Challenging Hospital Dress Code

ERNurse752, RN · Jan 24, 2005

If they're going to require certain scrubs from a certain company, they should pay.

You have to match the bedspreads? How demeaning and embarassing is that? Yikes, that stinks.

Seems kind of dumb to make you change, out of the blue, for no apparent reason.

What about a petition to protest?

SmilingBluEyes · Jan 24, 2005

where do they get these nutcases? Matching the bedspreads? ummm whatever. I agree, if they want me to match everyone, buy my scrubs then! Seems fair in that light.

Mandarella · Jan 24, 2005

Good, tell them to buy in bulk for "cheaper rates", then let then buy scrubs for everyone. Then wear some ridiculously wild underthings underneath the scrubs...when they reprimand you tell them the scrubs they supply are too thin, they need to buy quality ones!!!!:rotfl:

carvanaragon · Jan 24, 2005

the feeling is like going to a dinner only to find out your shirt matches the tablecloth. well, it is just my reaction.

nursbee04 · Jan 24, 2005

I'm in your boat, too. But not only do they want us to purchase our own ugly scrubs, they want us to have them embroidered with the hospital name in bold above our name and title - which we also have to pay for. "You should have pride in your unit and look and act as a team." WE are paying for the scrubs, but we have to purchase them from a company the hospital designated "so they will all be the same style." What a bunch of BS. Every other unit that has designated colors have scrubs supplied by the hospital (OB, OR, ER.)

They have also decided that we aren't allowed to wear white, not even a white scrub jacket.

I think if they make specifications like that they should furnish the scrubs and the embroidery. After all, what if you relocate or change jobs? All your scrubs say "Ridiculous Hospital, USA." (Where the staffing is horrendous and the nurses are stepped on daily)

Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN · Jan 24, 2005

Matching the bedspreads? I thought that was a job for CURTAINS!!

Fiona59 · Jan 24, 2005

Curtains that match the bedspread???? I really must be trailer trash....:rotfl:

llg, PhD, RN · Jan 24, 2005

I have to admit, I would HATE to have to dress to match the bed linens. I would also hate to have to invest in scrubs that I could not use later in a different job. If the hospital provides scrubs for other units, they should do the same for yours.

That said ... I do think you have to be careful how you approach this. If you don't handle it diplomatically, you might be labeled a "troublemaker" and that could hurt your career in the long. Sometimes, it's not enough to be in the right -- you have to handle it well to achieve the changes you want and avoid hurting yourself with clumsy attempts at rebellion.

Is there someone on your leadership team (manager, educator, etc.) with whom you have a good relationship? Can you go to that person and politely and tactfully express your concerns? Emphasize that the chosen scrubs are thin and will probably not hold up to wear very well ... that some staff members will be hard-pressed to come up with the money for a whole new work wardrobe ... that, because of the required embroidery, the scrubs will not be able to be worn elsewhere ... that the hospital pays for the required scrubs of other units, etc.

I would also suggest some sort of reasonable compromise. Be prepared to give in a little to get something in return. For example, perhaps you could wear 1 piece of clothing in the material that matches the unit decor and the rest of your attire be white (or some other coordinating color). That would meet the administration's goal of having the unit have separate, color-coordinated uniforms, but give you more flexibility in your choices. Perhaps the hospital could give staff members a small/medium, one-time bonus to help pay for the initial purchase of a few items in the required fabric. etc. You might also point out that having people "try out" a few items to see how well they wear might prevent a problem in the future if the new line of scrubs looks shabby after only a short time.

Suggesting such a compromise in a reasonable, polite way demonstrates that you are not just rebellious troublemaker, but rather, are a reasonable person with some legitimate concerns. Understanding their point of view, you are trying to find a solution that will satisfy everyone's most important needs. You are trying to be a positive problem-solver, not trying to stir up trouble. If well-presented, they might respond positively to something like that.

Good luck,

llg

nowplayingEDRN · Jan 24, 2005

If you have a union at your facility, you might also wish to approach your union rep with your concerns and see what sort of assistance you can recieve there. Also, in conjunction with what llg said, bring a solution with you such as agreeing to 1 or 2 colours that compliment the decor of the unit (I certainly would not want to look like the curtains of bedspread!) and again, mention your concerns about quality as well as ability to purchase another work warderobe.......I wish you the best in coming to a happy medium on this topic.

Christie

Antikigirl, ASN, RN · Jan 24, 2005

I had to laugh at this stupidity of the matching the decor aspect..what so we can be matching throws? My goodness, us nurses are constantly being told to do certain things all for someones ideology of customer service...and now this??? Please!:angryfire

Like another poster said, you have to be very diplomatic about this because you will get labled as a troublemaker:devil: ..and isn't that totally sad! We are professionals, yet not when it comes to any of our own personal ideas huh ?!?! :nono: Keep your mouth shut, eyes on the patient, and speak when spoken to or patient request/safety...and for Gosh sakes you better blend into the environment like a soldier's camo's...we don't want you standing out as an individual here! :uhoh21:

(in the back of my mind a quote from Good morning Vietnam blasts through in pure Robin Williams fashion...):rotfl:

Cronauer (Robin Williams): We've got a special man in the audience today right now...it's Mr. Leo. He's a fashion consultant for the Army.

Funny voice: Why thank you, Adrian. I'm just very happy to be here. I want to tell you something. You know, this whole camoflage thing for me doesn't work very well.

Cronauer: Why is that?

Funny voice: Well, because you go into the jungle, I can't SEE you! You know, its like wearing stripes and plaid! For me, I want to do something different. You know, if you go in the jungle, make a statement! If you're going to fight, CLASH!

:chuckle LOL! I found that I have never won this arguement about uniforms, so I have worn them. I am there to care for the patient, and while I wish I can do that in clothing I have chosen that meet my requirements of long lasting, decent colors, color fast dyes, comfortable, able to bend with me without showing skin, etc...I just have never been able to! IN fact, I don't own a single pair of printed scrubs...only a set of purple and blue I had to wear at a facility that also had us matching..oh get this..their LOGO! (wow, seems like matching the bedspreads would have been better..LOL! At least they were a multiple of pastels LOL!!!!!!). :rolleyes:

:confused: Oh well...what can you do, I thought about the union too...I don't think many can win this battle without the masses! Heck, I even tried haveing clients complain in writing...but that didn't go either! :angryfire

Mystery5 · Jan 24, 2005

Who is this woman, the Martha Stewart of hospital management? You know, management sometimes reminds me of government bureaucrats (actually, they very often remind me of them). Their main goal is making it appear that their job is actually neccessary. They do this by going to endless meetings, talking drivel with the other managers, and coming up with crackpot color scemes and other ridiculous nonesense.