The other day a co-worker strolled in wearing a scrub top festooned with furry, smiling teddy bears. On an adult cardiac floor...REALLY? On various adult units I've seen Looney Tunes, Precious Moments, rainbows and clouds, hearts, and yes...oodles and oodles of teddy bears.
I think these types of scrub tops look ridiculous unless you work in peds, in which case they would all be highly appropriate. On one hand nurses are striving to be taken seriously as professionals, yet with the other hand they are taking juvenile looking scrub tops off the hangar.
I'm a guy and pretty much have to wear solid scrubs if I don't want to look like a freak. But I am not motivated out of jealousy to kvetch about print tops on the ladies. If women want to pizazz up their uniforms, I have seen tons of very tasteful, very professional looking print scrub tops coordinated with solid pants.
If I were director of nursing of the world, I would ban dorky print scrub tops.
Could you imagine what that kind of picture would look like TODAY?
I might get a headache with all the patterns ...
Back to our regularly scheduled program ...
Must've been at the end of the shift because they aren't all neatly pressed. These days it would be a bit more of a motley crew -- with worse ironing skills.
Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.
QUOTE=cherrybreeze;4410288]I'm going to nit pick and go off topic (meaning, stick with the shoe theme) for a minute.
I don't own Shape-Ups or any other type of similar shoe, as I don't believe they would have enough of an effect to make it worth it. However, I have never seen a claim by any company making these shoes that they "get rid of cellulite," as it's pretty common knowledge that NOTHING (short of surgery) gets rid of cellulite; at the very least, we know exercise does not. These shoes claim to tone muscles, which does not equate to getting rid of cellulite, so I think you're reaching to make your point.
I got the cellulite claim directly from their advertising poster. However, it claims to reduce cellulite, not get rid of it. I guess that's an important distinction, though. I tried to upload the darn thing, but I am writing this on a very old old computer, and I gave up. Anyway, they claim to improve posture, reduce cellulite, improve blood circulation, tighten abdominal muscles, firm calf muscles, strengthen the back, tone the thighs and firm buttocks muscles.
I think if you feel so strongly about this, then you should start a thread about your feelings of nurses who wear Shape-Ups. Because your opinion of these sneakers has nothing to do with nurses wearing scrubs made with childish prints.
Not sure if it's me you think should start my own thread about shoes, but I admit the topic of shoes is not all that relevent to the cutesy scrub top topic. It may have been the comments about lawyers emptying Foley bags wearing suits, or the comment from someone pointing out that they didn't want to be called "rainbow kitty" at work that got me off the focus of this thread but I will be much more careful in the future.
QUOTE=CuriousMe;4409719]Not sure who you thought was offended by your comments about sneakers (is taking offense to sneakers even possible?), I wasn't offended....just think they're irrelevant to this conversation. I have a fine appreciation for dry humor (I'm from NY originally, I love sarcasm and dry humor), but it's a style of humor that really doesn't translate well on discussion boards. So, to me, your comments came off not as dry wit.....but as petulant, redirection of the topic due to the lack of a meaningful reply.
Petulant? Where? I wasn't even attempting to make a meaningful reply! I hadn't realized this thread was so serious! I'll go stand in the corner now and think about what I did.
Not sure if it's me you think should start my own thread about shoes, but I admit the topic of shoes is not all that relevent to the cutesy scrub top topic. It may have been the comments about lawyers emptying Foley bags wearing suits, or the comment from someone pointing out that they didn't want to be called "rainbow kitty" at work that got me off the focus of this thread but I will be much more careful in the future.
I tend to quote the post I'm referring to. Other than suggesting you start a thread re: shoes if they trouble you that much, I didn't say any of the things you added above.....but it's good to know that you're OK with pulling out just the hyperbole from different posts that was used to make a point.....yet completely miss/avoid the point.
I'm now thinking this may have been yet another humor attempt?
Petulant? Where? I wasn't even attempting to make a meaningful reply!
That was my point....the complete change of topic seemed like you had nothing meaningful to add.....so started complaining about some other random thing.
I hadn't realized this thread was so serious! I'll go stand in the corner now and think about what I did.
I'm guessing this is another attempt at humor? Maybe you should warn us with a parenthetical statement?
My *favorite* thing is when people decide that others have "posted enough on a topic," and should therefore stop. Who are they to make that decision for others? If you don't want to read it anymore, just stop.
On that vein, in response to the topic of cutesy scrub tops, a few people have said, "if you don't like my scrubs, don't look at them." It's not like a forum topic, where you can click the red X. If I'm working with someone in a ridiculous Hello Kitty shirt, I can't exactly just "not look at it." Please.
