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.

[justme1972]

Ok, I'll be the first to say, that I do think that clothes matter. I still think RN's should wear all white, etc.

However, I also don't think that men should wear pastels that are traditionally "feminine" colors or SKIRTS, anymore than WOMEN should be forced to wear pants or a men's necktie in any profession.

Years ago, when I was early in my work career, I worked in a restaurant where I was told I had to wear a man's neck tie...I told the manager I would wear a scarf, but I wasn't a man, therefore, wouldn't dress like one. He agreed and I started a trend!

I think there needs to be a compromise...for example...if the color for women is lavender in an L&D dept, then maybe the men should wear a dark purple, or something more acceptable.

I totally agree with the guys on this argument.

[bigredrn57]

Uh...when a guy becomes a nurse hasn't he already crossed that Rubicon of what's traditionally masculine vs feminine? So why be bothered by what's a (conventional) feminine color? (And BTW that changes too like body piercings).

If I said the same thing I would be called sexist. Besides at 6'4'' and 290, I won't look "pretty in pink."

[nursemike, ASN, RN]

Uh...when a guy becomes a nurse hasn't he already crossed that Rubicon of what's traditionally masculine vs feminine? So why be bothered by what's a (conventional) feminine color? (And BTW that changes too like body piercings).

I prefer to believe we are redefining masculinity. And, really, if we are willing to undertake that challenge, I don't think gender neutral uniforms are an unreasonable request. Facilities and nursing schools that are unwilling to make minor accomodations to men in nursing are showing blatant disrespect. If my employer decided to require nurses to wear pink scrubs, I'd work somewhere else, not because I object so strongly to pink, but because I would assume they would be no less cavalier about my more serious concerns, as well.

There are challenges in nursing that are just an inherent part of nursing. There are challenges for male nurses that are just as inherent. There are challenges for nurses in general and males in particular that aren't really inherent, but are not going to be easily resolved. I think we need to be prepared to accept what cannot be changed and work toward changing what can.

I don't sweat it when an inservice opens with, "Good morning, ladies--oh, and gentleman." I chuckle along with everyone else. But there are some "inconsequential" concerns that could be resolved with a bare minimum of disruption, and I believe they ought to be.

[SteveNNP, MSN, NP]

NurseMike..... gosh...you're just so eloquent sometimes while hitting the nail on the head. You can be the mouthpiece for all men in nursing in my book!

[socalpca]

For me it's not about being a nurse, it's about being a man. As a man, I would not work at a place that forced me to wear feminine-looking clothing. It wouldn't matter what the job was.

[nursemike, ASN, RN]

NurseMike..... gosh...you're just so eloquent sometimes while hitting the nail on the head. You can be the mouthpiece for all men in nursing in my book!

Thank you so kindly. And yes, I must admit, it's a pretty good sig line.

[donsterRN, ASN, BSN]

NurseMike..... gosh...you're just so eloquent sometimes while hitting the nail on the head. You can be the mouthpiece for all men in nursing in my book!

Ditto that!!!

[anonymurse]

I prefer to believe we are redefining masculinity. And, really, if we are willing to undertake that challenge, I don't think gender neutral uniforms are an unreasonable request.

While true for color schemes, evidence-based corporate uniforming (researched by John T. Molloy, the pioneer who discovered the strong association between student performance and teacher dress) says that for best effect in projecting a professional image, men and women in identical service positions should not be uniformed identically.

The degree of sex differentiation isn't great. If I recall correctly, it's something like--if the corporate color scheme is maroon and blue, then women might be uniformed in maroon blazers with blue ties, and men in blue blazers with maroon ties. But for some reason, corporate credibility (and individual credibility by extension) requires this differentiation (the issue of "why" isn't a priority in Molloy's research).

In our field that depends on confidence in and compliance with practitioners to achieve satisfactory outcomes, the issue of uniforming would seem to bear rigorous investigation (however, to date, no health system or professional body seems willing to spring for the required research, or to state the question in evidence-only terms).

[Music in My Heart]

Wow, I must be tired. When I first read this, I thought UK was United Kingdom (probably because I was just reading a post from a nurse in the UK.) And I was thinking "if they have scrubs with British basketball team designs, they've got scrubs for EVERYTHING."

Me too! It wasn't 'til I read your post that I realized that he must be a Wildcats fan.

[Music in My Heart]

nurses are professionals, and as such we should be entitled to wear what we choose -- as long as it is neat, clean and professional.

firefighters, cops, and pilots are all professionals and are told what they can wear. as an engineer, i was a professional and yet i had several employers who dictated dress codes, some of them very silly.

[Music in My Heart]

Besides at 6'4'' and 290, I won't look "pretty in pink."

But at 5'10" and 180, I'm not man enough to tell you so:trout:

[Music in My Heart]

Uh...when a guy becomes a nurse hasn't he already crossed that Rubicon of what's traditionally masculine vs feminine? So why be bothered by what's a (conventional) feminine color? (And BTW that changes too like body piercings).

I think that's precisely the issue... many of us (men and women) would prefer to see nursing be considered a gender-neutral profession just as medicine has become.

I'm fine with everybody wearing the same thing but it should then be something that looks professional and is gender-neutral in cut, style, and color.