Required to wear girly scrubs

paytonsnana · Apr 28, 2005

Hi All,
I have a bit of a dilemma on my hands. I am considering accepting a position in a Level III NICU, and just found out from the staff that I will be required to wear lavender scrubs or all-white scrubs. Lavender I could MAYBE deal with, but all white and even lavender almost makes me want to reconsider. How am I supposed to maintain any dignity while wearing those colors? Any suggestions? Should I approach the manager? Any feedback is appreciated.
Thanks!

If you happen to be in Greenville SC forget approaching any one.

I lived there a long time ago, we wore all white. I no longer own anything that is white. I think the reason for a certain color is coming from so many abductions. It is suppose to let parents and staff know where you belong. Not to say that anyone can buy scrubs in those colors. I feel for you, believe me when I say if I had to wear a certain color that does not suit me I would look like a clown. Yellow makes me look like I am anemic. God bless:uhoh3:

BittyBabyGrower, MSN, RN · Apr 28, 2005

Yes, it is silly. And I don't think you would get the job, now do you? As for professionalism, the if we need a "uniform" than we should go back to crisp whites, down to our shoes since that is what the public perceives nurses to be like, scrubs are sometimes the sloppiest things around. All I am saying is that sometimes you have to make the best of something. They may let him wear white pants and the lavender top, who knows, but he needs to ask.

nursemike, ASN, RN · Apr 28, 2005

One option might be to decline the job, then write to the CEO, HR, and the unit supervisor, explaining why you declined the job. Losing qualified candidates over arbitrary policies might, eventually, make a point that no amount of complaining could.

Easy to say, when I have my job lined up, but in a market where I have something that's in short supply and great demand, there's a real limit to how far I'll let my prospective customers dictate terms. In any case, you make it clear that dress codes are something to ask about at an interview.

jasonglh · Apr 28, 2005

Our hospital recently changed the uniform policy because people couldnt tell who is who. Well its a no brainer that most people are stupid and they still cant tell who is who. RN's and LPN's wear white pants and a solid colored shirt of their choice and supposedly white shoes. CNA's wear navy blue scrubs. ER wears royal blue, Peds white pants and a kiddie scrub top, and ICU wears OD green scrubs, Resp wear red scrubs, lab wears khaki scrubs and the NICU/OB wears hospital supplied surgical scrubs.

Looks like if you want to work in the NICU all white is your best option over lavender. Decline the job and take one where you can wear something cool. I love my OD green scrubs.

Do they not wear something over the scrubs from home when handling the premies?

LT Dave · Apr 29, 2005

uh...white's not practical??? Why? Could it be that it shows the dirt, because I think that's the WHOLE POINT!!!!!!!!

Shows the dirt? How about blood, urine, feces, secreations, IV fluids. Ever in a CODE before? Things tend to get very messy.

LT Dave · Apr 29, 2005

Faced with this choice, I think I would wear white. But I do feel for you. "Feminine" color schemes could well be seen as a subtle form of discrimination. Lavender or pink certainly don't sound like they were chosen with much consideration for what a male might be comfortable in. On the other hand, I would be pretty reluctant to ask that everyone invest in all new scrubs to suit my taste.
One nurse at my hospital wears white Dickies and a white polo. He looks pretty sharp, he has a belt to hold his pants up, and I have no idea what color or style his underwear is.
Thats the word DISCRIMINATION !Why should a man be forced to wear femanine colors? Would we make our Police officers wear Lavender? Would we force Firefighter to wear Pink? MAybe no one cares what you wear "in" the unit but hao about the trip in to work? How about leaving your house in a pink set of scrubs walking by your neighbors?
Face the facts! The ONLY reason a man would be forced to wear stuff like that is to humiliate him and force him out of a profession he worked so hard for. Get a lawyer. Enough of this type of nonsence. I would not want my self or my wife to be embarresed by an employeer like this! :angryfire

mingez · Apr 29, 2005

Faced with this choice, I think I would wear white. But I do feel for you. "Feminine" color schemes could well be seen as a subtle form of discrimination. Lavender or pink certainly don't sound like they were chosen with much consideration for what a male might be comfortable in. On the other hand, I would be pretty reluctant to ask that everyone invest in all new scrubs to suit my taste.
One nurse at my hospital wears white Dickies and a white polo. He looks pretty sharp, he has a belt to hold his pants up, and I have no idea what color or style his underwear is.
Thats the word DISCRIMINATION !Why should a man be forced to wear femanine colors? Would we make our Police officers wear Lavender? Would we force Firefighter to wear Pink? MAybe no one cares what you wear "in" the unit but hao about the trip in to work? How about leaving your house in a pink set of scrubs walking by your neighbors?
Face the facts! The ONLY reason a man would be forced to wear stuff like that is to humiliate him and force him out of a profession he worked so hard for. Get a lawyer. Enough of this type of nonsence. I would not want my self or my wife to be embarresed by an employeer like this! :angryfire
I agree. I hate the femine colors, and before someone uses the "Well they make female officers and female firefighters wear masculine colors" arguement, consider this: It doesn't bother most men to wears such colors, but it still affects the way he is perceived by others, both consciously and subconsciously.
Just like a pink police uniform would affect how a female police officer is perceived. She wouldn't be taken seriously.
I also think that by not speaking up, it sends a message to management that it's "Okay."

