#scrubsmag

Five years ago, Scrubs Magazine was invited to tour the offices of Cherokee Uniforms. Cherokee is owned by a group called Strategic Partners. It’s a behemoth of a company, responsible for a ton of other medical apparel and clothing brands. We were introduced to Mike Singer, SPI’s CEO, who was impressive, to say the least. We also met Debbie Singer, Mike’s sister, Media Director for the Cherokee Uniforms brand and a co-owner of the company.

Debbie has been labeled with changing the face of style and attire in the medical community over the past five years, and the expansion has been impressive. We recently visited SPI again, for an updated tour and more in-depth interview with Debbie.

As we walked around the sprawling building, we were greeted by SPI’s scrub empire in all its glory: Large, glossy posters displaying its various brands, fun footwear for medical professionals, Disney character prints and an entire department dedicated to seamstresses. Oh, and the obligatory Bagel Friday. After the tour, we sat down with Debbie for a one-on-one.

A sweet, high pitched “Hiiiiii” escapes as Debbie jumps up out of her seat, offering a hug. We’re standing at Debbie’s cubicle. No office. No throne. She isn’t what you think. Understated is a key word we would attach to this pint-sized woman who has been socially adorned with the crown of changing the face of medical attire. We walk to get coffee.

Debbie gives us an express rundown of the company’s history, namely how she and her brother worked side by side with their teams to turn it into a huge operation. Over 500 employees and shipping to 70 countries to be exact. Again, understated. We get the feeling she’s had more to do with the company than she lets on, but of course, that’s her M.O.

We’re not really here to talk about Debbie’s entrepreneurial skills, although it certainly explains why she’s successful, but we’re here to discuss her role in the social world. She works alongside 60 medical ambassadors that are “fiercely loyal” as she so nicely puts it. “Loyalty in this industry is key, and no one would get anywhere without it.” I understand where she’s coming from. I’ve been privy to other medical brands who seem to run through ambassadors like I run through bathroom paper (I’m not loyal to that either), but what’s important to Singer is consistency. “It’s deposits and withdrawals,” as I ask what makes a good ambassador and why. “I’m not just a brand to this group, we’re family. They’ve stayed at my house, we’ve enjoyed dinners, charity campaigns, even vacations.”

Gayana Chuklansev

Debbie offers a dynamic that no other brand can compete with. “Other brands throw money at the situation, but that runs out. We’ve helped ambassadors fuel their own ambitions, products and their influence. We distribute scrubs, medical shoes,

Littmann stethoscopes

, compression socks. We have a big footprint and can offer a lot more than a quick $200 here and $200 there.” We discussed Nurses Take Disneyland, during which Debbie orchestrated an entire event where nurses literally took over Disneyland in California (which Scrubs Magazine covered).  It’s not only influencers that Debbie works with, large scale brands that she’s fostered relationships with over the years jump in when needed. Debbie enlisted the likes of

Emerald Health Services

, a national nurse staffing agency, and

NurseGrid

to help with the Disneyland campaign. It reached over 1 million people and nearly 3,000 Nurses descended on the event, including Kelley Johnson (Miss California and also a nurse). According to another ambassador, Katie Duke, (NP) she wouldn’t be where she is if it weren’t for Debbie’s input.

“Debbie is like my sister. We pioneered the way for Medical Ambassadors, and I’ve never worked with anyone who is so supportive of my personal goals, completely selfless and driven.” – Katie Duke, NP.

Latin Nurse Teresa

,

Nurse Georgie

and

Katie Duke

It’s a powerful statement, but does she have the goods to back it up? You bet she does. In under two years she amassed an influencer network that commands massive engagement and millions of followers. She’s a smart cookie, like I said, understated. She’s an early adopter and it’s noticeable that she sets the trend versus following it. Cherokee Uniforms was the first brand to create an ambassador program and essentially led medical apparel into the digital age. But it makes sense; what I come to find out is that Debbie lives and breathes it, and she doesn’t stop at 5pm. “I’m on the treadmill at 10pm working, I call it working, but the old adage is true that when you love what you do, it doesn’t feel like work.”

But it’s not just engaging with these influencers and sending out product?

“Not at all, I like to think I know a little about fashion (she says with a wink) and I know scrubs inside out, I know the fabrics, body shapes and sizes, what looks good on a petite nurse might look different on a size 10. Color schemes are also hugely important, we have hundreds of designs, fabrics and seasonal changes. I also have a 13-year-old daughter who keeps me in check. But for ambassadors like Lauren Drain, I dressed her in Cherokee Infinity (the company’s answer to Lululemon for scrubs) in a hot pink.” Lauren Drain is a nurse, fitness guru, and top-tier influencer who is also a Cherokee brand ambassador.

“I’m always on the lookout for the next influencer, and numbers aren’t always key. You have to be personable, be a good person and have something to say. Engagement is everything. I also want to know what you’re doing to give back.”

“I cannot explain the respect and gratitude I have for Debbie Singer. She has fearlessly led our Ambassadors with a compassion for others like I’ve never seen before. It’s an honor to know her, love her, and work right alongside her.” Kelly Johnson, Nurse, Miss USA/California Winner, Official Spokesperson for Cherokee Uniforms.

I was intrigued as to what happens next. You have all of these influencers working with you, posting on social every day, events, the list is endless. But what’s next in your path? I genuinely asked this question because it feels like a natural progression in the discussion. I wasn’t necessarily expecting the following answer.

“We have something very special in store for our community. I can’t give too much away, but let me just say that 2019 is going to blow your mind. Just keep an eye out on the Cherokee Uniforms social pages to find out.”

With blue-collar jobs disappearing in greater numbers, men are starting to take an interest in more female-dominated fields like teaching and nursing. Many healthcare facilities are struggling to attract and retain top-tier talent, so welcoming more men into the field can help assuage the country’s nursing shortage. But some female nurses are starting to notice their male colleagues are making more money for their time, which can complicate this new work dynamic. Learn more about the rise of male nurses and what this means for pay equity.

The Rise of the Male Nurse

The number of men in nursing has jumped over time. Men made up just 2% of the nursing workforce back in the 1960s, but today they make up around 13%, and those numbers are rising year after year. Men even have their own nursing organization, known as the American Association for Men in Nursing. This organization supports men working in the field of nursing and encourages “men of all ages to become nurses and join together with all nurses in strengthening and humanizing health care” by educating students and job-seekers on the benefits of nursing. Their goal is to have 20% male enrollment in nursing programs throughout the United States and the world by the year 2020.

The rise of the male nurse can largely be attributed to today’s changing job market. Manufacturing jobs have largely disappeared here in the U.S., moving overseas to low-wage job markets like India and China. This has left young and middle-aged men looking for an alternative. With a four-year nursing degree, job seekers can earn a decent living wage and enter a promising job market. Demand for nurses continues to rise around the world, which means nursing is a solid investment for anyone that’s looking for a long and fruitful career.

Why Some Male Nurses Make More Money

As more men enter the field of nursing, they’re starting to make more money than their female colleagues. Across all industries, women tend to make on average 20% percent less than their male colleagues, despite the fact that women make up half the country’s workforce, tend to have more college degrees, and are the sole or co-breadwinner for half of all families with children. With regard to nursing, studies show male registered nurses outearn their female colleagues by approximately $5,000 annually.

There are several possible explanations for this trend. Men tend to value themselves more than women when negotiating the terms of a new position. Male nurses may start out at a higher wage and earn more as the years go on because they asked for more money upfront. If the facility in question is struggling to attract new nurses, some men may leverage this during the initial job interview and ask for more money per hour.

Many male nurses also field offers outside their current employer. With counter offers on the table, male nurses can then go back to their current employer and negotiate for a higher rate of pay. Again, if the facility is desperate for nurses, they will likely pay the nurse more money for their time as opposed to hiring a new nurse, which can cost tens of thousands of dollars in training and recruitment.

Old-fashioned sexism may also come into play. Some employers may simply value male nurses more than female nurses, handing out raises and promotions based on gender rather than merit. But can it also be a cultural approach? We spoke to a Canadian Nurse who stated: ‘We simply don’t have this problem in Canada, equal pay is the norm’.’

How to Advocate for More Money as a Nurse

If a female nurse believes they should be making more money for their time, there are several ways they can go about advocating for more money.

1. Ask for a higher rate of pay when interviewing for a new position.

New and experienced nurses should be assertive and clearly state their worth when interviewing for a new position. Facilities need qualified nurses and they’ll be willing to pay more for the right expertise and training. If the nurse’s desired rate of pay is too high, they can always negotiate with their new employer until they settle on an amount that works for both parties.

2. Field offers from other employers and use them as leverage when asking for more money.

Nurses should always be on the lookout for new career opportunities. This can lead to a better-paying position or help nurses advocate for more money at their current job. Nurses should ask for a raise with a counter offer on the table.

3. Talk about compensation with colleagues.

Nurses shouldn’t be afraid of talking openly with their peers and colleagues about how much they make at work. If a nurse discovers they’re making less than one of their colleagues, they can take it up with their employer and ask for more money.

What to Do When You Spill or Drop Pills on the Job

Last week, the Delaware Supreme Court sided with the state’s board of nursing when it disciplined two supervisory nurses in a correctional facility for giving an inmate pills that were dropped on the floor. Nurses tend to be the ones administering medication to patients, but a simple mistake like dropping pills on the floor can have major legal and regulatory implications. The medication in question happened to be Sovaldi, a medication for Hepatitis C, which costs around $1,000 per pill. While administering the medication to an inmate, one of the nurses accidentally tipped over the bottle of Sovaldi and spilled 12 pills on the floor. Because the drug is one of the most expensive on the market, the facility treated it as a controlled substance.

Find out what these nurses did next and why it led to disciplinary action.

