Why do Male Nurses Complain about Scrub Color & other Inconsequential Issues?

[AmaurosisFugax]

I have noticed some male nurses complain about the color of scrubs, candleholding, the term 'nurse' when applied to men & so on. Why are these important? The people they are caring for have cancer, heart dz, renal dz, special needs children,-the color of scrubs should be of no consequence. Some even called it 'discrimination', what a stretch! If someone is uncomfortable on how the color of scrubs or the term nurse will affect their sexual identity maybe they should be wrestlers. And then they complain some women are uncomfortable with a male L&D nurse! Do women police officers want to be called wolice & bemoan they can't wear dresses on the job? No.

[EricJRN, MSN, RN]

I think that while many of these things seem trivial to the casual observer, the public's perception of nurses is critical to advancing our profession and sometimes even critical to getting the job done with an individual patient.

If I'm talking to the family members of one of the special needs children that you mention, I'd like them to focus on our discussion, rather than the fact that I look goofy in pink, for example.

As we struggle to gain respect and compliance from patients and seek autonomy from other health professions, whether we look competent can be as important as whether we actually are. Sometimes it really does lie all in the perception.

[SteveNNP, MSN, NP]

Exactly.... Part of my professional image IS appearing professional, which for me, as well as most men I would imagine does not include pastel scrubs, etc. My first job was as the only male RN in a women's and children's center that required all of its perinatal nurses to wear lavender. I fought and fought against it, but in the end was able to find a compromise. I cannot tell you how many times I have been called "gaylord focker" and been referred to as the "male nurse." I prefer to be called simply by my first name, and my patient's families know that as soon as I meet them. In no other profession, except maybe the Postal Service ("Mail-Lady") is your title qualified by your gender.

[FireStarterRN, BSN, RN]

If I were a guy I wouldn't want to wear feminine colors. It's a valid complaint.

[Elvish, BSN, DNP, RN, NP]

Because appearance DOES matter. Because if I'm a man wearing lavender scrubs with Tinkerbell on them, it's going to take away from my professionalism.

I think it's a valid concern. Same deal for style of scrubs. Women's and men's bodies are different, so scrubs that are made for women (and traditionally, then have been) may not fit right on a man. We don't expect men to be ok shopping in the women's section for jeans, why would we expect the same thing for scrubs?

[nursemike, ASN, RN]

I used to say my only problem was not having anything to complain about. Now I'm a nurse, and life is perfect. I love my stupid job, but there are some times when some things about it get on my nerves, and when they do, sometimes I complain about them. Opinions may vary as to how consequential some complaints may be, but I think it's pretty universal that everybody complains about something. For example, lately I have been complaining about negativity, mainly just to see whether anyone is paying attention.

[FireStarterRN, BSN, RN]

Well, since I'm a "professional complainer" (see my profile), I think I'll complain about NurseMike's sexy girl slide show in his avatar today!

[nursemike, ASN, RN]

Just showing my support for keeping America safe from vampires.

[SteveNNP, MSN, NP]

Just showing my support for keeping America safe from vampires.

AKA Homeland Security.

[Lucid Vital Nurse, BSN, RN]

If you are wearing srcubs and other people have "issues" with the type you're wearing as a male nurse, than that's their problem, not your problem as the nurse. People will always have something to say about everything. If a male nurse is comfortable wearing Winnie The Pooh scrubs because he's working with babies, kids or even a Med/Surg Ward then that's appropriate. As long as the nurse is well groomed with clean scrubs on and is wearing the type of attire appropriate for a nurse, then that is all that matters. If you're male and feel comfortable with yourself to wear Tinker Bell, then wear it. Noone can force you to wear anything you do not want to. There are always other ways around the issue, or it's time to find another employer. It ultimately comes down to the question, "How comfortable are you with yourself to wear what you want?" Even if you work where there is a dress code enforced, you can still buy scrubs designs (or not) that you feel comfortable in wearing. The issue of Professionalism in relation to how you dress, again, fits in to how you are groomed and if you wear dirty and wrinkled or clean and pressed scrubs; not because there is a certain type of design on it or not. If you're not comfortable wearing something because you think others will make fun of it, make comments,or complaints about it, or if it's not R/T your profession, or it's not professional, then don't wear it.

[czyja, MSN, RN]

In no other profession, except maybe the Postal Service ("Mail-Lady") is your title qualified by your gender.

Out here in Cali the USPS uses the gender neutral term "postal carrier." At her request, I call the kind woman that brings my mail by her first name.

[MBANurse]

If you are wearing srcubs and other people have "issues" with the type you're wearing as a male nurse, than that's their problem, not your problem as the nurse.

Well, actually it is my (our) problem as male nurses. If patients or peers snickers laughs and/or makes snide comments it may lead to breakdown in communication, teamwork and patient care.

People will always have something to say about everything. If a male nurse is comfortable wearing Winnie The Pooh scrubs because he's working with babies, kids or even a Med/Surg Ward then that's appropriate.

Sure if he wants to wear it then fine. I think the issue is when units or clinics have mandatory colors. The ICU that I worked in had purple.. I was constantly being called Barney... I opted to wear my BDUs most of the time.

Maybe it is just me... but if a doctor were see me, a grown man, in the ICU with tinkerbell on my scrubs... well lets say that there would be laughs.

That being said.. the only "print" scrubs that I own have UK basketball stuff on them. I rarely if ever wore them... save maybe days of big games.