Nurses wearing white

GLORIAmunchkin72 · Jan 12, 2005

I think hospitals are trying to regain that once impeccable and dignified look that put nurses on a pedestal and separated them from everyone else. I think it's also for the comfort of the public. They feel comforted when they see a nurse, especially when they need one.

UM Review RN, ASN, RN · Jan 12, 2005

I think it's also for the comfort of the public. They feel comforted when they see a nurse, especially when they need one.

*sigh* OK, I'm really dating myself here, but waaaaaaaaaaay back in the late 60s and early 70s when the need for white dresses, white stockings, hair nets, and caps (heck, darn near EVERYTHING) was being questioned, the argument to move to other colors began because many people saw the starched white nurse as anything but comforting. They thought she was intimidating. They thought, "If I'm that sick, I must be dying." :uhoh21:

The "professional" demeanor of the nurse of that day, which permitted no intimacy or show of feelings--ever--frightened people. Nurses weren't allowed to show their feelings. I remember one nurse who told me that during her pede clinical rotation, she'd gotten quite attached to one of the little ones. Of course, when the baby died, the instructor made her carry the child, wrapped in a sheet, down to the morgue--and she was threatened with expulsion if she shed one single tear (the instructor's exact words).

Hospitals were painted in sickly yellows, greens, or stark white, and everywhere was a pervasive odor of disinfectant and rubbing alcohol. The mystique of medicine prevented any useful dialogue between patient and doctor or nurse. The healthcare system was extremely paternalistic.

The revolution of the 60s began to change things. Which is why the accepted dress changed. Studies were done that showed that people were more relaxed, thus in less discomfort, with pleasant colors. Feminism made its mark on nurses who began to wonder aloud why men didn't wear a cap, so why should they?

I remember wearing white hose (seamed, mind you) and getting mud spatters up the backs of my legs as I walked into the building and having my day slide into downhill into quicksand from there.

Back then when we won the right to wear colors, it seemed like a major victory. Seeing those who think that a return to whites is an integral part of the professional nurse persona, I think it still is.

riern · Jan 12, 2005

Oh Please don't make me go back to wearing all white. Yes, it looks sharp first thing in the morning before rounds, codes, deliveries, IV's , Peg tubes, baths, enemas, baby vomit, etc..and oh yeah, the sandwich I ate while charting or running to the next code. Even the colored scrubs get dirty and I have often had to borrow scrubs from the OR but back to all WHITE?? Have mercy!

I will argue and fight to keep colors, but quit...........I don't think so. If after a long hard fight I still have to wear white......I'll just grin and bear it.

mattsmom81 · Jan 12, 2005

I do love wearing colors, don't get me wrong..I just don't like wearing Strawberry Shortcake!!

I hear ya. My last staff job we all were mandated to change uni colors (3rd time in 2 yrs too...everytime a new manager came and went..yeesh) so many HUGE issues in nursing, why is this always such an issue?

This last round was white tops (ugh...so hard to keep looking nice in our ICU..I was a dirt dust ink and body fluid magnet) and blue bottoms. Everyone complied except a 'special' nurse who kept wearing his spongebob scrubs anyway. He was a favorite child so he was allowed. (another problem in nursing) :rolleyes:

allnurses Guide · Jan 12, 2005

Didn't we just have a reallllly long thread about this? :)

The hospital has a right to mandate but I also have a right to protest or go elsewhere. And I think if I stay, they can pay for my uniform and clean it as well.

Navy Blue looks way more professional in my mind.

You are never going to be able to please everyone.

White pants, unless they are white denim, show your underwear no matter what color they are. They still show.

steph

wam79 · Jan 12, 2005

When I was first starting in nursing school I worked as an orderly. One day I was assisting a patient to shower. The patient was very alert, he was just unsteady. all I had to do for him was stand by to keep him safe from falls.

This time the patient lost his ballance while rinsing his head. I jumped into the shower with him and kept him from falling. As I walked down the hall after the shower the nurses and aides were laughing at me. I thought it was because I was wet. When I got to them they let me know that white shirts and pants are transparent when wet. I think I turned 12 shades of red....LOL

I have avoided white when working as much as possible since.

Bill

allnurses Guide · Jan 12, 2005

Bill - you can also see your underwear when it isn't wet. There are a couple of nurses at work who wear white scrub pants and I can still see their white underwear. I can still see their peach underwear. It sorta drives me crazy. Silly, huh?

steph

RN4NICU, LPN, LVN · Jan 12, 2005

I cannot understand for the life of me why the nursing profession (and hospital administrators) are so enamoured with white. If it is not freshly bleached, starched, and pressed - it looks like complete crap.

Navy blue looks so much more professional. It also puts people at ease, yet projects authority/responsibility/professionalism. That is why police wear it.

Personally, I do not appreciate it when administrators try to keep nurses "under their thumbs" by dictating such petty crap as what color they can/must wear.

allamericangirl · Jan 12, 2005

I think hospitals are trying to regain that once impeccable and dignified look that put nurses on a pedestal and separated them from everyone else. I think it's also for the comfort of the public. They feel comforted when they see a nurse, especially when they need one.

I agree!!

flashpoint · Jan 12, 2005

I've said this at least a dozen times, but I think one of the best solutions is to keep non-medical personnel out of scrubs...no questions asked, if you aren't a nurse, CNA, x-ray tech, etc, you don't get to wear scrubs! Our lab and x-ray departments recently bought white lab coats with the hospital logo and empoyee's name so they can be distinguished from dietary and housekeeping! Our ward clerks wear scrubs, our admissions people wear scrubs...sigh. I like my scrubs and I like being able to wear colors...I rarely hear a complaint from a patient about anyone's scrubs. I think there would be just as many complaints about everyone looking the same, boring, dingy in whites, etc as there are about people not liking wild colors and patterns...

meownsmile, BSN, RN · Jan 13, 2005

I dont mind the colored scrubs,, even the bright colors, and even pattered scrub tops matched with a nice color pant. But keep the kiddo stuff in peds/NICU/ob.

Believe it or not,, i do iron my scrubs, tops and bottoms, and i dont wear the ones with the knit cuff thing at the bottom (sorry cant handle those personally). I just think pressing keeps them neater and crisper. It takes the fuzz off of them and keeps things lying the way it should. I like the white pants,, simply because white goes with everything and i dont have to bother making sure a bottom is clean to wear with a particular top. Just keeps things simpler in my house. And, honestly couldnt care less if someone sees a panty line,, dont they wear them too? I was brought up that most normal people do. Thats the last thing im worried about, if i have time to worry about someone seeing my panty line, I dont have enough to do.

allnurses Guide · Jan 13, 2005

It is not just a panty line, it is the whole panty. :eek:

One nurse leans against the nurse's station and her shirt rides up and her whole tush is uncovered and you can see the entire back of her underwear.

Just a little peeve of mine.

steph