Ex-Vet Employee Faces Neighbor's Critique For Wearing Scrubs, Claims It Is Nurse-Only Attire

"She compared it to stolen valor, when people dress up like veterans and first responders when they aren’t."

Chelsi

• Published in Interesting
• March 17, 2024

A former kennel technician was scolded in person and shamed online by a neighbor for wearing scrubs. The neighbor mistook OP for a nurse when she saw them check their mailbox while wearing scrub pants.

OP started wearing scrubs when they got a job at a pet store. They realized how comfortable scrubs were and started wearing them at home.

OP kept several scrub pants even when they quit their job during college. Even now, OP wears their scrub pants around the house in place of sweatpants.

To OP it wasn't a big deal, but their neighbor disagreed. OP's neighbor was watering her plants when OP walked out wearing scrub pants to check the mail.

Their neighbor excitedly told OP how her daughter was also a nurse. She said she wasn't aware that OP was in nursing school.

OP stopped their neighbor and clarified that they were a history major. OP then explained how they got the scrub pants and why they wore them.

The neighbor took offense to OP's misuse of scrub pants. She compared it to people wearing military uniforms when they weren't veterans.

She said her daughter worked hard to become a nurse. She said nurses earned the "right to wear scrubs."

Getting scolded by a neighbor they barely knew baffled OP. They weren't trying to impersonate a nurse — they just found scrubs comfortable to wear.

OP saw their neighbor's Facebook post after that odd interaction.

In the post, she said she saw someone at a grocery store wearing scrubs. She was surprised that the stranger wasn't even a nurse when she talked to them.

OP appreciated the neighbor's attempt to hide their identity but it was undeniable that she was talking about them.

OP didn't think they did anything wrong despite the scolding they got from their neighbor.

OP's resolve wavered when they saw the comments agreeing with their neighbor.

I wonder how this mom feels about all the sexy nurse uniforms around Halloween.

Elastic cotton pants aren't exclusive to healthcare professions.

People in hospitality also wear them to work.

Actors pretending to be doctors and nurses also wear them. Do they get a pass?

OP's neighbor found the smallest pebble, deliberately tripped on it, and blamed the pebble for hurting her.

Some pre-school teachers also wear scrubs. A license is not required to buy scrubs.

They are comfortable clothes with deep pockets! OP's neighbor should try her daughter's scrubs sometime.

If she has this much spare time, she needs to find more hobbies other than impersonating a gardener. What is she doing watering those plants?

It's not like OP walked up to her and gave her unsolicited medical advice.

OP should dress like Indiana Jones to properly represent their major.

OP should ignore all that online chatter. They got the approval of nurses, doctors, and anyone who works in scrubs to continue wearing their comfy pants.

Maybe OP's neighbor would not be so tense all the time if she wore comfortable clothing. OP should buy more scrub pants and wear them when they need to do yard work just to annoy their neighbor.

Chelsi