Miss Trust: Tales from the Bedpan
Shift #2 : Part One - Frontline Fashion Report
It’s another Wednesday, but today? It’s different. It’s not just an eight-hour shift at the long-term care center; it’s a chance to step into something familiar, yet refreshingly new. Walking to my placement, there was this subtle but altered sense of comfort—no, not just because I snagged these fabulous shoes on sale, though they are everything! It was more than that. It was the rhythm and routine that was slowly weaving itself into my nerves, soothing last week's little bursts of stress…and tears.
My anticipation was real, and it was good. I was genuinely excited to see the residents, and to catch those moments of the day unfolding like a surprise. Hmm, no! Cracking open a Kinder Egg and getting that really cool surprise, and then the chocolate to celebrate! This was going to be a good day. It was starting right.
Today, my spotlight is firmly on these light pink scrubs I am wearing - an absolute statement in soft pastels, where comfort meets an effortless sense of style. Pastels are having their moment; they bring a subtle charm to the everyday uniform. There’s a transformative energy in wearing light pink, a colour that whispers optimism and ease. It’s a shade that invites warmth and exudes approachability—a perfect fit for my own agenda today.
For the uniformed, your uniform matters. I mean it REALLY matters. While the ultimate purpose of the uniform is to make you recognizable to the patient, the modern era has allowed many health professionals to show what type of professional they are. Are you serious, all business, no time for anything else but work? Go for white, or green surgical scrubs with no accessories; keep it simple. Are you approachable, friendly, and fun? Wear colours. Wear something with a pattern on it. You might even put stickers or have something attached to your stethoscope. A crazy-looking pen sometimes works too!
When you are caring for people, everything you do, from your non-verbal communication to what you say and how you say it matters. So naturally, what you wear is important too. These residents are showing you their greatest vulnerabilities, and to help them feel at ease, it’s important to make them feel comfortable with you – to show some of your humanness. I want the residents to feel inviting energy - that bright, calming aura - as soon as they see me.
Maybe I’m talking ‘smack’, but there’s something undeniably effective about a well-chosen colour for your uniform. Last week, it was hot pink—a bold, vivacious choice—and it delivered. Next week? Perhaps a shift to regal purple, because why not? Every day feels like a chance to step onto a personal runway, blending comfort, confidence, and a dash of joy. And in the midst of it all, there’s the hopeful anticipation of the day ahead. It’s a new opportunity to engage, to bring lightness not just through what I wear, but in every interaction. Fashion, after all, is more than what you put on, it’s how you show up, and today, I’m showing up ready for whatever comes next. This gang, is my report to you on the importance of fashion and another dimension of the complexities of nursing not understood by most. You’re welcome!