nursesinabox · Apr 29, 2005

Shows the dirt? How about blood, urine, feces, secreations, IV fluids. Ever in a CODE before? Things tend to get very messy.

yeah, i kinda figured you'd all know I didn't mean the dirt from under the carpet. Of course, you are right, white shows more than just simple dirt, but all other things that indeed, are not white (reasons why white is an excellent choice for workers in the ER and intensive care). I'm sorry....were you agreeing, disagreeing or just adding?

nursemike, ASN, RN · Apr 29, 2005

I agree. I hate the femine colors, and before someone uses the "Well they make female officers and female firefighters wear masculine colors" arguement, consider this: It doesn't bother most men to wears such colors, but it still affects the way he is perceived by others, both consciously and subconsciously.
Just like a pink police uniform would affect how a female police officer is perceived. She wouldn't be taken seriously.
I also think that by not speaking up, it sends a message to management that it's "Okay."
Conversation overheard at work, the other day:
Q. What do they call the male equivalent of a tomboy?
A. A sissy.
Right or wrong, in our society a woman dressed in manly attire is usually seen as fashionable or cool, but a man in womanly garb is invariably perceived as gay. I don't by any means endorse the idea that it's better to be masculine, or better to be straight, for that matter, but that is the assumption we live under.
There's a case to be made for defying those assumptions and being boldly metrosexual, but that's a choice that ought to be voluntary.
I would also note that colors worn by police, firefighters, and even the military are not exclusively "masculine." Women were wearing dark blue long before they began to appear in police uniforms. In fact, what is a masculine color?
Now, there isn't anything inherently feminine about pastel colors, and some men do wear them in casual dress, but the overwhelming perception is that some colors are girlie, and the OP was clearly hesitant about taking a job which requires him to wear them.
Nurses at my hospital wear royal blue and/or white. If I choose to pass up a job because I don't care for royal blue, I'd have a hard time calling that discrimination. At least in my perception (and I think most Americans) royal blue has no gender connotations to speak of. But I would feel distinctly uncomfortable in pink, and I don't think it would be reasonable to require me to wear it.
Our volunteers wear pink jackets, by the way. Except for the men, who wear red vests.

SteveNNP, MSN, NP · Apr 30, 2005

Well, I just thought I'd duck back in and give you all an update. I had my interview in NICU the other day, and as it ended, the NM asked me if I had any other questions. So I said: "weeeellllll.....there is this one thing" and asked her if she was really going to require me to wear lavender/white. She laughed and said she wouldn't do that to me, and I could wear any color I wanted, as long as it wasn't what MD's, RT, housekeeping, etc was wearing. I just need to run it by her before I choose a color. SO, needless to say, I took the job and will start in May! Thanks for all your input!

Just to run over a few things that were added in the discussion of this thread:

- Those of you who are women and replying to this thread need to realize that men are wired differently. [news flash, right?!!!] Scrub colors are something that just gets under my skin! Imagine showing up at church in a swimsuit or pajamas. You would feel out of place and distracted by your appearance. Same thing with girly scrubs. I think I would have still taken the job, because my educational experience comes first, but I still had to think long and hard!

And by the way, after 4 years of nursing school looking ridiculous, the last thing I want to do is continue looking ridiculous, especially in see thru white. Face it, what man wears all white? very few it seems. So anyway, thanks for all your help!

You guys rock!

SS :chuckle

ratchit · Apr 30, 2005

I'm glad I read the whole thread before responding. My initial response was "Deal with it. I have to wear the same color as the boys at work and I've never heard a female complain yet that people would think she was a lesbian for wearing a 'boy' color." But I reconsidered.

Like other people have replied, I think this unit is going along with a trend that is popular at many hospitals- having each unit/type of staff wear a different color. It's apparently a JCAHO issue- patients are supposed to be able to figure out who is who.

My guess is that all of the NICU staff are women. They probably didn't mind pastels and maybe pink/blue were taken by other departments. Or maybe they didn't want to wear traditional "It's a ....!" colors. Or maybe that's the color that got the most votes- the places I've seen that had to choose never had a single color that most people liked and some real stinkers that only a couple people liked won!

