Are all nurses that wear white dorks?

Nurses General Nursing

Published

:idea: i just wondered what your perspective on this trend is; i mean here it is that we have stirred away from this trend with diverse patterns and pastels. so, are you a dork? i count myself as one...just want to know that if someone's fluids ends up on me what particular color it is!!??? :trout:
when I was pregnant with my second kid I got no end of teasing about my all-white maternity scrubs - "here comes the student" etc. However they were kind enough not to say" here comes the great white beached whale"!

Black scrubs induce thoughts of autopsies, funeral directors etc

Cartooned scrubs -ugh -I would rather wear white than a cartoon scrub top - can you say UNPROFESSIONAL? how about DEGRADING? INFANTILE?

Can YOU say PEDIATRICS? How about COMFORTING TO CHILDREN? After all, that IS what those kinds of scrubs were made for. :uhoh3:

Specializes in ER,ICU and Progressive Care Unit,Peds.

I totally agree with RN4NICU; I was just about to post the same comment. Also, when I was allowed to wear my own scurbs (before the Navy) I had a couple of courious george tops that I wore when I worked at the VA. My pts loved it; it gave us something to laugh about in an other wise dreary day.

And I've had to do the all white thing in an ER, its was very hard to keep puke, blood and other body fluids off my scurbs. White was like a magnet for fluids.

I understand the viewpoint that many have on here about not being able to tell who the nurse is b/c everyone is wearing scurbs....and white is professional, etc.

But If you have est. a rapport with your pt than there shouldn't be any confusion who you nurse is. And how professional can white be if you have stains all over you whites!

Speaking on the side of professionalism...something that kills me is when nurses come to work with facial peircings (I thought that this was a no-no but we had civilian nurse come in the other day with one in but nothing was said to her our DIVO), hair all in their face, or just looking all together sloppy!

Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.

Cartooned scrubs -ugh -I would rather wear white than a cartoon scrub top - can you say UNPROFESSIONAL? how about DEGRADING? INFANTILE?

That comment is more degrading than the scrubs.:uhoh3:

Our hospital system is thinking of going back to all white. The majority of nurses have said "No Way!" I personally hate the thought of wearing all white. i have some of the most unusual bright colored scrub tops in my unit.

Specializes in ER.
I just asked my 23 y.o. son "Have you ever heard that dork is slang for member?". He said "Yeah, it means a whale's member".

Ya learn somethin new everyday. ;) I always thought "Dork" meant "nerd" or "goofy".

As to white being equated with "dork" . . . depending on your definition, I'd say no, either way.

I don't like all white personally. I do wear black "Dickie" brand flared scrub pants . . . (oh dear, another slang term for member) . . . .

steph

Steph,

I LOVE the black Dickies flare pants too! They look great with a solid colored top (even white:) Too bad our unit is color coded and I can't wear them anymore:(

TL

Specializes in Education, Acute, Med/Surg, Tele, etc.

I have seen lovely combinations of black pants with nice colored scrub tops and look very professional really. White to me is institutional and old fashioned for my tastes, but looks better on others than myself (I am so pale if I wear white...I look like a ghost with dark circles under my eyes!).

I don't think of people being dorks if they wear white, they have a wish and like to wear it (unless forced to) and go for it! Me, heck the first nasty stain producing thing flowing around will be attracted to it immediately and boom...professional looking whites on a pale tired looking ghost that now is dirty! LOL!

I wear typically royal blue or purple, and have a few matching soft print tops that match. A friend just gave me a Pooh Bear Character top and I will wear it because it is comfortable...but it is't loud...actually very soft patterned. I too see it as being perfect for peds or OB and not typically med/surge...but what the hey, we do treat kids too (I am ortho).

As far as being seen as a nurse...we have write boards in each room and write our names on them as the nurse, and write down the name of the CNA under Nursing Assistant. Plus, if you are a nurse, your professional mannorisms and treatment should clue a pt into you being one! Heck, aren't you the one that answers the call lights when they ask for their NURSE! LOL...I know I am! (pts ask for me by name...I make sure they know I am their nurse!

Specializes in PICU, surgical post-op.

I definitely think that coloured / cartoon tops have their place. Of course, I'm also the one who debates with herself for quite some time every morning, trying to decide between Dr. Seuss, Curious George and the one with the Snoopy characters. I work PICU, and I can't tell you how many times I've been able to finish an assessment simply because my patient was fascinated by the fact that Shrek and Donkey were on my shirt.

All white is scary in my unit- none of us wear it, and the kiddos tend to associate white with the docs. We have one baby who's been with us for about 8 months now, and the docs know to take off their lab coats before going into his room if they want to visit without him screaming!

I just asked my 23 y.o. son "Have you ever heard that dork is slang for member?". He said "Yeah, it means a whale's member".

Ya learn somethin new everyday. ;) I always thought "Dork" meant "nerd" or "goofy".

steph

I'm with you, Steph. I only heard the same definition you did. We must be aging.

I'm with you, Steph. I only heard the same definition you did. We must be aging.

I've never heard the word "dork" used to mean member. Huh. Learn something new every day.

Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.
dork - Definitions from Dictionary.com

I thought a dork was an uncool nerd too. That's what it meant when I was young.:monkeydance:

I think "whites" send the message "I am a professional, a Registered Nurse." Many patients have no idea who their nurse is! So many other departments wear scrubs or white jackets. I think white should be reserved for RNs and Drs. Colored scrubs can be fun, but many at some of the hospitals I go to with my students take it too far, and some are wrinkled and worn out. As we work toward becoming and being a respected profession, we may want to dress the part. :innerconf

Just an thought!

I am an LPN and wear white pants and a solid colored top. I don't see myself as any less professional than an RN, CRNP, PAC, Dr, or anyone else who wears all white or not.

+ Add a Comment