Can I get kicked out of uni for this? (Placement uniform

[shouldnthavesaid]

First year doing a healthcare degree. Having a crap time outwith uni and health wise and this is just cherry on top of the icing really.

I have to do a clinical placement in 3 weeks. Uniform provided to me is far too small for me - wont go past my shoulders. Was fitted in Nov last year and due to illness/medication I've gained weight since then. I'm a size 20/22 - one top given to me was 'extra small'.

Uni are saying they can't do much for me. Said they will contact supplier but said they highly doubt I'll be provided with anything at all. I've asked course mates, and course society, and away to email course leader but what the hell do I do? Its Scotland so one standard uniform, needs uni logo so can't just buy one from Alexandras or something. I've even checked eBay and nothing.

If I can't get uniform I can't do placement which is integral part of course, so I assume I'd fail? In which case maybe I'm better going before I'm chucked out ...

Speak to your placement educator. I fill this role (also scotland) and would find an alternative for a student (potentially scrubs). Dresses and cardigans not an option for NHS Scotland I understand!

Also, I fell into the trap of the smaller size/losing weight uniforms when a student. Rather uncomfortable! Only now as a size 6-8 do I fit an xs!

I've emailed the PEFs and said I'd be more than happy to pay for plain grey tunics. Don't think you can get an NHS Scotland match online at all but surely a tunic would be fine. Agency staff after all wear them.

Incidentally as I was writing this my coursemate has emailed saying she has tunics she'll lend me as her placement doesn't need a uniform.

Will still pursue uni actually getting me tops that fit though !!

Don’t let this add to your stress. You’ve got 3 weeks to sort it out and they need to do that for you. If you’re only supposed to get uniform from them, they need to provide one that fits. Email/contact all the relevant people today, then leave it up to them.

You need to do what you can to sort the other shit out & get better. Not worry about a stupid bloody uniform & panicking over it ending your course. I’m very cross they’ve put you in this situation by throwing their hands up in the air. Grr 💐

They probably just mean they'll only fund one set of uniform (understandably), op. After that you buy your own. Talk about catastrophizing...

When i did a similar degree they were really funny about needing new uniforms due to weight changes - i was given a size 14 when im a size 8 because apparently "everyone gains weight the first year of uni" (regardless of me bejng 23 and having been the same size my whole life)
My uniform was huge. They wouldnt swap it and it made my anxiety so bad going on to placements in my tent. And the response from uni was always "we will not excahnge uniform due to the gaining or losing of weight"

But this is actually not your fault so i dont see how it can be treated as the same. I think the best bet would be to speak to someone in uni face to face rather than via email. I know in my uni that really sped the process up/made people listen and help and take you seriously.

I work at a uni. This is ridiculous!
you have a right to access your education, regardless of your size.
contact your student union support.
and email your programme/course director stating that you are currently being prevented from accessing your education and that you would like to meet to discuss possible solution.
it is THEIR responsibility to fix this!!!

There must be a way to source ‘official’ replacement uniform? They can’t expect one set of uniform to last you for three years of study? Even if you do remain the same size throughout, healthcare is a physical and often messy job, you are likely to need to replace due to standard wear and tear (or laundry/tumble drier accidents).

I suspect, as a PP said, it is about the number of FUNDED sets of uniform you are allowed. There will almost certainly be a way of buying official uniform but you will probably have to pay for it yourself. You might have to get a get a special code from the University in order to buy it (so that the supplier knows which logo to embroider onto which tunic) but it should t be an issue. Contact your practice placement team at university. There is no way on earth that you are the first student to ever need a second set of uniform. They will know how to help.

Order your size online. Find local T shirt embroidery place to do logo.

But, is it just “uniform” or is it also PPE? If classed as PPE, then it is the employer’s duty to provide it. Not sure how “the employer” is defined in the case of students.

I don't really think it's the uni's fault particularly, you ordered the sizes to fit you at the time, and it might have been a better idea to contact them sooner to amend the order when you knew they wouldn't fit. I hope you get sorted soon, but I do think it's more your responsibility than the uni's in this case.

I work in the NHS and recently we changed uniforms. We were only allowed 2 tunics (and one pair of trousers) or 2 dresses each. In april when the new financial year starts we can order another item.

