Forced wearing of nursing cap.

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  1. Is this sexist or gender bias?

    • 95
      yes
    • 101
      no

196 members have participated

I'm a senior registered nursing student and our school has a pinning ceremony to mark the completion of our program.

Our class contains about 20% men, equal split of black and white in both genders. I am approaching 50 and this is not my first career.

The director of the nursing program gave the class the "option to vote" on the wearing of a nurses cap for the pinning ceremony and our class photo. The majority of the class voted to wear the cap, men excluded from wear.

I do not wish to wear the cap and have been told by program director that "the class voted to wear it and you have to or you will not be able to participate". I understand the cap is traditional, but I feel it calls specific attention to my gender and not my success in passing nursing school. I've worked very hard to get where I'm at and I wish to celebrate my success with a pinning ceremony.

I truly feel that being "forced" to wear the cap is discriminatory based on my gender alone. Period. The guys are not made to wear them because they are considered "feminine or female dress", and I don't wish to be "forced" to dress as such either (we are all wearing pant-scrubs by unanimous vote).

I respect the choice of anyone else that wishes to wear the nursing cap. I don't and won't presume to force my opinion on them.

Has anyone else had this experience?

Does anyone know of any precedence against forced wearing of nursing caps to participate in school activities, etc? Any input on how else to proceed in approaching my school administration would be appreciated.

I welcome the input from both genders, seasoned and new nurses, students and educators, and anyone else on here that wants to chime in.

I ask only, that you be nice to me and each other. This is very serious for me.

Specializes in Nursing Education, CVICU, Float Pool.
I really don't get why this thread is 16 pages long... Can someone explain this!?... It's kinda driving me crazy.

Maybe there's a link to that and people not doing well in nursing school... LOL cause we care too much about the small stuff and don't see the bigger picture. Hate me all you wanna, but really. All this over a HAT?... And that's sexist?...

I'm confused.

YOU signed up for the gig. Should of asked about hats before you applied. Lol.

Does this thread make anyone else want a beer?

Praise again!

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All this over a HAT?... And that's sexist?...

Just because it may not be something you deem worth fighting over, it IS sexist. If applies to only one gender. That would be sexist.

Besides, if it's not a big deal to wear the hat, then why not make the men wear the hat too?

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Specializes in Operating room..

Some idiot brought about legal action and at my school we weren't allowed to wear our caps to graduation. First class that was told they wouldn't attend the ceremony if try came with a cap. Grow up already. Would have loved to wear it just because it is a part of our (nursing) history.

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Specializes in Nursing Education, CVICU, Float Pool.

Just because it may not be something you deem worth fighting over, it IS sexist. If applies to only one gender. That would be sexist.

Besides, if it's not a big deal to wear the hat, then why not make the men wear the hat too?

So because a female has to use Maxxi Pads (and the like products) and I don't, it's sexist????

Because according to your logic that's what your suggesting.

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Specializes in geriatrics.

The maxi pad analogy is not very sound.

Females wear maxi pads or tampons because we have no control over the fact that menstruation is messy.

However, as nurses, men and women, we are involved in the same profession. Likewise, it IS sexist to demand that women don the cap. There should be a choice.

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Specializes in Nursing Education, CVICU, Float Pool.
The maxi pad analogy is not very sound.

Females wear maxi pads or tampons because we have no control over the fact that menstruation is messy.

However, as nurses, men and women, we are involved in the same profession. Likewise, it IS sexist to demand that women don the cap. There should be a choice.

Ok........ If its something that is not like then don't do it, don't go to a school that does the tradition, or don't go to the pinning. Simple as that.

Why is it that's led have to have a female staffer in the room when doing "intimate" assessments and procedures with a female client, yet female nurses, for the most part, don't have to have a male in the room when they are doing "intimate" assessments and procedures on males??????

Do you see a whole bunch of people making a big "to do" about it???? No, most just carry in bc there a too many other Important issues to phase than to complain about tradition that was never meant as derogatory.

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If its not one issue it's another... Do you guys have like... Passions or is this something that's a REAL issue?

*remember this when you all go to work in a hospital. Is it REALLY worth an argument?

This is dumb.

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It's simple: if you don't like it. Don't do it. You graduated. Move on.

And PLEASE DEAR LORD when you interview for a position as an RN ask if girls AND GUYS have to wear hats ever!!!!!!!!!!

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This is great training for the real world of nursing. As nurses we often have to do things we do not like or want to do. If these things do not cause harm to someone, we must do them.

Suck it up and wear the hat, its just a hat and its just for a few moments, its not for the rest of your life.

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Specializes in Dialysis.
What have you been smoking? How can the pinning ceremony be a1000-year-old tradition when nursing school hasn't even existed for a fraction of that long? ? ?

Actually, nursing began in about 250 B.C. I obviously don't know what their rituals or anything entailed after they became nurses, but either way, what I meant was that nursing has been around for a very long time, all of which had some sort of tradition. They may not have started a pinning ceremony or anything until Florence Nightingale (1800's), but do you really have to be that rude and ask what I've been "smoking?" Excuse me for not getting my dates correct (I'm okay admitting when I am wrong). How about next time, you use constructive criticism rather than an insult when you are letting someone know their facts are skewed. Something like, "Just so you know, nursing started around 250 B.C., but pinnings didn't begin until blah blah blah." That would have been a much more acceptable response.

Learn to communicate more effectively and kindly, brillohead. After all, if you are a nurse, communication is a huge aspect of your job.

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All this over a cap?? At my pinning ceremony all females wore caps. It looks nice and professional. It also pays homage to all the nurses before us. I don't understand why people are telling OP to get a lawyer. It's NOT a big deal. You wear it for about 2 stinking hours, take pictures and then take it off for good. My cap, lamp and pledge sit on my dresser and I feel proud. Don't make a nonsensical deal over wearing a cap and don't ruin it for those who really want to wear it. That is all.

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Specializes in Trauma Surgical ICU.

I find it strange that after 26 pages the OP hasn't came back and commented..

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