy via email last week (which is actually FOUR pages long, i just copied the part that affects me). Not so much new but it will be "strictly inforced"......

Hmmm..... guess I might be out of a job soon. You see, I'm one of those stubborn people that look at that policy and think to myself, "Well, it's not unusual to me!" And I won't change it just to please some upper management asshole who MIGHT (yeah right) come around and visibly inspect every single one of his staff.....

And why I'm on this topic..... someone REALLY needs to define "professional" to me. It KILLS me that in this world we live in that our "professional appearance" often supercedes the skill level and work experience we have. Here's my definition of a PROFESSIONAL NURSE: I am an RN who has worked to save lives, and had the knowledge and certifications to do it as well. I have NO compaints on my record, only countless awards for being kind, compassionate, and a hard working individual. I will graciously clean up a stranger's puke, diarrhea, blood, urine, etc. with out the bat of an eyelid. I will help a patient up when they fall because they are too weak to walk. I will sit with a patient and rub their back and listen to them talk simply because I care about them. I am a nurse that often serves people as a waitress, a therapist, a friend, a companion, and even yes, still a nurse.

But fire me cause I have different colored hair.

Maybe the new CEO should check his own face in the mirror before touring ALL the offices.... he would have seen that big ass BOOGER hanging out of his nose. But hey, he was dressed "professionally".