Threatened dismissal because of wrinkly clothes :0(

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Hey everyone, I was just trying to get some opinions of an incident that happened to me recently.

I was pulled aside by the director of my nursing program, and was told that if I wore wrinkly clothes to clinical again I would be kicked out of the program. I was wearing a polo and khakis to clinical which I did't think were wrinkly, but apparently the clinical instructor did, she didn't say anything to me about it,but she said something to the director.

Edit= Thanks for everyones advice! I took a lot of it and the next clinicals went fine, as far as my attire went.

i'm wondering if i'll get reprimanded because of my wrinkly face (in my 40s)...

don't you have a uniform? we were forced to buy a horrible uniform with a high polyester content. it feels like you're wearing plastic, but there's no chance of wrinkling, ever.

i don't know why schools are so harsh about this stuff. it seems ridiculous to me. i got "talked to" once by a ci because i had an "odor" (i bath daily in the morning but don't usually wear deodorant -- personally i think deodorant smells worse than light body odor but i'm a hippie). i just sucked it up (from a woman who came to teach clinical with her hair dripping wet every day) and bought some unscented deodorant (it still smells like chemicals to me). god knows i wouldn't want to offend anyone while i'm wiping the feces off their buttocks.

thought this was an hilarious response. rofl !

(and to wrinkled op: just get an iron - you're lucky, this is an easy fix! this is not an important battle to have with the higher ups!)

I agree. I mean, come on we are adults. We shouldk NOT have top be told our uniform is wrinkled. And as for the post regarding the non use of Deodorant.....IF your hairdresser didn't use deo and she was washing your hair, wouldn't you want her to use some?!?:trout:

Offtopic but, this is a really silly post, sorry! I had to laugh on this one, cause it actually happened to me!!! I was getting a shampoo from Ms. Onioncrops herself and I thought I would faint if she leaned over me a minute longer than she had to! LOL!!!!

PS-How did this thread go from wrinkly clothes to not douching????!!!!:eek: :sofahider :uhoh3:

Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.

I'm not sure how it went from one "subject" to another "subject" but i've learned way more about someone than i ever cared to.

Anyway, was at Kmart earlier today. They have an iron that $10.

All I have t osay is, PLEASE use deodorant!!!! Not very people, but a few people DON'T use it, and then they don't realize that they STINK after a couple hours. And when I'm a patient, I sure hope that my nurse doesn't have bad BO!

I don't care what anyone thinks but not wearing deodorant is gross. No one wants to smell your BO. Anyone, especially someone working with the public, in the healthcare field to boot should know better.

Geesh, whats next a nurse who doesn't believe in mouthwash or breath mints. GROSS! I'm not trying to be mean but why would you go out in public knowing that you stink?? As far as the douching goes, I agree with Marie, TMI.

To the OP, good luck with staying wrinkle free. Try hanging your uniform in the bathroom, turn on the hot water and steam up the room, it helps to get the wrinkles out.

In regard to what another poster above me said about drying her clothes to get out wrinkes...because hey, let's face it...we're in nursing school, who has time to iron???? Anyway, as I was saying...I always throw a damp washcloth in the dryer to get out those....I've been in the laundry basket, waiting to be folded for a week type wrinkles.

I think they were pretty darn harsh on you to threaten to kick you out! Seriously. I could understand if this was a major problem that they have been on to you about before, but for the first time....not very professional.

Regardless I wouldn't show up wrinkled anymore.

Good luck!

These are really great tips...thanks for the info. I didn't think about not washing my scrubs with my other clothes. I usually don't, but not because I thought about that but because they're all white and I didn't want any color to run on them. I definately won't now. :nono:

Specializes in community health, LTC, SNF, Tele-Health.

I went to an old school LPN program, where you wore whites, and I mean white, below knee skirts, pressed shirts the whole nine..put it this way I had to wear the dixie cup thing on my head when I graduated. I found it easier to be meticulous about my uniform to avoid getting a new one ripped by my instructors which = being sent home to change which =loosing clinical hours that you have to make up. In short, iron your clothes. =)

In regard to what another poster above me said about drying her clothes to get out wrinkes...because hey, let's face it...we're in nursing school, who has time to iron???? Anyway, as I was saying...I always throw a damp washcloth in the dryer to get out those....I've been in the laundry basket, waiting to be folded for a week type wrinkles.

I think they were pretty darn harsh on you to threaten to kick you out! Seriously. I could understand if this was a major problem that they have been on to you about before, but for the first time....not very professional.

Regardless I wouldn't show up wrinkled anymore.

Good luck!

I am in nursing and I do have time to iron. I iron my work clothes everyday. You are in a professional field and you have to look professional. There is no excuse for not ironing clothes. It takes less than 10 minutes. I rather spend the 10 minutes ironing than spending it in the instructor's office.

I plan to wash my uniform every night after clinical by hand and let them airdry with a hanger. That way, I dont have to do too much ironing. It will take me 5 minutes to iron. I can understand not having time to cook, but ironing, come on now.

Specializes in Critical Care, Pediatrics, Geriatrics.
I plan to wash my uniform every night after clinical by hand and let them airdry with a hanger. That way, I dont have to do too much ironing. It will take me 5 minutes to iron. I can understand not having time to cook, but ironing, come on now.

Let me know how the handwashing thing works out for ya...I had to schedule time to pee while in nursing school...busy busy busy.

I had 10 minutes to iron but preferred not to. If she doesn't like it, take the uniforms,etc to the dry cleaners. Its worth spending the extra bucks vs. getting kicked out!:nurse:

Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.

Uniforms taken to a cleaners is $$$ and can take a day or three to get back.

Specializes in Infusion, Med/Surg/Tele, Outpatient.

I'd iron. We judge and are judged in every encounter with people on appearances. If I see a man in a nicely tailored armani suit, I think of him one way. If I see the same man in a muscle tank and ratty gym shorts, I think of him another. There's something to be said for a great tailor ($45 to alter 2 pants, 2 tops, and lab coat for clinicals) because your clothes look like they were made for you. Appearances are the 1st impression -- make it count.

Tip - stain removal from whites - automatic dishwasher detergent. Fill the sink with warm water, mix detergent in, let garment soak 2 hours or so....or can use as a spotter. I find that 1/4 cup white vinegar in the rinse keeps static and lint away, but overuse can damage fibers. I'm kind of a modern hippie. Borax, vinegar, lemon juice, washing soda, baking soda, ammonia; you can clean just about anything. :twocents:

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