MARY WALLS PENNEY is a nurse who works with patients suffering from Alzheimer’s and dementia.
A few weeks ago, she stopped off in a shop to collect a few things when the cashier decided to pass a comment on her multicoloured hair.
While checking out, the cashier, looked at my name tag and said, “So what do you do there?” I replied, “I’m a nurse.” She continued, “I’m surprised they let you work there like that. What do your patients think about your hair?” She then proceeded to ask the elderly lady that was in line behind me, “What do you think about her hair?”
The lady in the queue remarked, “Nothing against you, honey, it’s just not for me.” Meanwhile the cashier continued to tut away.
Then the cashier continued to comment that they didn’t allow that sort of thing even when she worked fast food and that she was shocked that a nursing facility would allow that.
Needless to say, the incident angered Walls Penney and when she got home, she offered her two cents on the matter.
Well, here’s my thoughts. I can’t recall a time that my hair color 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.
https://www.facebook.com/mary.w.penney/posts/10209630727795279
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!
The Facebook status has received over 268,000 likes and 150,000 shares.
A helpful reminder to never, ever judge a book by its cover, eh?
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