Nurses wearing white

Nurses General Nursing

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The hospital has decreed that all nurses will wear white in the near future. Despite a petition to administration voicing the opinions of the nurses that overwhelmingly the majority of nurses working at the bedside do not want to wear white, the policy has stood firm and the deadline to change to white is rapidly approaching.

My quesion is......do you think that nurses should be forced to wear white? Do you think nurses should all wear the same uniform?

I finished nursing school in 1977 so I actually wore white uniforms (no scrubs) and a cap. It didn't take long to lose the cap and slowly, the trend to wear colored scrubs evolved.

The thought of wearing white all the time just really turns me off. I find it totally impractical and over time, it will gray and stain and tend to need more frequent replacing.

What do you think?

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

Sorry to be crass here, but for those who get very heavy periods, white is the LAST thing they typically want to wear.

And i get so sick and tired of the myth of "no white=not professional". Color has nothing to do with it. There's a lot to be said for cleanliness (white doesn't equal CLEAN, just because it LOOKS clean doesn't mean it IS.) and professional behavior.

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

Angie O plasty...must say without a doubt! I LOVE YOUR POSTS! I am in utter total 100% agreement again! :)

Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho.

I think the difference between the "whites" we all wear in school and the ones we normally use in our job is that we pick the ones we wear now. The school however chose what we wore in clinicals. Big difference. You have the opportunity to pick and choose the fabric types, thickness, and fit/style you want now.

If a facility chooses to mandate whites, they should have them provided for their staff, but remember that also means THEY get to choose which fabric weight/style you wear too.

Just as a side note. I wear white scrub pants, with colored shirts and usually a white coverup. But my patients know who their nurse is. Bright patterns/flowered prints are one thing but all the cartoon/silly patterned scrubs need to be kept in peds or NICU/OB. Adults dont need them. And unless they have had grandkids around A LOT, they dont have a clue nor care who the h*** sponge bob is.

I still say the only reason they have made scrub tops out of some of that gawdy fabric is because people wouldnt buy it if it were actually made into clothes to fit the people it was directed at(kids under 7). So why do nurses? If your patient needs cheering up,, try a smile and a friendly hello and actually help them when they need it. JMO

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

I worked for a MAGNET hospital that had the nurses wearing either royal blue or royal purple scrubs (and still do!), and they certainly were distinguishable as Nurses! We didn't need whites to be what we are...NURSES! But it was cool to see us all in said colors.

I thought this may be interesting...I hostess another forum..non medical..I may ask them what they think of whites..and get back to you all with the results. My father, whom I thought FOR SURE would say whites say (and it about bowled me over!)..."I don't care what you wear..as long as you do your job and look somewhat professional and clean!". Thought that was interesting for a man with the WORSE case of white coat syndrome I know! LOL!!!!!!!

Angie- couldn't agree with you more - I just started reading these posts and got so irritated with the post you responded to. Thanks! I felt my blood pressure going back down after I read your post!:) You couldn't have said it better.

Specializes in Utilization Management.
Angie- couldn't agree with you more - I just started reading these posts and got so irritated with the post you responded to. Thanks! I felt my blood pressure going back down after I read your post!:) You couldn't have said it better.

:imbar Thanks. You wouldn't believe how many patients have complimented me on my navy blue uniforms.

I still say the only reason they have made scrub tops out of some of that gawdy fabric is because people wouldnt buy it if it were actually made into clothes to fit the people it was directed at(kids under 7). So why do nurses? If your patient needs cheering up,, try a smile and a friendly hello and actually help them when they need it. JMO

I'm glad there are other nurses that feel this way too! My husband and I are both nurses and we have discussed this topic. I get so frustrated when I'm shopping for scrubs and see tops that are made of material that looks suited for a tablecloth, a curtain, or a bedsheet. I do love wearing colors, don't get me wrong..I just don't like wearing Strawberry Shortcake!!

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

I have never bought a printed scrub in my life, although I do collect frogs and have seen some cute ones over the years, I just don't think of froggies as being very professional...so I stick with straight color! Just feel it is more professional for me (maybe not others..I have seen a few prints that were professional enough if worn right..ummmm well maybe not scooby doo or mickey mouse..but those abstracts when you accent them with plain color cover and pants).

How about the denim looking ones...I haven't seen one facility that allows those! OR those neon/day glow colors..oh ouch my eyes! LOL!

I own two colors of scrubs..royal blue and purple..and yes, I may look a little like an umpaloompa (either blueberry or grape...LOL!), but I sure as heck looked WORSE in white (when I wear white the darker areas of my face, and my eyes...oh I look dead! Honest..not a good color for me, and patients think I look sick and don't want me in their room! LOL!).

Bright patterns/flowered prints are one thing but all the cartoon/silly patterned scrubs need to be kept in peds or NICU/OB. Adults dont need them. And unless they have had grandkids around A LOT, they dont have a clue nor care who the h*** sponge bob is.

JMO

Right on!

I don't have much opinion on whites versus other colors, but the wacky scrub patterns DO get on my nerves. I think those are unprofessional, but OK if you're working in peds, as you say. And it's true...adult patients don't care who the h*** sponge bob is! :roll

Specializes in MS Home Health.

I am one of the people who loves the bright colors, patterns etc. I did home health visits for many years and the patients loved them. I seldom did peds home care and sometimes the patients would go on and on about me being the only visitor and how they loved the colors and such. I never had one patient say a bad thing about it. Been a nurse almost 20 years. I did the hat and white outfits and they certainly suck. I tossed many an outfit in the trash due to stains.

The vomit and blood showed up quite nice on the clothes and sometimes made a hit on my underwear as well/big smile/leaked through in those lovely baptize you with body fluids type events.

Neons are great. I am definately invigorated by the color.....and drown in the white.

Good thread...

renerian

We wear Royal Blue here at Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas. I didn't care for it at first when I moved here three years ago but I kind of like it now. I never want to wear all white though

Specializes in Adult Med-Surg, Rehab, and Ambulatory Care.

Just adding my $0.02.

I knew a few nurses who wore all white, and dang they looked sharp. Made you think "Florence Nightingale" when you saw them. So sure, white looks nice, but is it practical? Guess it depends on the floor you work on. Do you tend to come home from work every day covered in other peoples' body fluids? White might not be such a good choice (duh).

And, like any other job, no matter what you wear, if it's wrinkled and dumpy looking, no color in the world is going to make your uniform look "professional."

Who makes these decisions, anyway? Someone sitting in an office or someone in the trenches?

I love this thread. :)

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