Dropping Pills on the Floor

After the pills landed on the floor, the nurses discarded them by putting them in a sharps container. They then consulted with the pharmacist on duty and told them that a refill of the medication would be necessary. Knowing the full cost of the pills, the pharmacist contacted the nursing supervisor and the head physician of the facility for another opinion. The physician called one of the nurses and told them to remove the pills from the sharps container. Working with the health services administrator and the director of nursing, the two nurses shook the container until the 12 pills fell out, landing on a piece of paper towel. Other medical supplies fell out of the container, including syringes, lancets, other pills and diabetic testing strips.

Once the pills were out, the nurses wrapped them in paper towels and showed them to the pharmacist, who used “the eyeball test” to make sure the pills were safe for consumption. The nurses then gave the pills to the inmate without telling them what had happened moments before. In the end, they saw no ill side-effects after giving the inmate the pills.

Allegations of Unprofessional Conduct

Soon after the nurses administered the pills to the inmate, one of them reported the events to the Delaware Division of Professional Regulation, resulting in allegations being brought against the head physician and the two nurses. Yet during the hearing, one of the nurses testified that they were following the orders of the pharmacist, who told them to administer the pills to the inmate.

The officer overseeing the case ruled that the nurses “were obligated to exercise independent judgment”. If they were aware of their obligation to discard the pills, they should have objected to the pharmacist’s demands or taken steps to avoid giving the inmate the pills. The officer ruled that the nurses violated the state’s practice act, placing them on probation for 90 days. The nurses were also required to take courses in pharmacology and nursing ethics.

Appeals and Final Ruling

After the professional regulation hearing, the nurses appealed the board’s decision to the Superior Court of Delaware, who sided with the nurses, citing the fact that no physical harm came to the inmate in question after administering the medication. This decision overruled the one handed down by the state’s board of profession regulation.

The case made it all the way up to the Delaware Supreme Court, who just last week overturned the Superior Court’s ruling. The court ruled that the state’s board of professional regulation made the right decision in disciplining the nurses, regardless of whether the patient experienced physical harm.

What Nurses Can Learn from This Situation

As a nurse, you should always be aware of your state’s nursing rules and regulations. If a supervisor or one of your colleagues asks you to do something you believe may be in violation of the rules, you should object and even report the suggested violation. Nurses are required to dispose of medication that’s been contaminated. Even if each pill costs thousands of dollars, pills that have touched contaminated surfaces shouldn’t be administered to patients.

It’s also important for you to remember that a complaint can be raised against you even if no harm comes to the patient in question. Your colleagues can also report you to your state’s board or nursing if they believe you have violated your profession’s regulations. This may be true even if one of your colleagues was complicit in committing the violation. Finally, if you violate your state’s nursing laws, it’s nearly impossible to put the blame on someone else, even if you were following your supervisor’s orders.

It’s Brain Injury Awareness Month, so we’re taking this opportunity to talk about chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) and its effects on the mind. CTE is a degenerative brain disease that can lead to changes in a person’s behavior, mood swings, and cognitive problems. The disease tends to get worse over time, often leading to signs of dementia and even suicide. While the medical community used to associate CTE with concussions, new studies suggest that CTE can actually result from repeated hits to the head even without a concussion. These findings are changing the way we think about games like football where players are often hit in the head. Learn more about CTE, its connections to football, and how the healthcare community can help prevent brain injuries.

Making the Connection Between Football and CTE

Football is ubiquitous in American culture. The NFL is a billion-dollar industry, one that brings joy to millions of people all over the world. But a recent study published in Brain: A Journal of Neurology suggests that getting hit in the head repeatedly can lead to CTE, permanently altering a person’s mental abilities. In football, we tend to pay little attention when a player gets hit in the head unless they appear seriously injured or suffer a concussion. For some players, getting hit in the head can be a common occurrence. It may happen multiple during a game or at practice after school. But as this study suggests, getting hit in the head can have serious consequences even if the person doesn’t suffer a concussion.

NFL player Junior Seau lost his life to CTE. Seau took his own life in 2012 after a long battle with CTE, suffering from frequent headaches, depression, memory loss and dementia. His death shed a light on the lasting effects of CTE and the sacrifices professional football players make for the sake of the game. At the time of his death, Seau left a suicide note requesting that his brain be donated to science, so the effects of CTE could be studied.

Raising Awareness for CTE

As the medical community continues to shed light on the link between football and CTE, healthcare professionals should do their part to educate patients and families on the physical toll of playing football.

Professional travel nurses can be some of the best spokespeople for this issue. They often treat football players as they travel all over the world, giving them firsthand knowledge of how this disease can impair a person’s cognitive abilities over time. All healthcare providers, including school and travel nurses, have an obligation to inform parents and students of the dangers of playing football. Playing the sport, even for just a few years, can lead to lasting brain damage.

While football continues to be a national phenomenon, everyone should understand the effects of playing the game, so they can make informed decisions regarding their mental and physical health. Students and young athletes shouldn’t feel pressured to participate in a sport that impairs their mental abilities.