Completely enraged!!!

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This is kind of long, but somewhat-kinda entertaining.

I start my first quarter of nursing school on Monday. The last thing I needed to check off my list of school to-do's was to buy scrubs from the school bookstore. I am required to buy two sets from my school's bookstore per the program's instructions and nowhere else (they are sent to the school with the nursing student patches already on them).

Now, I have spent a few years working retail/customer service and have done a damn good job of it, so I get really offended when I'm the customer who is treated like crap from those in similar positions.

I enter the bookstore. I ask a lady where the scrubs were, which she showed me. The tops and pants are each individually wrapped. I look to my left and see just a few tops and pants hanging labeled as "samples." I quickly gathered that "Oh, they have samples here, this obviously means that I try these on to find my size." However, I wanted to see if they had some sort of fitting room or what have you, so I find a guy and ask about trying them on. He says, "Oh, you can't try those on. You can only hold them up to your body to see if they fit."

...okay. I get closer to the sample scrubs and quickly realize that that doesn't make much sense as they're dirty and appeared to have been tried on by God knows how many people. There is makeup all over the v-neck necklines. This kind off grosses me out and seems unsanitary to me (they could at least clean them regularly). I then ask a different guy, "Do you guys have some sort of sizing chart related to these scrubs I can look at?" He says, "Ummm...I don't think - well, I don't know. Let me ask."

He goes to ask who I recognized by her voice to be the lady that first showed me where the scrubs were. All of a sudden, I hear her from accross the store in the snottiest tone, "Um, that's why they're ON THE RACK." I hear her walk with him to find me. It is getting closer to closing time for them (2 PM on Saturdays) and I'm getting frustrated because I could have been over and done with the situation by now if things were handled better...

Her: They're on the rack, right in front of you.

Me: I know where they are. What I asked was if there was some sort of sizing chart.

Her: *laughs slightly* Uh, again, they're on the rack...we don't have a sizing chart.

Me: Well the first guy I talked to said I couldn't try them on, that I could only hold them up to me.

Her: *calls loudly to the guy somewhere in the store so he could hear* Did you hear that? She can try them on, either over her clothes or in the restroom so long as we hold her wallet. *looks back to me, talking in a snotty tone again* Except, we're closed. In fact, it's a little after closing, and we would all like to go home now, you know.

Then, the lady, both guys that helped me and another guy all looked at me together CHUCKLING before they just walk away from me. Like I have two ******* heads and am completely incompetent with no active brain waves. It just wasn't appropriate. It should not take an act of congress to find the right size scrubs!!! This is how they treat students? I'm new to this school. Nothing says "Welcome!" than this behavior. I just left empty handed. It was a wasted trip anyway. From just eyeballing it, it seems like the only size that will fit me is an extra small. Even the small appears huge. But of course, they don't have those sizes in and they have them on order...

I felt embarassed and humiliated. No customer should ever feel that way.

I'm really crossing my fingers and hoping that this is not a bad omen/a reflection if what is to come of my nursing program...

Specializes in Orthopedics.

They were rude to her for no good reason. She could have used an advocate. She sought one out in the store. She posted about it here for people to be empathetic. And somehow people, who don't even know her, are now speculating about her success as a nurse. To me that's just insane. Seeking common ground and expressing your feelings and emotions when there is injustice is a strength people, not a weakness. This "anger" is what separates the change agents and true patient advocates from the complacent followers. In my opinion. This will be a nurse who will channel her emotions to advocate for her patients and coworkers. She will be a unit council member and she will fight for rights. She will not just roll over and take it as many of you seem to have suggested she do. This was not a display of improper emotion. This was a person expressing frustration. I find it comical that some of you find fault in that as it is COMPLETELY normal! Would you tell the surgeons each time they have a "fit", and they do have fits, I know first hand because I have been dating one for two years, that he or she will never make it as a surgeon and to just roll over and take it each time he/she gets aggravated? I would love to see you try! After talking to my boyfriend regarding these "fits", I have gleaned they all stem from wanting what's best for his patients. I am not saying the fits surgeons throw are right by any stretch of the imagination, but sit back and observe. They do happen especially in the OR. When emotions are expressed and handled properly, as this student did, they can be cultivated and produce change. This is an attribute. Without compassin, we all become complacent! So, instead of reprimanding someone for standing up for herself and her right to be treated fairly and with respect as a human, let's consider what attributes of her personality this demonstrates as well. Just a suggestion...

Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

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Specializes in Orthopedics.

One last thought...if someone were taking care of you or your family and witnessed something that was clearly rude, unfair or unsafe would you want that person to just accept this as normal mode of operations? What if that care giver was conducting surgery on you?! Would you then consider anger toward the situation that may cultivate a change appropriate or complacency? I know my answer...

Lots of crabs in this bucket....

It is a bookstore. You go there to buy books and pens.

Exactly. Book, pens, paper -- some t-shirts and sweatshirts. Snack foods. Etc. I've been in a lot of bookstores in a lot of schools over the years, and have never seen one that has changing rooms. I'm sure nobody asked anyone at the bookstore if they wanted to start selling clothing, clothing that actually has to fit people. They just got handed the scrubs and told to deal with it. It's not like they actually work for the scrubs company, know anything about the fit or sizes, etc. I'm sure that they are at least as unhappy about the situation as you are. And I've never found (or considered) college bookstores to be typical "retail environments" -- more like a necessary evil in which you are a captive audience/market.

Specializes in psychiatric.

I completely understand how you feel. I have a long backound in customer service and I get really annoyed with staff who are rude and demeaning. I usally call them out on it and it stops them cold. A few notes though. I have not had any roblems getting through nursing school even though I get upset with poor service as well.. I have met more rude people in my short nursing career than all previous careers. Since working in retail and customer service in my previous life I am therefore VERY concious of when a store is about to close. I will not go into a store at closing time uness it is an "emergency", I know I will be dealing with less than helpful staff. This also ties in with nursing by showing up a few minutes early before my shift, and I do my darndest to be ready to give report when the next shft arrives.

Update: Wrote an e-mail to the bookstore manager. She got back to me very timely. She was as appalled at their behavior as I was. She held a meeting with the whole staff this morning over it, forwarded my e-mail to all the staff to review, and is giving me my two sets for free. And she helped me with sizing, which I went with the small (thank you for those that suggested me not go extra small!). I thought that was all very generous of her to do!

And my first day went very well. :)

Update: Wrote an e-mail to the bookstore manager. She got back to me very timely. She was as appalled at their behavior as I was. She held a meeting with the whole staff this morning over it, forwarded my e-mail to all the staff to review, and is giving me my two sets for free. And she helped me with sizing, which I went with the small (thank you for those that suggested me not go extra small!). I thought that was all very generous of her to do!

And my first day went very well. :)

Congrats on your first day!

I'm glad you said something. I wasn't buying the whole "suck it up or you'll do bad in nursing school" bit. Bad customer service is always unacceptable.

Specializes in PCCN.
Specializes in Trauma, Teaching.

Good for you! You're well on your way to be a good advocate :)

Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
Update: Wrote an e-mail to the bookstore manager. She got back to me very timely. She was as appalled at their behavior as I was. She held a meeting with the whole staff this morning over it, forwarded my e-mail to all the staff to review, and is giving me my two sets for free. And she helped me with sizing, which I went with the small (thank you for those that suggested me not go extra small!). I thought that was all very generous of her to do!

And my first day went very well. :)

Good for you!!!!!!!!!!

How did your first day go?

Good for you!!!!!!!!!!

How did your first day go?

It wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it would be! Our instructor this quarter is great, really loves teaching. We had an icebreaker project due the first day where you make a poster with words/images of your definition of nursing and you explain your journey that made you decide on nursing. It helped for everyone to loosen up and start bonding. No one is really clique-y so far - everyone talks to one another and everyone is positive and happy to be here. Everyone is already arranging how to help one another, it's awesome

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