[donster]

Originally Posted by SteveRN21

NurseMike..... gosh...you're just so eloquent sometimes while hitting the nail on the head. You can be the mouthpiece for all men in nursing in my book!

Ditto that!!!

[anonymurse]

Originally Posted by nursemike

I prefer to believe we are redefining masculinity. And, really, if we are willing to undertake that challenge, I don't think gender neutral uniforms are an unreasonable request.

While true for color schemes, evidence-based corporate uniforming (researched by John T. Molloy, the pioneer who discovered the strong association between student performance and teacher dress) says that for best effect in projecting a professional image, men and women in identical service positions should not be uniformed identically.

The degree of sex differentiation isn't great. If I recall correctly, it's something like--if the corporate color scheme is maroon and blue, then women might be uniformed in maroon blazers with blue ties, and men in blue blazers with maroon ties. But for some reason, corporate credibility (and individual credibility by extension) requires this differentiation (the issue of "why" isn't a priority in Molloy's research).

In our field that depends on confidence in and compliance with practitioners to achieve satisfactory outcomes, the issue of uniforming would seem to bear rigorous investigation (however, to date, no health system or professional body seems willing to spring for the required research, or to state the question in evidence-only terms).

[♪♫ in my ♥]

Originally Posted by fins

Wow, I must be tired. When I first read this, I thought UK was United Kingdom (probably because I was just reading a post from a nurse in the UK.) And I was thinking "if they have scrubs with British basketball team designs, they've got scrubs for EVERYTHING."

Me too! It wasn't 'til I read your post that I realized that he must be a Wildcats fan.

[♪♫ in my ♥]

Originally Posted by Ruby Vee

Nurses are professionals, and as such we should be entitled to wear what we choose -- as long as it is neat, clean and professional.

Firefighters, cops, and pilots are all professionals and are told what they can wear. As an engineer, I was a professional and yet I had several employers who dictated dress codes, some of them very silly.

[♪♫ in my ♥]

Originally Posted by bigredrn57

Besides at 6'4'' and 290, I won't look "pretty in pink."

But at 5'10" and 180, I'm not man enough to tell you so

[♪♫ in my ♥]

Originally Posted by AmaurosisFugax

Uh...when a guy becomes a nurse hasn't he already crossed that Rubicon of what's traditionally masculine vs feminine? So why be bothered by what's a (conventional) feminine color? (And BTW that changes too like body piercings).

I think that's precisely the issue... many of us (men and women) would prefer to see nursing be considered a gender-neutral profession just as medicine has become.

I'm fine with everybody wearing the same thing but it should then be something that looks professional and is gender-neutral in cut, style, and color.

[nursemike]

I recall one poster once discussing a workplace where nurses wore lavender, but his employer, as I recall, was willing to accommodate him wearing a more "masculine" color. I don't have a problem with, say, women in lavender and men in eggplant, although I do appreciate my facility chosing colors (royal blue and/or white for men and women)that are readily available from many suppliers.

Most of the nurses where I work prefer to wear royal, but some, including at least one guy, stick with white. He doesn't look a bit sissified. In fact, he looks very professional. I sometimes wear white pants with a blue top--not so much because I'm proud of my boxers as because I'm due to do laundry and haven't gotten around to hemming my newer blue pants. (Bachelor life is not for the weak.)

My instructors in school seemed to be pleased with the number of males enrolled. I don't think we were singled out for special favors, but I don't think we were abused, either. Our pinning was very reasonable (and more moving than I expected). Women got a single rose, men got a rose bouttineire (I have no clue how to spell that!), and our instructors pinned us. Happily not like a Navy SEALS pinning...

Awhile back, my manager asked us to all wear all white one night, as a tribute to a couple of our co-workers who had started back in the 70's, when all white was the dress code. One of the women wore her cap from graduation, and as the night grew progressively sillier, she had me wear it out on a smoke break. I must say, anyone who can work a shift as a nurse in one of those things is a better woman than I'll ever be.

Edit to add: Er, that isn't exactly what I meant by redefining masculinity...

[bigredrn57]

Originally Posted by nursemike

I prefer to believe we are redefining masculinity. And, really, if we are willing to undertake that challenge, I don't think gender neutral uniforms are an unreasonable request. Facilities and nursing schools that are unwilling to make minor accomodations to men in nursing are showing blatant disrespect. If my employer decided to require nurses to wear pink scrubs, I'd work somewhere else, not because I object so strongly to pink, but because I would assume they would be no less cavalier about my more serious concerns, as well.

There are challenges in nursing that are just an inherent part of nursing. There are challenges for male nurses that are just as inherent. There are challenges for nurses in general and males in particular that aren't really inherent, but are not going to be easily resolved. I think we need to be prepared to accept what cannot be changed and work toward changing what can.

I don't sweat it when an inservice opens with, "Good morning, ladies--oh, and gentleman." I chuckle along with everyone else. But there are some "inconsequential" concerns that could be resolved with a bare minimum of disruption, and I believe they ought to be.

To accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference. Sometimes all I can change is myself.

[barefootlady]

I guess I missed the whole scene about male nurses c/o what color they had to wear, most just wore white, navy, royal, or tan. The ones I worked with c/o more of itching, pants shrinking, back aches, and needing their break. Yes, I mostly loved those fellows and their wives. It was a real treat to work with some of them. I miss one guy who was killed a few years ago, he was always there when help was needed. We worked so many nights together we should have applied for some sort of special license. LOL!! Keep smiling fellows.

[MrChicagoRN]

Men would be just as justified to complain about effeminate colored uniforms as a woman would be if she was told to wear a white dress, stockings, shoes, and a starched white hat.