In the meantime we can order our own uniform. I ordered a dress (the most expensive item) and it was only around £12.

What I would suggest is either look into buying or ask at the hospital sewing room if they have any second hand ones you could use.

As others have mentioned in a hospital scrubs are usually the go to if you have any uniform problems so you could ask to wear scrubs until your uniforms are sourced.

This is insane, you surely can’t be the only person in the history of the course that’s gained weight, fallen pregnant, lost their uniform, have had it soiled beyond repair etc..

Great news that you can borrow from a friend, I was going to suggest as PPs have also said to buy generic in a close as match as you can find then to sew the logo on from the XS top you’ve been given. But definitely continue to push uni to sort, there’s got to be precedent for this and it can’t be that difficult for them to source a replacement!

Just buy one from Alexandras that's your only option if the university aren't going to help.
When you start placement explain the situation and your placement would rather you arrived with a tunic that is suitable rather than with nothing at all.

I hope you find a uniform solution that allows you to do your placement.

However you need to go back to your doctor now and discuss your health problems. Gaining three stone in 3 months is an issue that needs medical advice, especially if you were an Extra Small ( maybe 7-8 stone ? ) in November and you are 11 stone and a size 20-22 now.

Ive seen people at work wear a completely different coloured uniform because it was the only pregnancy uniform the bosses could get their hands on. Your weight gain can be equated to this, as in its come about quite quickly. There will be ways around it. Please don't worry that you will be kicked out of uni for this.

I wasn't an extra small unfortunately, they gave me 2 xs and 2 xl for some silly reason. I was down to sixteen stone and fitting size 18 jeans and tops, I'm now nearing 19 stone and struggling at size 22 which is biggest I've ever been . GP surgery and consultants (gynae and urology) said the fault is all mine for eatinf rubbish. Which I accept , I am incredibly unhappy and have this weird feeling of 'dont want to do anything' but sleep. Could sleep 16 hours a day if left to it. My father has an underactive thyroid and suspect something similar is going on with me.

When I asked GP for support they said there isn't any, I don't qualify for primary care mental health as too unwell for that but not ill enough for psychiatric referal just now. Gynae said they cant help me, and urology (bladder problems causing chronic pain) said their waiting lists are past a year now. So just feel totally stuck. Too much happening all at once so when something small happens it seems awful, end of the world etc.

Just as well coursemate has offered her tunics though as uni havent emailed back at all (quite normal, they don't tend to reply). Will go on vlc diet if I can cope until placement too just to make sure. Currently not eating lunch so will keep up with that.

The doctor said it's your fault for eating rubbish? You said in your op that it was a side effect of medication?

So you were never an XS and the uni just gave you 2 uniforms in the wrong size? In that case you definitely need to push it as your weight gain is irrelevant to the issue with the tops and they’ve made a mistake.

I wish you the best of luck with your recovery and health though.

Can you ask one of the 3rd year (almost finished) students if you can have/buy/borrow their uniform? My daughter did an HNC before she went to uni to do a nursing degree and she happily gave one of the new starts her uniform.

What sort of degree are you doing, op? Without wanting to sound nasty, you don't sound in any state to be doing a "clinical placement" at the moment.

Completely separate so ignore if you wish but can you access help through uni counselling service? I know one here has brilliant links with eating disorders/disordered eating charities but even accessing counselling could help and often get access quicker and for longer than nhs.

I would contact the NUS - this is disgraceful and the way your college are treating you sounds as if it is making your health worse.

When I was a student nurse, people gained weight, lost weight, stained their uniforms, lost their uniforms. Loads needed to order more. The uni simply gave the contact info for the suppliers and they ordered new ones at their own expense.

Your uni seems to be spectacularly unhelpful!

See if you can wear scrubs. Go to the theatres and ask.
Nurses do that! Just imagine if a patient us sick on you the hospital lets you go and change into scrubs. It's our fall back position!

Tiredness, weight gain and depression are all symptoms of hypothyroidism, if it runs in your family it is worth getting your blood checked. It is a very simple test and acceptables TSH levels have been changed in those last few years.
Not necessarily saying that you have hypothyroidism but it is simple enough to check.