Two things honestly amaze me in this thread, having seen them over and over. 1) that people truly don't think wearing childish clothes impacts how others view them, and that they're just as professional as solids and muted colors, and 2) that people think they aren't judged on their appearance. That's a natural, unavoidable thing. A knee jerk response to what is first presented. Yes, eventually your friendliness, competence, etc may overcome your, *cough* whimsical choice of clothing, but that takes longer. Ever hear the statistic that in job interviews, the interviewer actually makes their decision on whether or not to hire you in the first 10 seconds, or something like that? What do you think that's based on, for the most part? You haven't even opened your mouth by then. Same goes.
Specializes in Plastics. General Surgery. ITU. Oncology.
Although I don't get the choice, being obliged to wear my Trust uniform, boring black shoes and no jewellery I think this is purely a matter of personal preference at the end of the day.
I'd much rather a good nurse cared for me covered in teddy bears than a bad one wearing my Trust uniform.
I take the point about professionalism...but professional is as professional does even if they are dressed as Ronald Mc Donald. You are lucky in the US to even HAVE a choice. We don't in the UK. If I was very sick I doubt I would even notice what the nurse was wearing.
On that vein, in response to the topic of cutesy scrub tops, a few people have said, "if you don't like my scrubs, don't look at them." It's not like a forum topic, where you can click the red X. If I'm working with someone in a ridiculous Hello Kitty shirt, I can't exactly just "not look at it." Please.
for all you nurses who insist that they should be judged from the inside out, i wonder how you'd react to a new employee nurse who wore white, shiny spandex leggins, 3 inch painted fingernails, 5 lbs of pancake makeup, with overflowing boobs?
IMHO I do not like any scrubs with patterns. I do think they look like pajamas. If your boss allows it (no hospitals in my area do) then it's your choice to wear them or not. I can understand printed and "cutsey" tops but PLEASE don't wear the matching bottoms. I personally think this looks ridiculous, and you might as well wear pajamas to work. I am all for self expression so if you like it then go for it, but I wouldnt be caught in anything with a print on it.
Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.
QUOTE=CuriousMe;4409719]Not sure who you thought was offended by your comments about sneakers (is taking offense to sneakers even possible?), I wasn't offended....just think they're irrelevant to this conversation. I have a fine appreciation for dry humor (I'm from NY originally, I love sarcasm and dry humor), but it's a style of humor that really doesn't translate well on discussion boards. So, to me, your comments came off not as dry wit.....but as petulant, redirection of the topic due to the lack of a meaningful reply.
.
I hadn't noticed your comments about shoes when I wrote my posts. You also responded to a comment specifically directed at nursing students, so though I plead guilty to whatever non-sequiturs and other fancy names for bad things you have identified in my posts, perhaps you would do well to scrutinize yours a little more carefully, too. The last sentence, that my posts are a "petulant redirection of the topic due to the lack of a meaningful reply" is an ad hominem remark, so I will respond to that. Here following is the entire genesis of the shoe "tangent" with all my comments about shoes. You made it an issue by misrepresenting almost everything I've said. The main points being that I am not petulant and I am not trying to redirect the thread!!
QUOTE NICUDude-. . Two mornings ago, the young parents of one of "my babies" greeted me brightly as I was leaving after my night shift. They asked when I would be their nurse again. I explained that assignments were "luck of the draw," although we are assigned the same patients as much as possible for continuity of care. Then Mom asked about my shoes, as I wear Skecher Shape-ups. I told her I found them to be the most comfortable shoes I have ever worn. She said, with a smile and a laugh, "Well they sure are ugly!" I replied "Yes, ma'am, they are "butt-ugly" but I can stand in them for twelve hours every night and never get sore feet." .I guess my point is that opinions are often formed without basis, and once an explanation is offered, some narrow minds are widened. Regardless, I will forgo the strap sandals, and acrylics are right out! I am as fashionable as any other grandfather of three who works in a NICU. No fashion statements here. Why yes, nursing IS my third career. Had it been my first, I would have different initials, like MSN, or NNP after my name. But I digress. LOL.
An anecdote and first mention of the S word. Note LOL at end of sentence. Denotes "fun".
LOL, NICUdude. (you came back, nanner nanner nanner)-- ha, I'm kidding. Let's be friends. I do tend to be annoying on my days off, and I lean definately toward the most freedom of choice in nurse-garb anyway. Also, I've been waiting to hear a user review of Sketchers Shape-ups, because they look like something that would cause me to trip and run into walls alot. My inner ear mechanisms are a little iffy. :)
Uh oh. I asked him what he thought of the shoes. I confess to creating a serious tangent. In no way was I trying to redirect the thread. Having people pick up on tangents in posts isn't exactly unusual, though.
Following that are posts form morphed, wooh, nicudude and applescrufette about the shoes. I didn't add anything at all to it! Not redirecting the thread! Still waiting for my petulance to show itself. Immediately following that back and forth, we have:
I wouldn't care if my RN thought they were shaping their butt, or just found comfortable shoes to wear for 12 hour shifts.