It's not discrimination. It's not sexual harassment. I think a lawyer would have laughed you out of his/her office for trying to file suit over not liking the color you're expected to wear, but allowing only one staff member (who could have worn all white...) an option not open to others just because you're male could be seen as discrimination against them.

It was a rule or consensus of a group that existed before you arrived. Right or wrong, a new kid on the block who tries to change the rules or be exempt from them is starting off on the wrong foot.

I'm glad you handled it the way you did- asking the manager was very professional and it seems like you both handled it well. I just hope that "wearing whatever you want" is open to the female staff, as well.

When your coworkers complain about your color option (and they will, trust me!) you could offer a compromise. How about a darker shade of purple in addition to the lavender? They complement each other, and printed jackets will likely match either color. Purple, burgandy, and even eggplant are more "manly."

Might make sense to ask about adding a a second, darker color as option for everyone when you call your boss to run the color by her. She could see you as a team player (always a good thing!) and you might avoid being seen as a boss' pet or someone who expects special treatment by your new coworkers.

Remember, the boss could always change her mind later if your color option angers the rest of the NICU staff. Best to keep everyone happy so you don't have to end up buying a second set of scrubs- in lavender.

nursemike, ASN, RN · May 1, 2005

I'm glad I read the whole thread before responding. My initial response was "Deal with it. I have to wear the same color as the boys at work and I've never heard a female complain yet that people would think she was a lesbian for wearing a 'boy' color." But I reconsidered.
Like other people have replied, I think this unit is going along with a trend that is popular at many hospitals- having each unit/type of staff wear a different color. It's apparently a JCAHO issue- patients are supposed to be able to figure out who is who.
My guess is that all of the NICU staff are women. They probably didn't mind pastels and maybe pink/blue were taken by other departments. Or maybe they didn't want to wear traditional "It's a ....!" colors. Or maybe that's the color that got the most votes- the places I've seen that had to choose never had a single color that most people liked and some real stinkers that only a couple people liked won!
It's not discrimination. It's not sexual harassment. I think a lawyer would have laughed you out of his/her office for trying to file suit over not liking the color you're expected to wear, but allowing only one staff member (who could have worn all white...) an option not open to others just because you're male could be seen as discrimination against them.
It was a rule or consensus of a group that existed before you arrived. Right or wrong, a new kid on the block who tries to change the rules or be exempt from them is starting off on the wrong foot.
I'm glad you handled it the way you did- asking the manager was very professional and it seems like you both handled it well. I just hope that "wearing whatever you want" is open to the female staff, as well.
When your coworkers complain about your color option (and they will, trust me!) you could offer a compromise. How about a darker shade of purple in addition to the lavender? They complement each other, and printed jackets will likely match either color. Purple, burgandy, and even eggplant are more "manly."
Might make sense to ask about adding a a second, darker color as option for everyone when you call your boss to run the color by her. She could see you as a team player (always a good thing!) and you might avoid being seen as a boss' pet or someone who expects special treatment by your new coworkers.
Remember, the boss could always change her mind later if your color option angers the rest of the NICU staff. Best to keep everyone happy so you don't have to end up buying a second set of scrubs- in lavender.

I pretty much agree with everything you said. Particularly, I liked the idea of a second, co-ordinating, but not so girly color, to avoid all of the "why does he get to be special" that could arise.

And, again, if it bothered me a lot, I'd be more apt to work elsewhere that call a lawyer, BUT...

Consider, hypothetically, if someone had decided, "Let's choose a color men won't want to wear, so we won't have to work with men." I'm not saying anyone actually did, but if they had, that would clearly be discriminatory. Again, I'm having a hard time thinking what would be equally uncomfortable to women. A lot of the clothing in male-dominated occupations is ugly, but in many instances, ugly is dictated by function, so it isn't just arbitrary. Besides, some women look really good in greasy coveralls...

Uh, where was I? Oh, okay. So, even if the intent is not to exclude someone, if it is clearly likely to have that effect, then it is discriminatory.

I know this will sound like political correctness run amuck to some, or maybe just a guy looking for a chance to complain about dicrimination, but I don't mean it to be either. I really only mean that when decisions like dress codes are made, due consideration should be given to what is likely to make part of the nursing population feel unwelcome or uncomfortable.

By the way, I do like color coded dress. The place I work has it, but the hospital where I did a lot of my clinicals doesn't. Freedom is nice, but it gets a little frustrating when you suddenly realize you've just reported off to the dietary aide. Not all patients and visitors get the hang of the code, but some do, and at least the employees know who they're talking to. (The hospital where I did clinicals is about half as large as the one where I work, though, so it probably isn't such a problem when you're there a lot.)