Hello, everyone! How are you all doing?
This is an update post about work for a change. Specifically, about the different uniforms, I have worn in my workplace for just less than a year of my tenure. Just an introduction, I work in an NHS ward in a hospital in the UK.
I find it very interesting that I have three different sets of uniforms in just less than a year. In all honesty, my white nursing uniforms when I was working in the Philippines were only two sets. That means I always have to wash them right after a shift. The good thing is it is warm and humid in my home country so it gets dry easily.
Me in my white uniform and cap. =)
I wrote about my first hospital experience here.
In the UK, it is a different story of course. We have a washing machine and a drier which makes everything much easier. In less than two hours, we have fresh and clean clothes to wear.
Supernumerary Days
So when I first started as a supernumerary, a word I only ever encountered here by the way. It means an ‘extra person or thing’. They provided us with scrub suits which are just plain blue colored tops and blue trousers partnered with black shoes.
What I did during those weeks while waiting for the result of my OSCE (Objective Structured Clinical Examination) was to shadow Health Care Assistants and Registered Nurses. I liked wearing them as they are very comfortable and very light.
Staff Nurse Uniform
Then my pin arrived which means that I am a fully registered UK RN, therefore, I have to wear the trust’s RN uniform. This time it is a striped light blue and white tunic (another word I learned).
Excuse the oily face, I know. It was a busy long day.
It was only then that I felt the massive responsibilities and pressure brought about by wearing a uniform. When I started wearing them, I was a little anxious because I know people at work, as well as the patients, would see me as a real nurse and expect me to be one. During your first times, it is not always as exciting and a flawless transition as you hoped.
Present RN Uniform
Nevertheless, I wore it with pride because after everything I have been through to get to this point I should really not complain. This is what I wanted and dreamed of. My strategy was and still is to learn from others and go with the flow every time I go to work.
The set of uniforms I am wearing at present is a plain hospital blue tunic and dark blue trousers. I heard the reason they changed it again is to make NHS staff uniform the same across the country which only makes sense.
I am wearing slippers in the photo but I do change them to a black comfortable shoe at work.
Overall, I am loving the new uniform. It is easy to the eyes and both male and female nurses even Band 6 (Nurse In Charge) have to wear them which projects equality among all staff.
In the UK, the color of the uniform reflects the roles or the band/level of the staff which makes everything simple and straightforward.
