How to Maintain Your Personal Style While at Work
Your personal style plays a big part in making you who you are. Many of us communicate our personality and identity through what we wear and how we present ourselves. However, working as a nurse can often quash this. A lot of workplaces require their nurses to wear scrubs and other safety equipment so they can stay safe and carry out their job to the best of their ability.
Naturally, nurses may desire to add personal touches to showcase their individual style. It lets a sense of who they are shine through to their co-workers and patients. Here are some ways you can maintain elements of your personal style whilst working as a nurse.
What to consider
Functionality
Functionality is one of the most important factors you need to consider when deciding what to wear to work. Nurses spend a lot of time in their shifts standing, sitting, lifting, kneeling, and moving. In other words, they need something that will allow for a full range of movement over a long period of time.
Choosing scrubs or attire that moves with you and breathes easily will help keep you comfortable throughout your shift.
Check out the Biz Care range of functional workwear here.
Safety
Safety is paramount in the nursing industry – both for the nurse and their patient. Although expressing your style is important, it should never come at the cost of safety. While it might be tempting to wear your new hoop earrings, large dangling earrings should stay at home because they are a staff safety violation. The same goes for anything that poses a choking hazard (such as necklaces or scarves) and other jewellery that could rip the skin.
Dress code and professional image
The dress code set by your workplace is put in place to make you appear professional. You are representing the patient, and your professional image is what makes patients comfortable and confident in your ability. While some tweaks might be allowed in some circumstances, there shouldn’t be anything obsessive or outside the scope of the set dress code. For example, long acrylic nails may not be allowed under certain workplace rules. Not only might they shatter the professional image, but they could also pose a safety hazard in the workplace.
Making it personal
Accessorise!
And now, the fun part – making your uniform yours! Accessorising your scrubs is where you can play around with accessories and items that bring out your personality. For example, a watch can say a lot about your personality. A brightly coloured watch shows your fun side, a digital watch indicates efficiency, and a watch with a silver or gold bracelet reveals sophistication. Other simple jewellery such as a small pair of studs in your ears can also say a lot about you.
Hair and makeup
While your company’s dress code may restrict what you can do with your hair and makeup, nurses generally can mix up these looks. If you do decide to wear makeup to your shift, it’s best to opt for modest, fresh, and light looks to maintain your professional image. For nurses with hair longer than their collar, you will need to tie it back for safety reasons. A high or low ponytail, bun or braid are great ways to keep your hair looking cute and professional all shift long!
Undergarments
Layering up isn’t only beneficial for those cold night shifts, but it can also add a point of difference to your scrubs. Layering with a coloured undershirt (within the confines of your dress code) won’t only keep you warm, it’ll add an extra layer (get it?!) to your uniform.
Another note on undergarments – your *ahem* undergarments - Choosing the right underwear to wear to work isn’t probably something you think about when it comes to personalising your scrubs. However, it’s an important thing to consider. In terms of your professional image, wearing brightly coloured underwear or underwear you can see when you bend over isn’t often the best look. Opting for the classic skin-coloured ‘granny panties’ is a safe option – especially if your scrubs are white!
Embroidery
If your scrubs primarily consist of plain colours, embroidery can bring a pop of colour to your uniform. Even if it’s just your workplace’s logo or your name, embroidery can break up a plain uniform and give it a pop of colour. Our range of scrubs are all blank canvases – ready to be embroidered!
Shoes and socks
While shoes may be a bit more difficult to personalise, there’s still a chance you can choose the colour and style – considering they are comfortable enough for you to wear for long shifts!
Patterned socks are a fantastic way to show your personality at work. If this is a part of your uniform you have flexibility with, it’s time to get creative! Brightly coloured socks or socks with fun patterns on them are great to add a bit of joy to an otherwise plain outfit.
Take a look at our Biz Care Happy Feet Comfort socks!
And of course…scrubs!
Last but certainly not least – scrubs. If you’re required to wear scrubs at your work but can choose which scrubs you wear, this is where you can get a bit creative! Experiment with different colours, styles, and patterns to find which one suits you best.
Out of our Biz Care scrubs, here are the colours, styles, and patterns we recommend:
Maintaining your personal style while working as a nurse can be difficult, especially if you’re confined to a strict uniform policy. However, there are plenty of small things nurses can do to bring some fun and personality to their uniforms. If you’re looking to bring some personality to your nursing uniform, take a look at our range of Biz Care scrubs and head to your closest stockist to purchase.