After a nurse was called out over her rainbow-coloured hair, she took to Facebook to ask the question: how does my hair colour prevent me from saving lives?
A cashier in a shop looked at Mary Walls Penney’s name tag and asked her what she did.
“I’m a nurse,” she replied.
“I’m surprised they let you work there like that, the cashier said. “What do your patients think about your hair?”
She then proceeded to tell Mary that they didn't allow “that sort of thing” even when she worked in fast food, and that she was shocked that a nursing facility would allow multi-coloured hair.
Hurt by the exchange, Mary was compelled to write a piece on Facebook about how it’s what she does that’s important, and not what she looks like.
“Well, here's my thoughts,” she wrote. “I can't recall a time that my hair colour has prevented me from providing life-saving treatment to one of my patients. My tattoos have never kept them from holding my hand and as they lay frightened and crying because Alzheimer's has stolen their mind.
“My multiple ear piercings have never interfered with me hearing them reminisce about their better days or listening to them as they express their last wishes. My tongue piercing has never kept me from speaking words of encouragement to a newly diagnosed patient or from comforting a family that is grieving.
“So, please explain to me how my appearance, while being paired with my cheerful disposition, servant’s heart, and smiling face, has made me unfit to provide nursing care and unable to do my job!”
We couldn't agree more!