Again, as long as they're dressed as an adult, I can take them seriously.
If you were so disturbed about the topic being re-directed why didn't you say so here? If you were going to say something about it, why would it have been to me?
My reference to dry humor was about the post from applescruffette. I'm pretty sure it's what is known as "tongue in cheek" because of the references to being "underwhelmed" and relating it to critical thinking. I sort of riffed off that with my post about Evidence Based Practice. This isn't a doctoral thesis. Feel free to stay away! Nothing was directed at you and again, I was not reading your posts until you came after me with the personal attacks.
Nothing you've said has set my mind at ease (in fact I find the fact that there are professionals out there with your perspective rather disheartening).
Are you a nursing student? Then don't worry. I wasn't trying to set your mind at ease. You find my posts illogical, unfunny, and disheartening. Duly noted. No need to repeat.
Wow!! Talk about the importance of picking one's battles!!
If wearing childish clothing at work is so important to you, I hope for your sake that your place of employment doesn't follow the recent trend of requiring a specific plain color scrub.
My last job did because "people couldn't tell who there nurse was"....a stupid excuse do to the fact that everyone from the secretary to the dietary aide is in scrubs, the ones who complain are diagnosed with confusion anyway, and people don't or can't read. So they color coded badges and went to a stict color scheme. I hated it. Now I am at a new place where I can wear what I want as long as it is clean and covers my body.
And I'm new, my clothing are all I can fight right now:p
Limiting scrubs (which already fit like comfy PJ's) to adult prints is restrictive???? Good thing you went into nursing, you'd hate having to go to work everyday in professional dress...... Childish prints somehow assist an RN in working with poo, blood and pee?.
I don't consider teddy bears, angels and rainbows, flowers ect children prints. teddy bears they are symbols that have meaning to adults and well and children. Just as trains are collected by adults so too and bears, so cost hundreds. What I consider restrictive is being told what to wear period and yes that is one reason why I don't work in an office environment.
I'm sick of people saying you wear a suit to court and solid scrubs to adult units, comparing scrubs to office attire is apples and oranges for me.
I used to work in technology and yes, different professions have different standards of dress.....but professionals usually look like adults. That's why RN's generally wear scrubs to work and not jeans and sweater like Bill Gates. Not sure what on earth that has to do with anything.
Now, if you had a picture of Bill Gates coming to work in a Superman shirt....or maybe wearing a Winnie the Pooh sweatshirt, with Tigger sneakers....that would be comparable.
My point was that some office jobs are not as formal and strict in dress codes as others and they are no less "prefessional"! I don't have a pic, but the man was barefoot around the office when I was there as child. Remember Seattle is not like other citys, we wear sandals in winter with socks!
for all you nurses who insist that they should be judged from the inside out, i wonder how you'd react to a new employee nurse who wore white, shiny spandex leggins, 3 inch painted fingernails, 5 lbs of pancake makeup, with overflowing boobs?
you wouldn't immediately judge her?
right.
leslie
Regardless of the initial judgment I had, my judgment wouldn't automatically jump from "she looks like a street walker" to "she's a bad, unprofessional nurse."
Regardless of the initial judgment I had, my judgment wouldn't automatically jump from "she looks like a street walker" to "she's a bad, unprofessional nurse."
Really?? You wouldn't have the slightest question of her judgement?
I hadn't noticed your comments about shoes when I wrote my posts. You also responded to a comment specifically directed at nursing students, so though I plead guilty to whatever non-sequiturs and other fancy names for bad things you have identified in my posts, perhaps you would do well to scrutinize yours a little more carefully, too. The last sentence, that my posts are a "petulant redirection of the topic due to the lack of a meaningful reply" is an ad hominem remark, so I will respond to that. Here following is the entire genesis of the shoe "tangent" with all my comments about shoes. You made it an issue by misrepresenting almost everything I've said. The main points being that I am not petulant and I am not trying to redirect the thread!!
ad hominem: is an attempt to persuade which links the validity of a premise to a characteristic or belief of the person advocating the premise (quoted from Wikipedia)
My argument was not an ad hominem, I didn't try and dispute the validity of your statements about childish scrub patterns by slandering your character. I said your reply about sneakers appeared as petulant misdirection of the topic (your reply....I don't know you from a hole in the wall). Commenting on a tangential reply, and stating that it was a tangential reply, in no way discredits your stance on childish scrubs.
My comment about your reply was not complimentary....but it was neither an ad hominem argument or an attack to your person.
Can we please get back to the actual topic? If you feel the need to discuss this further, please feel free to PM me.
DolceVita, ADN, BSN, RN
1,565 Posts
Must've been at the end of the shift because they aren't all neatly pressed. These days it would be a bit more of a motley crew -- with worse ironing skills.