We were told yesterday that we're required to wear white scrubs for our 45 minute pinning ceremony.
As students, we are required to buy and wear ceil blue scrubs.
They want us to buy a set of white scrubs to wear for this short, silly ceremony.
I, being the way I am, questioned this idiocy and pointed out that a lot of the students in my class can barely afford to go to school and still feed their kids and pay their bills, and firmly averred my deep disdain for making us buy these "wear once" scrubs. On top of $1300 tuition + books this semester, $50 "pinning fee", $139 BON application fee, $50 HESI fee, $20ish fingerprint fee, $200+ NCLEX fee.....I've had enough.
Am I just being a fartknocker about this, or do any of you see this as stupid, pointless, and lacking concern or awareness about the financial woes of nursing students? I'm in a better position to afford this than most of my classmates because I had savings from past employment and my wife has a good-paying nursing job.
Some of my classmates, I have had to buy their meals at the stupid "end of semester clinical group gathering at the most expensive restaurant we can find, where we give the employed instructor the gift we managed to scrounge up $10/ea to buy" because some kissass, or often, the instructor, picks PF Changs instead of Shoneys.
It wouldn't be so bad if any of the hospitals here allowed whites (most of them have color-enforced dress codes), but to add ONE MORE expense, to be used for one stupid ceremony...well, it aggravated me.
The instructor, more used to meek and mild students who don't question the status quo, blinked about 10 times and then informed me I should start a petition to be given to the director of our program.
I'm totally with you. If my school pulled this, I would say screw 'em and wear whatever I could find that is a reasonable match to the "required" outfit.
What are they gonna do, not give me my diploma?
to demand one more expense and a frivalous one at that is so insensitive to many of us. I am one of the people you mentioned barely making it and haveing to budget for every penny. So I appreciate your anger on behalf of people such as me :)
And if someone's pinning ceremony would be ruined by questioning this practice, holy cow they have gotta get their priorities straight and learn to feel more symapthy for those who are less fortunate.
There is always a way to find the money. I really think some of you are missing the point. From the beginning of nursing school it is known what is expected in regards to the pinnng ceremony. If you dont like it dont go. Why ruin it for everyone else. I can guarantee you that the other students will find a way to participate in this ceremony. You have to be cold hearted to not be honored by making it through nursing school and having this one last time to be celebrated and honored with your fellow classmates. Be proud of what you have accomplished. This poor attitude shows like of maturity and respect to those that have worked so hard. You can wear street clothes any time, you can wear colored scrubs anytime. How special to wear white, a traditional nursing uniform color. I am so excited, I can not wait for my pinning ceremony, to wear the white scrubs, receive my pin, light my candle. I am sure it will be one of those days that I will remember for the rest of my life.
I'm in nursing school for a license and a job, not some silly ceremony. This isn't some "calling", as has been discussed a hundred times on this forum. There are many, many excellent nurses that don't care a whit about Flo Nightingale, and weren't led by God or the tooth fairy to become nurses.
I don't think you can accuse someone of a lack of maturity in one breath, and then get all dreamy-eyed about playing dress-up in the next.
Actually I do believe it was a calling that God placed in my heart. I still think you are missing the point. Have you ever been to a pinning ceremony? Have you seen the faces on family members? The pride they have for their son or daughter, brother or sister. This is not just some silly ceremony. Maybe you like sports and the player makes a touch down and everyone cheers them on. This is what pinning ceremony is all about. Your family and friends are there to cheer you on. You made it, you made that touch down but its more than 7 points, its the whole game and you won it for the team (family). Take some pride in what you have accomplished, let your family and friends see how far you have come. Celebrate your victories in life, it's not all about the job or working. You deserve it, you have earned it, you have worked hard. This may be the only time you can sit back, relax and enjoy what you have overcome. You can never go back and say I wish I would have...
Just think about it, why don't you do some research on it. You may be surprised to see what you may discover.
uh I think you are the one missng a point if you honestly believe "there is always a way to find the money"
It's called poverty friend. It doesn't mean there is money sitting around somewhere one would prefer to not spend. It' means anything outside of the pre-budgeted items are out of the question- the money simply is not there.
There is always away if you want something bad enough. Have a garage sale, pawn something (youll be working in a few weeks, buy it back) baby sit, cut someones grass, clean someones house, ask a family member, sell goodies at your school. In one or two days you will have earned the money. By the way when is your pinning? If you have still have time maybe you can start putting aside a dollar a week. In one year you would have 50 saved. I by no means have the money. I have a large family and we have all made a lot of sacrificies. That means no going out to ea, no movies etc. Nursing school is a big sacrifice for everyone in the family. But remember it is only temporary. As I said to boratz. Enjoy your accomplishments. You deserve it. THink positive. You can do it.
I think I didn't fully explain myself. Sure, your suggestions are all good ones if it's something you want. But my husband and I, along with living on the poverty line are also committed to an anti-materialistic lifestyle. this means that if something is not necessary, and will not be used several times over we don't buy it. We rarely buy thinsg brand new. I don't remember the last time I bought brand new never worn clothing.
Buying an outfit that would be used only once is wasteful and silly, and completly violates our ethics. I haven't even purchased a lot of books for my classes, cuz so many are hardly ever cracked or opened only once. I read them in the library and if need be copy excerpts.
I am extrmely proud of my accomplishments, and I do plan to celebrate the end of nurisng school- But that doesn't mean I'm gonna throw out all my prinicples and live like a typical consumer crazy american even for a day. It's just a stupid outfit. It is not that important. As you mentioned, other elements to the ceremony which are much more important to me, such as the candles, the pledge and simply being with all my co-students.
we have a lot of things in common. I plan on going to salvation army to see If I can purchase some white scrubs. The cost is about $3-4 dollars. I think that is a pretty good deal. If that fails walmart sells them for about $9 a piece. I think its worth the money.
well, that's nice to know you try to live the same way, refreshing to find another one like me:)
I would re-think walmart though. They have and continue to treat their employees so poorly that I refuse to shop there, despite the fact that their low prices could ease my tight budget a lot.
dinah77, ADN
530 Posts
I'm totally with you. If my school pulled this, I would say screw 'em and wear whatever I could find that is a reasonable match to the "required" outfit.
What are they gonna do, not give me my diploma?
to demand one more expense and a frivalous one at that is so insensitive to many of us. I am one of the people you mentioned barely making it and haveing to budget for every penny. So I appreciate your anger on behalf of people such as me :)
And if someone's pinning ceremony would be ruined by questioning this practice, holy cow they have gotta get their priorities straight and learn to feel more symapthy for those who are less fortunate.