Mandated scrub colors

Nurses General Nursing

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  • by FLOBRN
    Specializes in NICU,MB,Lact.Consultant, L/D.

Sigh...so my hospital is joining the sheep and going to mandated scrub colors. They are saying they do not have to provide any scrubs free of charge even though it is a requirement.

Have you been through this? How did it go???

Thanks

Specializes in M/S, MICU, CVICU, SICU, ER, Trauma, NICU.

Yes--and everyone adjusted. I was a little tired of looking at hoochie mama scrubs. VERY unprofessional. Goes along with the gum-smacking image, ya know?

NHGN

82 Posts

Welcome to Yale! We just switched over to "smurf" blue scrubs, which apparently was the color the majority of nurses voted for (though 1 out of ~20 I've talked to have said they voted this way). We have had them for ~1 month. Lots of people had skin issues, hives, etc. Even more had extremely poorly made scrubs - loose stitching, one pant leg longer then the other, different sizes under the same size catagory, and they all fit differently than the samples we were allowed to try.

The hospital paid for for ~4 pair. We are not allowed to wear our fleeces that say our unit name (as if patients and families can't recognize the brilliant blue pants below), and cannot wear shoes other than brown/black/white.

I can understand wearing one color scrub, but they should be well-made. I am upset at not being able to wear fleece (we can purchase a jacket on our own), and I'm quite mad at the shoe restrictions (I'd like to have some individuality and creativity - I'm not going to wear shoes that say "I'm a racist" or something!).

Specializes in criticalcare, nursing administration.

What I like about it is that a nurse is once again recognized easily as a nurse without the cap. As far as purchasing uniforms, the choice between doing tihs and the lay-offs or job freezes some hospitals are experiencing is a no-brainer. This is not a hill to die on :D

ItsTheDude

621 Posts

Sigh...so my hospital is joining the sheep and going to mandated scrub colors. They are saying they do not have to provide any scrubs free of charge even though it is a requirement.

Have you been through this? How did it go???

Thanks

been through it, yes

how did it go, smooth

scurbs don't cost much and i don't care, as long as, i still get to wear scrubs (comfortable).

RN <><

87 Posts

We had a choice and our staff of nurses voted for Navy Blue. I like it because navy blue is my favorite color.:)

HealthShepherd

183 Posts

My hospital isn't looking at this (as far as I know), but I'd be in favour of colour-coding by role, as long as the colours were reasonable. I.e., no white (impractical), black (death connotations), pinks (gendered) or "loud" colours like bright yellow. But there are lots of choices that should be universally acceptable and wouldn't frighten/blind the patients, like various shades of blues, greens, browns, beige, grey, burgundy, turquoise, dark purple...

PAERRN20

660 Posts

Specializes in ER.

My unit is color coded. We are not given an allowance for scrubs we must buy them on our own. However, our manager doesn't enforce it strictly, but mostly everyone follows the code to a certain degree. I like it. But luckily the color looks great on me.

Bella'sMyBaby

340 Posts

Specializes in MDS/Office.

Our facility has Lavender Scrubs......Yuck!!!

:clown: :bugeyes: :o

Specializes in Emergency, Critical Care (CEN, CCRN).

We're color-coded, but thankfully our colors are pretty benign (ciel blue for nurses, royal blue for licensed others, hunter green for techs and burgundy for ancillary staff). Most of the nurses were already in ciel anyway, so it wasn't too traumatic a switch for us, but a lot of non-nursing staff had to re-buy their scrubs. (We don't get a uniform allowance, but the hospital-approved uniform vendors will give you a fairly hefty discount if you identify yourself.) The only scrubs the hospital issues are those for surgery, which aren't affected by the color codes. Nevertheless, pretty much everyone adjusted without too much fuss. It's also really nice to be able to tell someone's professional branch at a glance.

Most managers are pretty decent about minor variations in the uniform code, and also about allowing you to wear a unit fleece or the like. The basic unwritten rule is as long as you're making a visible effort to match the dress code and you don't clash or look unprofessional, management will look the other way.

SandraCVRN

597 Posts

Specializes in OR Hearts 10.

Navy or Navy/white for nurse

green for resp

ceil for CNAs

red for housekeeping

they just added a new color for nurse externs, I can't remember what it is.

Peds can wear blue pants and print tops

Navy is a good color, except for glove powder

Crux1024

985 Posts

Specializes in Cardiac Telemetry, Emergency, SAFE.

Nurses have been in navy and white for about 1 yr now. It was fine...lots of people complained about it in the beginning but everyone adjusted and for us, its easy to see whos who.

Starting next Jan however, the PCAs are to wear hunter green and white, but they cant wear white tops. (bad choice I think, too close to the nurse uniform for people who have issues distinguishing dark colors). Allied health is tan and black (RTs and etc) and then OR and cath lab continue their hospital issued ciel blue scrubs.

We'll see how it works out. Honestly...the patients dont really pay attention to whos got what. Everyones a nurse...:lol2:

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