Question; orientation went great except...

Nursing Students General Students

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So first let me say that I debated posting this in the male nursing study section but figured that I would prefer the opinions of both men and women (admins please move if it is in the wrong section). So the issue:

I had nursing school orientation today and it went great except for one thing. We received our uniform jackets and my large sized jacket's sleeve only reached to mid-forearm on me (I'm 6'3" with long arms and broad shoulders). Needless to say this puzzled me as a men's large should definitely reach further. The buttons were also on my left side which, and correct me if I am wrong ladies, is the style of a women's jacket. Obviously I thought this was an error since I have a unisex name and I called the uniform store that embroiders our jackets. They said that the school specifically requires Cherokee brand Navy cardigan style 4301 jackets for all nursing students. I then went back to the school and they confirmed that that is the only option for all nursing students for uniformity reasons. Fair enough I thought until I googled Cherokee cardigan jacket style 4301 and all of the results said women's jacket; not unisex but women's. Now I don't really care what sex/color/ the jacket is or whether it is technically a women's jacket, I care that it does not fit me and the other sizes are either too short (above my belt line) or too long with the sleeves still above my wrist. I then decided that I shouldn't trust google and called Cherokee directly. They confirmed that style 4301 is 100% a women's jacket not unisex and that their male equivalent is style 4350. Why has this not been an issue I wondered. The school of nursing officials told me that no men have had any major issues with their's as most students just pushed their sleeves up as well. Unfortunately I cannot do this as I have two full sleeves of tattoos; classic catch 22. I will happily cover but my women's jacket sleeves are too short. So basically my questions are; 1) can my school require me to wear a women's jacket (not unisex) if it does not fit me in a medium, large, or extra large; and 2) If yes, for uniformity, why would they require a women's jacket for all yet allow me to wear men's scrubs that are different than women's obviously?

I have approached the school already (tactfully because I don't want to **** off the people that will be grading me for the next two years) and their attitude was very unbudging. Can they do this? Any help, advice, and/or opinions would be appreciated greatly. Thanks.

If they're going to give you a hard time about this and act like you're being a brat for not wanting to wear women's clothing - then you should RUN, not walk, out that school door. I promise the stench of their feces will only increase as the year progresses.

Specializes in ER/Emergency Behavioral Health....

This is ridiculous! My school gave us an order form where we could get our scrubs. Each had male and female sizes as well as petite. I had to get petite pants because I'm only 5'1". We have a lot of men in my class (it's probably 60% female and 40% male). They have to accommodate everyone or else it is sexism.

Specializes in ER, ICU, Education.
Okay so here's the update. I spoke to several other guys today and they said that they all had the same problem but not one of them thought to say something. The Dean of Nursing herself said that I can order the men's equivalent of the jacket. Her exact words were, "Oh whatever, just have him order the men's one!" I was standing outside the door. When I asked her secretary (the one who relayed the information to me since for some reason the dean couldn't talk to me directly) if the dean knew that the jacket was a women's she quickly replied, "Yes she knows and she said to just order the men's equivalent." when I asked if this applied to the other men she said no just me. The thing that worried me the most was that they acted as if I was whining about some trivial issue and being a brat but hey I have thick skin so be it. So yahhhh, victory right?!? I'm not really sure. Obviously I'm going to be the only person wearing a different jacket and when asked why by professors, clinical instructors, and students I'm going to say simply that I have the male version of the jacket. I'm also sure that when other men hear this they are going to complain and guess who's head the Dean is going to want on a stake? I feel like I've painted a huge target on my back just for standing up for what's right in an extremely tactful manner. It's going to be a rough year.....

It doesn't really speak well of the Dean that she was dismissive of this. If a student is upset, even if I think an issue is not important, I listen until I understand what they are telling me. I may not agree, but there should be dialogue, not derision.

If the faculty can't figure out that this is a problem, that a woman of five feet tall and 100# (the size of my current smallest student) and a man of around 6'6" and 280lbs (my estimate of my current largest student) just might require different fits, they may not be very focused on common sense or student respect. Many years ago, I worked at a restaurant that required uniforms. I was short with a rather large chest, but overall tiny. The uniform options were either baggy and sloppy or tight and vulgar. I felt very embarrassed. Bodies come in a million permutations of height, weight, and body composition. You would think a group of seasoned nurses would realize this. Our school requires one color of scrubs, v-neck, school embroidery, but otherwise no other stipulations. It allows for all body shapes, including pregnancy! If you have some type of student representation on a faculty committee (which you should if your program is accredited), the option of one color scrubs, with the student allowed to pick the brand should be brought forward.

If this were your sister, mother, partner being forced to wear men's clothing that was too tight in the chest and left her humiliated, people would have more sympathy. Sorry you are dealing with this OP.

If you have some type of student representation on a faculty committee (which you should if your program is accredited), the option of one color scrubs, with the student allowed to pick the brand should be brought forward.

I have thought of this and will be pushing this forward. Although there are no men in any leadership positions of student representation I am hoping that the female students will empathize more than the faculty. Another direction I have thought of is to talk to the only male faculty member and see if he could offer some advice.

Specializes in Cardiac Stepdown, PCU.

Wonderful it's been resolved, but let me just say that if you go into this with the suspicion or thought of them "out to get you" you'll negatively influence your learning without trying. You'll find yourself unable to take any criticism or feedback without suspecting and wondering if it relays back to the jacket issue. I would just write this off as resolved, move on. Don't let it linger.

This is ridiculous! My school gave us an order form where we could get our scrubs. Each had male and female sizes as well as petite. I had to get petite pants because I'm only 5'1". We have a lot of men in my class (it's probably 60% female and 40% male). They have to accommodate everyone or else it is sexism.

I've been very careful to not say the "s word" because I know it will only make things worse. Unfortunately in America we tend to do a lot of victim blaming when it comes to matters of gender discrimination, racism, abuse of women and children, etc. (i.e. why was SHE dressed like that with those guys at that bar; why do THEY have to respond this way; why can't HE just shut up and wear his jacket like a good boy and every male before him) and it sickens me to no end. I don't know, maybe I digress but I hope that at least one day we can set aside trivial bickering and focus on what really matters in our field; the patient/client.

Specializes in ER/Emergency Behavioral Health....

That is true. I wouldn't dare say that is at the school. But it seems to be the "s" word to some extent.

It sounds to me like you handled this in the best way possible. Hopefully that is the worst of it with your orientation and I wish you the best.

I just started classes and my scrubs were late and the bookstore has my books on back order, haha! I'm hoping it goes up from here.

Wonderful it's been resolved, but let me just say that if you go into this with the suspicion or thought of them "out to get you" you'll negatively influence your learning without trying. You'll find yourself unable to take any criticism or feedback without suspecting and wondering if it relays back to the jacket issue. I would just write this off as resolved, move on. Don't let it linger.

That is a very good observation as well. I really don't hold any grudges or think anyone is out to get me specifically and as long as I am able to abide by the rules, like I am trying to do, I don't think that dress code will be an issue later down the road. I understand that some people are stuck in there ways and don't like change. When I say push this forward I should probably clarify and rephrase; I will be tip-toeing in the shadows like a ninja.

Hey, I know entertainers like to branch out into other areas like fashion, but I'm surprised he's put his mark on nursing uniforms?:roflmao:

Ludacris - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia;)

yep my mispelling got the best of me....oh well :D Ludicrous....I should proofread more :D but that would make life so boring

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