Pet Peeve

luvschoolnursing, LPN · Apr 13, 2010

I must admit, I have been debating on giving up the scrubs and going for a "dress" look. I'm just too cheap to buy a whole new wardrobe. At times, I feel like I am looked upon differently because I wear scrubs.

Flare, ASN, BSN · Apr 13, 2010

ya know i had a pet peeve once... but it ran away...

anyhow - i alternate between "people clothes" and scrubs - keeps everyone on their toes...

safarirn · Apr 13, 2010

I have fully embraced my scrubs. I used to wear human clothes all the time, until a child projectile vomited all over my pants!

Call them smocks, scrubs, uniforms, or call them whatever you want. I call them SMART! lol

Purple_Scrubs, BSN, RN · Apr 14, 2010

I wore dress cas my first year, and had trouble with the littlest ones not believing I was really the nurse, LOL! Now I do pedi friendly print scrub tops, then jeans and school tee or polo on Fridays. I also don't like the term "smock", but have only heard it used once or twice. It reminds me of those plastic aprons they use in art class!

I am thinking of investing in a nice white lab coat with embroidery, mainly to use for meetings and whatnot. I figure it looks a little more professional than my Eeyore scrubs when I am meeting with parents, administrators, etc.

luvmykidz · Apr 14, 2010

I wear scrubs because I sub at different schools and it's just easier for people to recognize me as the nurse, or so I thought, until yesterday when a staff member thought I was a school cook! Hello!!

rdsxfnrn · Apr 14, 2010

I alternate also. Depends on how I'm feeling that day!

Purple_Scrubs, BSN, RN · Apr 14, 2010

I wear scrubs because I sub at different schools and it's just easier for people to recognize me as the nurse, or so I thought, until yesterday when a staff member thought I was a school cook! Hello!!

This! My cafeteria workers (who are wonderful and do a great job, so I am not hating on them), wear scrubs and it annoys the heck out of me. They all wear matching print or solids, so usually I am wearing something different. Once or twice our prints have been similar. Last year they wore white scrubs and that really annoyed me...not that I want to wear white or anything, but the strong association with nursing makes me want to "own" that!

Keepstanding, ASN, RN · Apr 14, 2010

i wear casual slacks and a blouse. then cover it all in a colorful lab jacket aka "smock" ! i have had it called that too ! :lol2: i love what i wear and most everyone know's i'm the nurse.

praiser

jagalu100305 · Apr 14, 2010

i love wearing scrubs!! I am a jeans and t-shirts kinda gal so the more comfy i can be at work the better!! :)

Nurse_Ziba · Apr 15, 2010

Here in my school we have a nurse uniform for four days and casual dress every Friday. I wish I could wear scrubs to work but I can't because the house helpers who's taking the kids to school are wearing them. I miss wearing scrubs and white uniform! :redbeathe Actually I like wearing my uniform because it's comfortable, i don't need to think about what to wear, my normal clothes last longer, it's free (the school pays for it), and it makes me distinct. :nurse: *

bergren · Apr 15, 2010

I have never worn scrubs in the school setting. I do have lab coats, "smocks" (sorry!!), and cover shirts hung on a hook if that day brings a dirty procedure.

"slacks and a blouse. " Ditto and leather flats. I tried to always have a sport coat / blazer in case I interviewed a parent, had an IEP or committee meeting, or there were guests. I was glad I had it with me the day the superintendent stopped by for a surprise visit. Big nametag with name, title and credentials - teachers constantly saying to me, "I did not know nurses could get master's degrees?" ???!!!???

Even when I worked acute care, I found I was treated better by coworkers and families if I was in street clothes. The kids don't care what you wear.

I don't like jeans in schools, I don't like teachers or staff wearing jeans either and even on casual days, I would wear school colors, but not jeans. I think work is worth dressing for, and it shows that you respect the kids and it teaches them that jeans are not OK for many occasions. What other kinds of workers are allowed to wear jeans to work? Are they more or less respected than teachers or nurses? Usually less respected, so believe we should dress for the respect we want to get. Nurses' authority is diminished in school as it is, and as a middle aged woman, I don't want what I am wearing to further diminish or undermine others' confidence in my credentials, knowledge or authority.

In our area a few years ago, there was a revelation that a pedophile music teacher had been abusing kids for years, and the casual Friday the media showed up, the portly principal was wearing a college sweatshirt and shorts - not the impression you want to give in a crisis situation - I vowed to never go to school dressed in anything I did not want to be seen in on the evening news.