First Impressions

I was sitting in the waiting room of the Texas BON today waiting to present a client's case. The room was full of individuals seeking licensure as either a registered nurse or licensed vocational nurse. When one young lady was called back to meet with the Board, as soon as she left the waiting room, the other people in the room began to comment on her appearance. The applicant had shown up to meet with the Board dressed in casual pants, a tight fitting shirt made of t-shirt material, and flip flops. One of the other applicants commented, "She is sending the Board a message that she does not take them or her license seriously." Everyone noticed that when the Board staff member called the girl back to meet with the Board members, that the staff member's face showed that she thought the exact same thing as the other people in the waiting room.

First impressions count so much when meeting with the Board of Nurses. It is important to look and act professional. The Board members/staff do not know the applicants/licensees and so they rely upon information gathering to determine which course is the best for the Board to take. A person's appearance becomes part of that information gathering, even if it is done on a subconscious level.

The girl left in tears and they were not tears of joy, so I would surmise that she was denied licensure.