[miss scarlet]

Uniforms (scrubs) could be beneficial in identifying nurses; however, other hospital personnel wear them as well. Some patients have commented they don't always know who is who by the uniform because even the housekeeping staff wear scrubs. Anyone entering a patient's room needs to identify himself or herself to the patient and their role in patient care. This does not always occur, hence, we have patient confusion. Therefore, I think mandatory coloring of nurses versus other personnel is not necessary. The hospital where I work is considering a dress code at present because some nurses just wear large t-shirts over scrub pants, have become laxed and wear open toe sandels, "cluncky" clogs, and revealing clothes (you can see EVERYTHING). My opinion is to take that person aside and speak with them personally by having them stand in front of a large full length mirror and ask, "What's wrong with this picture?" To add to the issue of dress code, I think there definitely needs to be attention paid to how much perfume nurses (and other hospital staff) wear. Even a pleasant scent can be noxious to sick people, not to mention the effect of the allergy stricken. I hate it when someone comes in wearing too much perfume, causes my patient to be sick, and then I am left with the aftermath!!!!

[mother/babyRN]

Your point is well taken, but it would seem to me that nurses who are willing to present themselves in manners such as you describe wouldn't necessarily benefit from a dress code...Sounds as though they really don't care what appearance they present. Isn't that sad? We get confused for housekeeping personnel all the time due to the scrubs we HAVE to wear..

[StreetRN]

We'd all like to think that everyone has certain social graces and good taste. However, unfortunately, this is not the case. We've all witnessed this with too tight clothing, inappropriate or no underwear, unkempt appearance, etc. If there is not a specific dress code, enforcement is difficult if not impossible. It's not against the rules to be tacky, however, it could be against the dress code.

[joyflnoyz]

>Why???That is what the introduction and the name badge is >for..Next we will be having dresscodes for the nutritionist or >physical therapist that comes to visit, which will be different >from that of their assistants..To me this assumes the patients >are idiots, who can't remember which nurse introduced his or >herself....Sorry, but this gets to me when it gets to >this....Everyone in the street should have different uniforms so I >can pick them out of a crowd when I have a specific question to >ask..

That is the height of arrogance.

Having been a patient, it is NOT easy to pick out the nurse. As stated before, everyone from housekeeping to CNAs to nurses and laundry personel wear scrubs. (Matter of fact, about the only time I saw a "nurse" was when it was time for meds..that was over 10 days)
A patient is under a considerable amount of stress.. To begin with, he is ill enough to be pulled out of his home and palced into a situation where he has almost no control as to what happens to him. no choice in meal times, tests, meds, even getting up.
Add in a whole slew of people all dressed alike <scrubs> except for different colors. those who WORK in the facility know the meaning of the colors, but unless the facility furnishes a "scorecard" of who's who, how is the pt to know?

Name tags? most of the time the writing is too small for a pt to read. Most of the public does not know the difference between an LPN, CNA, RN, NP. and the initials don't mean squat to them.


Your job is to care for the patient, and make his stay "easier" for him. It's too bad you are more concerned with what YOU like and how YOU "look"

[uk_nurse]

Originally posted by mjlrn97
Again I say: those who believe nurses should wear whites or uniforms, ought to wear them. Enjoy wearing them, glory in it, look down your nose at the rest of us slobs......but PLEEEEEEEEASE don't try to make us conform!

And I'm sorry, but wearing whites or a uniform doesn't make you a nurse any more than standing in a garage makes you a car.

Sorry am i missing something here? I do wear a uniform and just cos i wear one i DONT look down my nose at anyone! , from what i have read so far i dont see anyone trying to conform anyone else.

On my ward if you wear a nurses uniform u are a trained nurse! and i must say they are all able to carry out their duties as a nurse.

[DARN MOM 128]

I know I go against the majority, but most people in the hospital would like an easy way to identify the people taking care of them and color seems to be the easiest. Elderly people have poor eyesight and sometimes their memory is not so good. we have the NOD system where we work (Name, Occupation and what am i going to DO for you) and we are supposed to do this each and every time we have a patient encounter. It can be useful if everyone uses it but so far taht has not been the case

[Katnip]

One of the problems with wearing all white these days is cultural. There are some Asian cultures who see white as a color of mourning. How would you like it if you were a little old person and the most important people taking care of you were dressed like they were at a funeral?

I know and have seen a few people wear all black, but rarely, and not all the nurses do so.

[mattsmom81]

I am tired of a dress code with no compensation. I am feeling like if facilities wish to dictate WHAT I will wear, they SHOULD be willing to give me a uniform stipend.

JMHO.

[8ntth]

Introductions and name badges are great but--- whose memory and attention span is up to par when they are sick?! I'm still in favor of a dress code that makes it easy to be identified as the nurse! instead of just another person working in the hospital.
Incidentially, false nails and strong perfumes are also not allowed.

[amycar11]

Originally posted by SmilingBluEyes
I would LOVE every hospital to mandate NO fake/long nails, ban the use of perfume and smoking on the job, and have SOMETHING to say about loud makeup/hair and GUM POPPING!!!. I don't care the uniform (LONG AS IT IS CLEAN!!!), the UNIFORM does make the nurse really to me. But these other pet peeves of mine bug me more than silly uniforms do. I can't stand the above....they are annoying, sometimes hazardous, and definately detract from a professional image...they have NO place in professional nursing, period.

NO fake/long nails ? definitely no...even with proper handwashing, there's still a tendency for the transfer of germs... and accidental "scraping" of the patient... it's certainly not a good reason for the "lazy" nurse not to do her job for her nails might get chipped.

perfume? i think that it's quite ok - only in moderation. just so the patients will not smell our stink after the long hours of work and sweat.

smoking? it's just so ironic that we do HEALTH TEACHING about "quit smoking" blah blah blah because of blah blah blah ... only to have ourselves also smoking... sheessh!!

make-up? only in moderation... just not to look pale!! it's sometimes horrifying for patients if they see their nurses paler than they are then they would think that "how can this nurse care for me if she looks as if she's about to faint"

i would like to suggest, COLOR CODING of scrub suits for a certain department... and... i hope that it would also apply for the doctors

NAMEPLATE... please!!

thanks!!!!!!