Nursing School Uniforms And Their Fate After School

Nursing Students General Students

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A nurse asked me last night about my plans for my white Danskos after school, and I hadn't really thought about it. I'm kinda thinking I may have an artist friend of mine ink them up for me, but I wanted to hear what you guys have done or plan to do as well! My shirts I likely won't wear again (since the patches have been there awhile now), but my pants I will (ours are blue, not white). I don't want to wear white shoes after school, but I don't want to waste nice shoes! One nurse said a friend of hers planned to have them dyed, but she never heard how they turned out or how much it cost.

My white shoes will be in the Goodwill pile as soon as my pinning ceremony is over. If my uniforms are still in decent condition I'll donate them to the school. We have a uniform closet for those who don't want to/can't buy new scrubs.

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My school scrubs have my name and graduation year on them! Unless I can find someone in the next cohort with the same first name and last initial on them...they're going in the trash lol.

I'll rewear my bottoms though. And keep rewearing my white nursemates. Ugly work shoes don't bother me.

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If they are embroidered, it can be "picked off" and redone, if the quality of fabric merits the work...

My school scrubs have my name and graduation year on them! Unless I can find someone in the next cohort with the same first name and last initial on them...they're going in the trash lol.

I'll rewear my bottoms though. And keep rewearing my white nursemates. Ugly work shoes don't bother me.

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I will probably keep them around for a bit, maybe I'll give them to a friend who will be starting in the fall. I will keep my cap and a patch as mementos. My white shoes are pretty worn out at this point, I'm really needing a new pair, but no way I want to spend the money this close to being done!

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My diploma school had v. distinctive uniforms (dresses) that couldn't be used for anything else. They were also not cheap. Many of us sold our student uniforms to incoming students, and I'm sure that some of the uniforms passed down through several "generations" of students before they were finally retired.

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Specializes in IMCU, Oncology.

If you donate your uniform to the school you are graduating from, then someone who can't afford to pay for uniforms will have something to use. I am sure they can find a way to work around a patch with a name.

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My LPN uniform was horrid. It never fit right..my top (the smallest they had) was so terribly baggy..the bottoms were even worse..I'm very petite..and even the 'petites' were so long, had them hemmed..could have had another pair a decent fitting top with the fabric cut off the pant. Those too were very very baggy.

I use those when bumming around the house or cleaning.

My RN school uniform fit much much better (and cost much more). I donated the tops to a friend of mine who is having hard times (not much I could do with them, they were embroidered). The bottoms I kept and still wear.

My White Dansko's..I got those while working as an LPN during my LPN to RN program. Still have them, still wear them.

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Specializes in Hospital Education Coordinator.

classmates burned the uniforms - all white - after pinning ceremony. Shoes were delegated to garden shoe category.

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Our uniforms are sooo bad! They are these denim button down shirts and the old style navy blue straight leg pants. Oh and don't forget the white blazer lab coat!

Our uniforms are so ugly and expensive that we all leave them in a box after our senior year so incoming freshman that can grab a shirt or lab coat.

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Several graduating students sold their uniforms to incoming students. I'll probably do the same. I'll keep the shoes as a back-up pair but probably won't wear them on a regular basis.

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Ortho, Subacute, Homecare, LTC.

My uniform ripped in various places as I only bought one for clinicals. So I most likely won't be wearing it again. I also have white nursing shoes, not Danskos but cheaper ones. I really would like a nice pair of Danskos for working.

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Specializes in L&D, infusion, urology.
Why wouldn't you use them when you are nursing?

I'm just not into the all-white shoes. That's why I want to alter them in a way that I like and continue wearing them.

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