Being an individual

[Circulate]

Hi, I'm still in nursing school, but wanted to know if there was any way to be an individual in the workplace. I'm talking pure fashion here. Is there anything you can wear, shoes, laces, variations in scrubs, pins on scrubs, sock choices, etc etc etc. Anything someone can do to set themselves apart in a sea of everyone wearing the same gear?

[PG2018]

Well, I hate wearing scrubs and don't like the idea of my tennis shoes absorbing someone's blood or other excrement, and you'll never ever catch me wearing some type of slip on clog. That said, I wear Danner boots, an actual watch (not a nursey one), 5.11 pants, a belt, and a polo or the least scrub-looking shirt I can find. Usually I'm wearing a fleece jacket anyway because I get cold. In a few months, I'm moving back to the office environment and into business casual.

I think nursing isn't a very individualistic field, unfortunately. Part of the school process, which failed for me!, was a psychosocial indoctrination into thinking and acting "as a nurse." If you'll cogitate on that, you'll find it's better to grasp the professional body of knowledge and "be yourself." Social psychology demonstrates that people who work together, dress alike, and particularly when they move in formation (a marching army, as an example) become alike.

[Nalon1 RN/EMT-P, BSN, RN]

So I guess most did not see this in the "Men in Nursing" forum.

Most guys I know could care less about "standing out" and being an individual.

Come to work, do your job and go home. I hopefully can go the whole day unnoticed.

[canigraduate]

Iron your scrubs or have them tailored. I've noticed that most men's scrubs are ridiculously large and boxy, and most guy nurses I've seen wouldn't know what an iron was if it hit them on the head.

There is one gentleman at a facility that I teach at who is always on point with his appearance. He wears a long sleeved polo under his scrub top, sometimes with the collar up, has tasteful jewelry (a nice watch, necklace, and his ears are pierced), is very well groomed with perfect hair and nails (better than mine, I must say), and his scrubs are always immaculately laundered. No stains, no wrinkles, and fitted.

He draws attention wherever he goes and nobody can say he blends in.

[ixchel]

yes it is

I'm so glad you said that because I opened it and when it pulled up the first post, as opposed to where I last left off, I thought, "allnurses must be being buggy today..."

[kungpoopanda]

Dear God, never, ever, ever try to show any individuality as a nurse. You are a nurse, an interchangeable unit. You are not even human. You are expected to function as a machine without the maintentance afforded to a machine.

[JulietteBarnes]

I usually wear a nice cardigan or sweater to set myself apart, but I work in Psych.

[lovinglife2015]

Your personality will set you apart, whether it be good, bad or indifferent.

[Farawyn]

I'm clean and I don't smell. My nails are short and I have some sort of Essie light green left over from St. Patrick's Day. I wear leopard Danskos. And...that's 'bout it.

[No Stars In My Eyes]

My idea now of a good work outfit is one that is clean and that I don't have to think about or tug at once I am dressed.

Long before scrubs were allowed, or even uniforms with pants were allowed, I tried to find white uniform dresses that suited me and my personality to a "T". I remember how I absolutely refused to wear something in which I didn't feel good and 'like me.'

I understand what OP is getting at. I have seen nurses who just have "it" with regards to their style +/or the way they wear things. I don't think it reflects on their ability to be a good nurse if they want to feel good at work; it doesn't take away from anything.It doesn't reflect skewed priorities. If small expressions of themselves can be done within a given dress code, and it helps them get through a day, what the heck?

When I see someone who has their own flair and can express it in those little acceptable ways, it just makes me smile. That it no longer is important in the least to me.....it makes me feel a tiny bit sad, because I remember when I was young and slim and had my very own personal little flair, too. Nobody needs to be dictating to somebody else what they should wear or how they dress. That the person in question obviously likes herself enough to share that self in small ways isn't a reason to scorn her.

Overall, no harm, no foul.

[imintrouble, BSN, RN]

Colors are mandated where I work. Slowly every other form of outward individual expression is being suppressed.

Our shared governance committee is now looking at one to two brands of shoes that we'll all be forced to wear. Same color, same style.

No tattoos, no facial piercings, hair tied up, no nail polish, no cleavage, no colored hair highlights.

Don't get me wrong. Most of the above has always been frowned upon, we just haven't had concrete written rules prohibiting them.

I'm trying to figure out why one standard appearance in staff is desirable.

Why will the customer be happier if we all look alike.

Again, what advantage is there to management if half their work force is resentful.

Can somebody explain to me why this is a good idea?

[No Stars In My Eyes]

Stepford nurses. They've already written up the scripts!

[imintrouble, BSN, RN]

Stepford nurses. They've already written up the scripts!

There won't be job interviews, there will be auditions. The applicants will be required to appear in "costume" and interact with a "patient" from a script.