No I's allowed
Only We's, He's, She's, They's, and Us's
Our expert/master apparel used to have bold colors and a rhythm that marked our own style. We could be both neat and show care. Maybe even better care because we seemed to be a happy lot back then. Women had overcome much of the bondage of the past. The 1980's! A new era...
We wore nametags that spoke our names and what we were allowed to do. The people we cared for knew who we were. And they had the call buttons to get us to the rooms where they needed our care...no matter what we wore, but cheerful colors seemed to make the hurts go away faster. They trusted us back then. And they remembered us.
Some of us wore hearts, some flowers, some wore checks or stars and moons. Heck, we were so proud not to have to wear the color of clouds or starched caps on our heads and have our legs covered by nylons that always ended as a "run". (Nurses had to wear those before the 1980's came along.) We had come a long way!
But those days were too short...by the early 2000's, most healthcare places mandated that nurses only wear standard colored scrubs in accord to job segment. Gone were the bursts of flowers and cheerfulness.
Now we are all just standard monkeys paraded down the halls that seem to echo "bondage" once more. Freedom to choose now gone. We are a mass and no longer "one of many" together.
They blend us and conform us to the beat of a drum that sounds so very, very monotone. Some of us are not at all complacent, but others depend upon us, so we clam up and keep those thoughts to ourselves, thus even more resentment.
Some of us are so programmed by now, that our freedom and personal preferences go sadly unaware of what we no longer have.... what was once ours. Why not just settle for the starched alabaster garb, then?
Most are the new nurses, the young ones who never tasted of freedom. Do they long for a flame of the belly that demands any change? Contemplate what other power they could revenue from you! That should make you fear!
A segment composed mostly of women: Healthcare. A summons and craft from the essence of the heart. Message: heart okay, autonomy, not so much! Have we been put back to our "place?" Has the standard mandated colored scrub replaced our "apron?" Or could they (mandated scrubs) be our aprons?
No wonder we now see manes of blue, magenta, and purple and so many tattoos nowadays. An era that screams to the world just who they are. Good for them!
The cause of unawareness could be from not ever the alabaster cloaks donned. Or not. Maybe not...probably not! Maybe 'twas the lack of awareness of the unspoken rule and pressure of a long-ago peer norm to allow a doctor to be seated rather than us...now jump up because "he" takes precedent. We are just nurses.
New nurses just don't know. They haven't felt "less." So, they now accept. Sad. Remember, please...
What's next for us? Where do we go from here? Are you okay? Do you know the story of how we got here? The struggles?
Now the offender the company, not the doctor. A new beast.
Dream of freedom and flowers and "you" awakened once more. Savor the Nurse DNA from afar and yet deeply a part of "you." Scream. Scream loudly. Make a way to freedom somehow. A world where your DNA can speak and be heard.
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Now, I can't find the creator who posted this challenge. It's entirely my fault. I haven't written much lately. I've been untangling my mind a bit.
Discovered that it was a VOCAL challenge...
The goal was to write it not using the letter, "I." But that quickly went to hell...no way I can compose at least 1,000 words...I did well to make as many as I did.
At first, I couldn't remember where the challenge came from. I thought it to be from a creator, but then when I couldn't find the creator, I discovered my error.
This story has been one that I have felt much passion for in my line of work. (Although I am retired now, those feelings have persisted.) This story has long been on my burners, per say.
I have a daughter who is also a nurse and a granddaughter, too. So, this was an important message for them as well as other young nurses.
References:
https://hospitalcareers.com/blog/understand-hospital-uniform-color-codes/#:~:text=Hospital%20uniform%20color%20codes%20play%20a%20vital%20role,can%20mean%20the%20difference%20between%20life%20and%20death. (Understanding Hospital Uniform Colors, Nov 15, 2023)
About the Creator
Shirley Belk
Mother, Nana, Sister, Cousin, & Aunt who recently retired. RN (Nursing Instructor) who loves to write stories to heal herself and reflect on all the silver linings she has been blessed with :)
Reader insights
Nice work
Very well written. Keep up the good work!
Top insight
Excellent storytelling
Original narrative & well developed characters
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Comments (11)
This gives off a feeling about it that you are talking from experience. I can see you have done a brilliant work despite the difficulty of the challenge
Great writing with a sincere heart at its core!
I dunno, there's a comfort in not having to think about what to wear, I think.
Never spending any longer than an hour or so in a hospital The only thing I wondered was why so many of the staff walk around on their pantlegs instead of wearing the right length. Blan is not just in the medical profession. I'm referring to a story I wrote a few years ago called The Invisibles. Glad you pointed this inequity out.
This is a wonderful story that needs shouting from the rooftops, Shirley. Wonderful, wonderful writing brimming with heart!
Such a great message! I really loved this piece!
This was such a good spin on the challenge and super impressive!!
Fascinating. Corporate medicine is as authoritarian as any other hierarchical structure were everyone needs to know their place and color code.
This is great! You might need another word for "professional" though?
Shirleyyyyy, how have you been doing? Also, with soooo many challenges going on, I can't blame you for getting confused or forgetting, lol. There's just too much to keep up with hahahahaha. Thank you so much for sharing this with us. You did such a great job avoiding the I's!
Amazing