uniform requirements at my hospital

Nurses General Nursing

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Hi. I haven't been a an RN very long but I have been happily collecting and sewing cute cute scrubs. I recently went on vacation in Florida and of course found an adorable scrub suit while I was there. I couldn't wait to wear it when I got back. My first day back, wearing my new scrubs, I heard that the director of nursing has decided that the nursing staff will wear plain navy or plain white scrubs beginning in January 2008. :uhoh21:

Why would this requirement be mandated to nurses? Press-Gainey replies that state that patients have a difficult time determining who is their nurse vs. phlebotomist vs. RRT vs. PT/OT, etc. Because, we all wear scrubs?

I am thinking that the color of our scrubs might complicate matters further. At our hospital, Nutrition Services staff wears khaki pants and NAVY polo shirts. Engineering/Maintainance wears all Navy. Students from 3 of the local colleges are required to wear all white. Another requires all navy and another requires solid white with a light blue vest. So how can making the nurses wear navy and white identify us better to our patients? Has this happened to any of you? Is there any way to stop it?

Help!

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Specializes in Intensive Care and Cardiology.

I actually like the different colored department idea, because everyone clearly knows who you are. But, I think the colors your hospital is choosing to use isn't the right combination. For example, the hospital I work at nurses wear royal blue, lab dark green, dietary black, techs/cnas khaki, nursing students all white, respiratory dark purple and so on.

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As far as I know, only the nursing staff will have to wear the navy and white. Also, several of the housekeeping staff members always wear navy. I think the best way to handle this would be with our badges. Our current hospital badge is white with the hospital logo in bright pink on the top left corner. Our first name is in bright pink on the center and our role "RN" and department "patient services" below our name but printed in a silver gray. Our photo, some photos 20 years old, is on the top right corner. I'm thinking that if RN, or better yet, "Registered Nurse" was spelled out in larger darker letters below our name, maybe patients wouldn't be confused. Now they won't know whether we are students/nurses/maintainance workers/ housekeeping staff/ nutrition services....or....any other scrub wearing professional in the building who chooses to wear navy or white!!!

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Specializes in Hospital Education Coordinator.

We did the dress code change several years ago and I like it. We have different colors representing different departments. We even had a "garage sale" off campus to exchange with other co-workers. Our badges all have a laminated piece under the name that states your discipline in 1" letters (RN, LVN, RT, EMT, etc) Patients remark they can easily identify us all. The only exceptions is that nurses in pedi are allowed to wear "cute" scrub tops, but the pants have to be the same as all other nurses. Their IDs are pink too, to differentiate from other units.

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We wear street clothes but our badges are all colour coded. The RNs wear red name badges, the RNAs blue, attendants green and volunteers white.

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That sux. I'd rather see nurses wearing cute prints, I think it's cheery. I worked at a hospital a while back and we were allowed to wear any type of scrub except black or red.

I don't really agree with that theory of no one knows you are a nurse unless you all have the same color on. What happened to introducing yourself?

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I'm a big non-conformist but I support a color-coded staff at a hospital. When I get to be a nurse and things get hairy I want to know at a glance what I can expect if I shout or wave for help. I'm sure some other staffee would like to know what to expect of me as well.

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Specializes in Hospital Education Coordinator.

I think the idea is to make us easy to identify and present a more professional appearance.

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Specializes in ED, ICU, PSYCH, PP, CEN.

most places are going to this now. At least I won't be spending lots of money on scrubs any more. Put your cute ones away and save for another job.

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Specializes in LTC.

I think color coded uniforms are great but the back of the top should say NURSE in huge letters like the security or police jackets.

Just kidding, but that would make it easier for some patients!

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

LOL, most of my patients are either medicated or demented and wouldn't remember you if you were in a clown uniform let alone a color designating your rank! LOL!

I go by introductions...and my badge clearly states RN. I also like to be called Nurse ___(my first name). That way I know they know who I am! When I enter a room I knock and say "hi it is nurse ___". So it is rare if someone doesn't know or remember that I am their nurse.

We can wear whatever scrubs we want to...I rather like it! We are a community hospital and it is nice to give it a friendly aire...that is why people choose to come to ours instead of the larger hospitals! It is more personal and homey!

For a large hospital...I guess color coding would be best..but I wouldn't count on pts remembering colors and rank. It is not like remembering colors or rank really is a top priority to most patients...they want care and frankly in my experience if they want something like a glass of water, tolieting, a blanket...they don't care if you are resp, CNA, MD, or RN..or even dietary...they want it now!

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