'm MD Sultan Ahmed, a registered nurse since 2021. I've always been passionate about fashion, and as a Muslim nurse, I wanted to improve the design of nursing uniforms. My goal was to make them more affordable and accommodating to different cultural and religious needs. One key issue I identified with SA Health uniforms was the risk of infection for Muslim nurses who, for religious reasons, need to cover their arms below the elbow. Also, the design and fabric of these uniforms could have been more problematic.
After a year of self-funded research and collaboration with Muslim nurses and student RNs from Flinders University, I attempted to manufacture improved uniforms locally. However, I found no suitable manufacturers in South Australia. I visited Bangladesh in early 2022 to have samples made and tested them myself in the ICU for six months. I also sought feedback from colleagues, RNs, ENs, doctors and students to improve the design and affordability of the uniforms.
In April 2023, I expanded my research to include different scrubs from Figs, Air-med, and SA Health uniforms. I visited hospitals in the United Arab, Kuwait, and Bahrain and collaborated with factories in Bangladesh to create sample designs. I also brought back over 100 different fabric samples. I shared my research with the Renal department at Royal Adelaide Hospital, whose managers were encouraging and provided valuable feedback.
Royal Adelaide Renal' manager encouraged me to apply for a job in their transplant department, which offered me the flexibility ability to travel and set up my scrubs business. I worked in ICU, Crit from 13/03/2022 to – 25/08/2023 as an. I resigned my job in ICU a year and a half early and accepted a permanent position with the 7F Renal Department, which commenced on 26th August 2023. This role allowed me to travel and continue developing my scrubs business.
However, manufacturing these uniforms overseas would require a large budget due to a minimum order requirement of 5,000 scrubs per delivery. As I had self-funded the project, I
sought an external investor and successfully secured an investment of 60,000 AUD to launch some of my designs.
In October 2023, I discovered that some of my uniform designs were sold in local shops without my knowledge or consent. This led me to investigate the issue further, but unfortunately, I received little support from local law enforcement and community leaders. During this period, I experienced workplace harassment and online bullying, which significantly affected my mental health. I reported these incidents to ANMF but didn't receive the support I had hoped for.
Despite providing my physical and mental report fit for work report by my GP, it was challenging to get my job back; they tried to make signs for three months – 3 shifts a week which I refused to sign, and the workplace bully continued, and 4th November, applied for an FOI and HR – and Nurse lead called for a meeting and advise me to withdraw my application and later was rejected. Due to being bullied at work and harassed, I have suffered significant mental distress. As a result, I took unpaid sick leave and, applied for a different job and explored my options in disability. However, on 4th December 2023, I was detained under the Mental Health Act section 56 after being abused and misdiagnosed by hospital management.
