What do you wear to work?

OBNURSEHEATHER · Apr 28, 2002

We're getting ready to switch over to a color coded system. Apparently too many people have complained that they can't tell who their care giver is. So RN's, LPN's, and aides will all wera a specific color, yet to be decided. This will be housewide. Apparently the bright green badge I wear with the letters RN aren't cler enough.

We are being told that there will not be a clothing "allowance", but we will have 18 months to save our money and become dress code compliant.

Gee thanks.

Heather

susanmary · Apr 28, 2002

I work in a 900+ bed urban hospital which recently instituted dress code. Nurses and aides are required to wear professional looking scrubs -- colors don't matter. Clean sneakers, clogs, or nursing shoes. Respiratory therapists wear navy.

I believe we don't need to look like models (couldn't if I tried) or spend a fortune on our scrubs -- but I've seen quite a few staff look like they just rolled out of bed with really wrinkled scrubs, etc. I know I work with really unlovely body fluids (how's that for politically correct!) but at least I go to work looking professional.

I usually wear white Cherokee boxer scrubs and a top from *Scrubs or *Tafford. I wear Calzuro clogs (can wash them in hot water/bleach every so often -- only can't do that with the white ones as they turn a gross yellowish/white.)

I know the staff at Yale (different hospital) will issue (voluntary) 4 sets of scrubs to staff with your id/barcode in them -- they will clean your scrubs (they're sort of a dark fuschia) for you for free. Believe me, I'd do that in a second -- free clothes, free wash.

Home Health Columnist / Guide · Apr 28, 2002

Professional dress: no clothes with sports or business logos in new dress policy.

nursedawn67, LPN · Apr 28, 2002

Where I work we wear colored and print scrubs....no logo shirts other then the facilities own. And of course alway our name tags.

hoolahan, ASN, RN · Apr 28, 2002

Good question Patti!

In winter, and colder days, I wear scrubs and printed scrub tops on weekdays. Other nurses wear business casual style clothing, but for me, I don't have enough pockets. I need to keep my pens, cell phone, car keys, mini scheduling/address book, stickees, alc swabs, and name badge in my pockets. Our HHA's can also wear whatever they want, fortunately, in home health, we haven't had any c/o about who is who...yet, since usually the same people come each time.

On weekends, I do wear jeans, gasp, against compnay policy, a nice shirt or scrub top. If I wear a regular shirt, then I have a whiye vest I wear, from a uniform shop, with lots of pockets!!

In summer, I wear kahki capri's in light-weight material, with a nice cotton short sleeve shirt and the white vest, again, only for the pockets.

On my feet, in winter I wear nurses clogs, or balck loafers that I don't care about crunching cockroahes with, and they stay on the porch, that's for the jeans. In summer, a sandal type shoe, no socks. People think that is brave, what with roaches and all, but honestly, having my feet exposed to air keeps me that little teensy bit cooler.

To ask visiting nurses to wear navy in 100 degree heat is insane!!!

MayeRN · Apr 30, 2002

We wear professional dress: No logos, jeans, sports wear, etc. We can wear uniforms if we choose. Casual dress is fine as long as it is not too casual. We do not get a clothing allowance (how I wish)!!

In the summer we can wear walking shorts. We must always wear shoes with closed heel and toe (this rule is always broken!)

kids · Apr 30, 2002

My agency is licensed as being Home Health but is really private duty (peds)...today I wore a pair of Gap shorts and a pink t shirt.

I love my job.

mattcastens · Apr 30, 2002

This is what I wear at work: White, button-down, short-sleeved shirt, light khaki pants, and a white warm-up jacket. I've discovered that buying clothes like this on sale at Target or Wal-Mart costs about the same or less than scrubs and lasts a lot longer. Everyone comments on how professional I look, and I'm comfortable to boot.

KP RN · Apr 30, 2002

For the five years I've been doing home health, all of my agencies have required business casual. I just began with a new, large hospital affiliated agency, and they require the blue scrub bottoms with white polo shirts on which the hospital logo is embroidered. Naturally, they provide the polos.

As silly as it sounds, it's kind of a relief to go back to standard uniform-like clothes.... my back certainly feels better with wearing jogging shoes as opposed to heels!!

mznurse · May 20, 2002

I work for a pediatric home health agency, and we are allowed to wear jeans, t-shirts, walking shorts, capris, etc. for comfort. You also have the option of wearing scrubs, which I do when I work with my 7 month old patient. When I work with my 20 yr. old, I dress for comfort. The bottom line is to be clean, neat and presentable.

mznurse · May 20, 2002

Originally posted by mznurse
I work for a pediatric home health agency, and we are allowed to wear jeans, t-shirts, walking shorts, capris, etc. for comfort. You also have the option of wearing scrubs, which I do when I work with my 7 month old patient. When I work with my 20 yr. old, I dress for comfort. The bottom line is to be clean, neat and presentable.