Threatened dismissal because of wrinkly clothes :0(

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Hey everyone, I was just trying to get some opinions of an incident that happened to me recently.

I was pulled aside by the director of my nursing program, and was told that if I wore wrinkly clothes to clinical again I would be kicked out of the program. I was wearing a polo and khakis to clinical which I did't think were wrinkly, but apparently the clinical instructor did, she didn't say anything to me about it,but she said something to the director.

Edit= Thanks for everyones advice! I took a lot of it and the next clinicals went fine, as far as my attire went.

Specializes in Public Health, DEI.

That whether I agreed or not, I would just go ahead and iron my clothes before clinical from now on... If you protest, it will just give you a bad name, and your goal is graduation.

Just a tip- I am NOT an ironer, so before I get dressed I always toss my clothes into the dryer on the "tumble press" setting, takes the wrinkles out while you shower or hit "snooze". No wrinkles, fresh scent (I toss in a Febreeze fabric softener sheet) and NO ironing.

Specializes in LDRP.

Getting kicked out for being wrinkled goes a bit far...

Yet it is important to look professional--so if they think you look unprofessional, go with it and smarten the clothes up. Plus, khakis look really casual and show wrinkles just from sitting--can you get some darker slacks that don't show the wrinkles as much? Show you care and it may buy you some points w/ the instructor.

Good luck!

I am NOT an ironer

Or you can put them in on high, then take them out hot and "hand press" them. But maybe the OP doesn't have a dryer in her own home either...some people live in apartments and do the laundromat thing.

were you wrinkled because you were sitting in a car for awhile before clinical? If you are sure you weren't rinkled before then carry your nicely pressed clothes to clincal and change there so you don't have to worry.

I'm wondering if I'll get reprimanded because of my wrinkly face (in my 40s)...

Don't you have a uniform? We were forced to buy a horrible uniform with a high polyester content. It feels like you're wearing plastic, but there's no chance of wrinkling, ever.

I don't know why schools are so harsh about this stuff. It seems ridiculous to me. I got "talked to" once by a CI because I had an "odor" (I bath daily in the morning but don't usually wear deodorant -- personally I think deodorant smells worse than light body odor but I'm a hippie). I just sucked it up (from a woman who came to teach clinical with her hair dripping wet every day) and bought some unscented deodorant (it still smells like chemicals to me). God knows I wouldn't want to offend anyone while I'm wiping the feces off their buttocks.

Specializes in Acute Dialysis.

When I was in school the director came to me more then once and mentioned my shoe strings needed to be cleaned. Not the shoes themselves but the shoe strings. My instructors had nothing to do with it. One did suggest I safety pin the laces together and wash them with my uniforms. Yeah right. The director would see me in the halls and nab me. It got to the point that every couple of months I would just completely replace the laces. Trivial, stupid and meaningless but I was attending "their" school and had to go by "their" rules. If your director wants you clothes pressed; then press or quit. While being thrown out a program because of laundry habits is not fair neither is a majority of life or employers.

I'm wondering if I'll get reprimanded because of my wrinkly face (in my 40s)...

Don't you have a uniform? We were forced to buy a horrible uniform with a high polyester content. It feels like you're wearing plastic, but there's no chance of wrinkling, ever.

I don't know why schools are so harsh about this stuff. It seems ridiculous to me. I got "talked to" once by a CI because I had an "odor" (I bath daily in the morning but don't usually wear deodorant -- personally I think deodorant smells worse than light body odor but I'm a hippie). I just sucked it up (from a woman who came to teach clinical with her hair dripping wet every day) and bought some unscented deodorant (it still smells like chemicals to me). God knows I wouldn't want to offend anyone while I'm wiping the feces off their buttocks.

:roll:roll

When I was in school the director came to me more then once and mentioned my shoe strings needed to be cleaned. Not the shoes themselves but the shoe strings. My instructors had nothing to do with it. One did suggest I safety pin the laces together and wash them with my uniforms. Yeah right. The director would see me in the halls and nab me. It got to the point that every couple of months I would just completely replace the laces. Trivial, stupid and meaningless but I was attending "their" school and had to go by "their" rules. If your director wants you clothes pressed; then press or quit. While being thrown out a program because of laundry habits is not fair neither is a majority of life or employers.

Lucky for you--shoelaces allowed! In my nursing program, we were to wear white (and I mean new white--no scuffs)shoes w/NO laces. A white blouse w/COLLAR--no scrubs, white pants--pressed--no wrinkles. Top that with a horribly crude "tabbard" (is that what its called?) I don't know, it reminded me of the signs people wear over their shoulders stating, "THE END OF THE WORLD IS NEAR"!!! it was some kind of apron w/pockets. Our clinical instructors would have us show up at school in our gear BEFORE we went to any hospital--to inspect what we planned to wear. No steths around our necks either, germ factor you know...MAN, I AM GLAD TO BE DONE WITH ALL THAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Now, I will be working as a new RN somewhere, getting told what scrubs and shoes are acceptable, etc...it never ends, does it???!!!!:uhoh3: :uhoh3: :uhoh3:

PS-I hate ironing, I paid my sister 5 bucks and she kept my creases nice!!!:nurse:

Specializes in Neuro/Med-Surg/Oncology.

Downy Wrinkle Releaser is my best friend. I try to hang my clothes right away out of the dryer, but it doesn't always happen. That spray is a godsend!

products_wrinklereleaser.jpg

Downy Wrinkle Releaser!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I LOVE it--I actually make my own now--one capful of Downy mixed with water in a spray bottle. Its fabulous--I have 4 little girls and laundry that piles up when it comes out of the dryer into a ball of wrinkles--this stuff is great!

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