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by firstyearstudent

When I am a nurse, in a few months, if all goes well, I really want to present a professional image to patients. What should I wear? Studies show that patients like to see nurses in white uniforms.

I was thinking of wearing white uniform pants and a short white lab jacket. I think these jackets look great. But I never see floor nurses wearing them. Why not? Are they "reserved" for only certain personnel?

What do you wear and why?

[TazziRN]

Re: uniform?

Because they get in the way and they're hot, that's why. You can wear it if you want, but if the rest of your floor does not, you will stand out.

[miko014]

Re: uniform?

What studies? Does white help people heal better, or make you more efficient at your job? If you want to wear white, go for it. I do have one pair of white pants (we can wear white or navy pants and any top that goes with the pants) that I wear with my red top, otherwise it's all navy and coordinating colors for me. Why? Because white gets dirty and shows EVERYTHING. I think it's more unprofessional to show up in white pants that have a streak on them because I brushed against my car on the way in than it is to wear colors, but do what you want (as long as it's in your units dress code). We have one nurse who wears all white scrub dresses, sort of old-fashioned looking. But I get just as many compliments on my "pretty tops" as she does on her white dresses. I think it's more important to carry yourself well, have confidence in your abilities, and interact well with your pts/families than to worry about what color you're wearing. Just my .

[Pumiky]

Re: uniform?

I agree with Miko!!
I know so many people who look professional but once they open their mouth nothing smart comes out. Come to the floor with clean scrubs, hair up, short fingernails and minimal amount of jewlery, perfume and make up. For me, a big smile and showing your patients you care and there for them worth so much more than wearing the "right" color.
Good luck !!!
pumiky

[RNperdiem]

Re: uniform?

Don't be too quick to buy a lot of nursing clothes until you have worked a while.
On your first job, pay attention to what the other nurses are wearing. It can be a difficult task to look like you belong if you look radically different.
A professional look does not always need to be white. I do have a nice crisp white uniform top that I wear sometimes. I also buy my own ciel blue well fitting uniforms. The hospital issue scrubs do not fit well and have a bagged out, frumpy look.

[firstyearstudent]

Re: uniform?

Can I read between the lines here and wonder if nurses who wear white or white uniforms are seen as putting on airs? Does it bother other nurses somehow?

I've worked at plenty of desk jobs where almost everyone was business casual and one or two folks always wore suits. No one thought anything of it.

[Woodenpug]

Re: uniform?

I don't think you can read anything into the whites. White is just not a practical color. Miko is right. Also, well body fluids sometimes splash and it's about impossible to get the stains out of a white uniform.

[Gennaver]

Re: uniform?

Originally Posted by firstyearstudent

Can I read between the lines here and wonder if nurses who wear white or white uniforms are seen as putting on airs? Does it bother other nurses somehow?

I've worked at plenty of desk jobs where almost everyone was business casual and one or two folks always wore suits. No one thought anything of it.

Hello,
I would not associate it with being viewed as putting on "airs" rather I'd associate it with, "obviously too new to not have gotten over wearing the white yet".

When I started as a tech all the assistants and nurses had to wear white. I didn't have anything to compare it too but, am really glad to not have to wear plain white anymore. I do not like to know that people have my panty outline blaring in their face or my bra outline blaring at them either or my camisole strings blinking from underneath the white top too.

Just me,
Gen
p.s. oh yeah and here in the midwest the road slush is junky on your car and does not wash off your pants in case you do not notice it right away...

[RedTeapot]

Re: uniform?

My school requires us to have short white lab jackets, but none of the students (except me!) wear them during clinicals. I've never seen a floor nurses wearing one either. I like mine because it gives me enough pockets and keeps me warm, but I DO stand out and the nurses seem to think it's stupid but let it pass because I'm a student. I had a patient ask me if I was a doctor!

[TazziRN]

Re: uniform?

No, looking different doesn't mean you'll be seen as putting on airs, but you will be noticed and you might spend time explaining why you look different.

White is traditionally the color of nursing but it is also very impractical. You will get dirty and it's hard to get the stains out sometimes. You can hide it in colored scrubs but you'll never get it out of white. I don't mean just body fluids, I mean Betadine too. Even food stains, if you spill while eating your lunch.