Nursing Uniform Policy

talaxandra · Oct 1, 2005

At my hospital scrubs are only worn in cas, ICU and OR; uniforms are only worn by support staff (orderlies, cleaners etc). There isn't a dress code for nurses as such, which I have something of an issue with when I see people wearning less than appropriate clothing. I wear navy pants, a white shirt and a red or navy vest.

Everyone knows who I am - I introduce myself when I go in to the patient's rooms: "HI, I'm [T], I'm the nurse who'll be caring for you today." Hasn't been a problem so far, and I've been doing it for 16 years :)

NurseyBaby'05, BSN, RN · Oct 1, 2005

As a Catholic school alum, the uniform debates don't really phase me. As long as I don't have to wear a skirt when it's below freezing ever again,you won't find me bi***ing.:chuckle The only time I thought a nurse uniform policy was wrong was when the unit manager at one facility would change the uniform from year to year. Who has money to buy a bunch of uniforms every year? I sure don't!

Someday-C.R.N.A. · Oct 1, 2005

What if your employer decided that all RNs must wear navy scrubs? No white. No patterns. Just navy blue. LPNs must wear royal blue and all techs wear burgundy. What is your opinion?

Sounds good to me!

Fancy embroidery? OK, but don't ask ME to pay for that! I could probably handle buying scrubs (If I had to), but I'm not customizing them for you. You pick the color - that is all. (And navy is fine by me)

Floridaguy · Oct 5, 2005

What if your employer decided that all RNs must wear navy scrubs? No white. No patterns. Just navy blue. LPNs must wear royal blue and all techs wear burgundy. What is your opinion?

A couple of years ago, our facility mandated that each department come up with a "dress code". One department went with navy and white for RN's, and others followed suit with their own combinations. Our dept. staff came up with: wear any color scrub, so long as you look professional. The mandate was for a "dress code" not a "uniform code", so we were OK. In concurrence with some earlier posts, most patients are sick and don't care or want to know about color coding schemes. When you meet a patient, you simply introduce who you are and what you do. In addition, our badges have our names in large clear lettering, while RN's are distinguished by a large, red "RN" after their name.

My personal opinion of uniforms - when physicians, NP's, PA's, pharmacists, resp and rad techs, and all the other interdisciplinary members of the health care team wear color codes scrubs, then nurses should too. Until then, no way. (getting off the soapbox now).

Namaste4All · Oct 5, 2005

If they are buying great....Even if they don't pay for it, it's a tax deduction.

What if your employer decided that all RNs must wear navy scrubs? No white. No patterns. Just navy blue. LPNs must wear royal blue and all techs wear burgundy. What is your opinion?

ADONLTC · Oct 5, 2005

Now THAT would be a deal breaker. If told I had to wear a nursing cap, I would wear a white ballcap with RN embroidered in big black letters on the front. That is the closest I will ever come to wearing a "nursing cap". IMO the "angel from heaven" image is one of the biggest problems with the stupid thing. It feeds long-outdated stereotypes that need to die once and for all.

I have to agree with this... as a male, I would look pretty stupid in my schools nursing cap.

sjb2005 · Oct 5, 2005

Our hospital is like that. Nurses (RN and LPN) wear green, techs wear port, lab & radiology wear blue, etc... Our hospital logo is embroidered on the tops. They are provided to us for free, and I get 3 new pair every year on my anniversary. I think it's fine. We also get a matching jacket every year. We were angry for like a minute, and then we got over it. I mean, free scrubs!

Free Scrubs...I'm all for it. Color makes no difference. Now...if they could just wash and iron them for me. That would be a great bonus.

MargarLdg · Oct 6, 2005

What if your employer decided that all RNs must wear navy scrubs? No white. No patterns. Just navy blue. LPNs must wear royal blue and all techs wear burgundy. What is your opinion?

We wear all white scrubs I hate it. But is our policy:rolleyes:

lcprnc · Oct 6, 2005

I think there's a problem when patients (and even doctors and co-workers) can't tell the nurses apart from the housekeepers, lab techs, CNAs, etc. Having color-coded uniforms can help distinguish who the nurses are. So, I am for it!

RN@34 · Oct 6, 2005

What if your employer decided that all RNs must wear navy scrubs? No white. No patterns. Just navy blue. LPNs must wear royal blue and all techs wear burgundy. What is your opinion?

]I just quit job where we had to wear white or navy. No mixing of the colors. I agree that there are times when you must comply, but I also think that ADMINISTRATION should be concerned over real issues. An example would be adequate staff, more shift choices for moms and dads and maybe even making sure that the ones that are there to work are actually working. I was able to go buy some COLORFUL scrubs for my new job-LOVE IT! I do agree with a previous post about the cartoon scrubs, to me they are a little much when dealing with adult patients.

RN_04 · Oct 9, 2005

My hospital has a uniform code. All nurses, techs, unit clerks, etc have a particular color scrub they must wear. This policy was in place before I started there, but I was told that staff had major input. I don't mind, but color coding really doesn't matter. Even though I introduce myself and we write our names on the board in each room, patients are still confused as to who is the nurse and who is the aide. I don't think they care what your position is when they want something. It's whoever happens to be close by at the time.

dewp_63 · Oct 9, 2005

I work in an emergency department that recently went to a department specific uniform policy. Our team members wear navy blue scrubs - you may wear a white shirt under a navy lab jacket or a navy top under a white jacket. We can wear hospital t-shirts on Fridays. I like it, because it helps reinforce the "team effect". You don't join a bowling team, and say "I want to wear my own uniform" or get on a NFL team and say "well, I just don't feel like wearing that uniform". :lol2: The navy colored theme is much more professional looking than some of the "scrubs" that some of the staff showed up in! :smackingf We don't have to wear a specific shoe (we can wear any color shoes we want), and most of us show our individuality in the funky socks we wear. The hospital recently addressed the issue of different color scrubs for different disciplines - but it got shot down, partially because we had just bought scrubs for OUR department! The current plan is to have color coded name tags for the different disciplines... guess the patient will have to have a decoder to find out who's who..... :twocents: