A new poll re. uniforms

[hellerd2003, RN]

This is the original uniform poll poster-- I'm still compiling stuff for my school presentation on nursing uniforms, and am requesting a bit more help. If you can respond to the two questions below, that would be great! Thanks! :)

1. Please list one "pro" and one "con" of wearing a nursing uniform.

2. If you were given the task of designing one uniform for nurses across the country, that would make them easily recognizable from all other hospital/ health care workers, what would that uniform look like? What characteristics would a successful uniform have to have?

Once again, thanks all for answering!

[webblarsk]

This is the original uniform poll poster-- I'm still compiling stuff for my school presentation on nursing uniforms, and am requesting a bit more help. If you can respond to the two questions below, that would be great! Thanks! :)

1. Please list one "pro" and one "con" of wearing a nursing uniform.

2. If you were given the task of designing one uniform for nurses across the country, that would make them easily recognizable from all other hospital/ health care workers, what would that uniform look like? What characteristics would a successful uniform have to have?

Once again, thanks all for answering!

Pro: Comfortable.

Con: Everyone wears uniforms. Sometimes can't tell between nurse, aide, RT...

Uniforms have to have lots of pockets. Easy washable, dosen't need ironed. Make them distinct for each profession that wears uniforms.

Hope this helps a little.

[michelleicu]

I read about this similiar question in nurseweek.com how do patients identify R.N.'s from other nurses? should hospitals go back to the all white uniforms to be able to tell the RN.'s apart from the LPN's,CNA's etc.

[chip193]

I read about this similiar question in nurseweek.com how do patients identify R.N.'s from other nurses? should hospitals go back to the all white uniforms to be able to tell the RN.'s apart from the LPN's,CNA's etc.

Do you remember the movie Ghostbusters?

How about the huge Stay-Puff Marshmellow Man at the end?

That's what I look like in white over white. That would be a really, really bad idea for us to go back to!

Chip

[ER_RN21]

This is the original uniform poll poster-- I'm still compiling stuff for my school presentation on nursing uniforms, and am requesting a bit more help. If you can respond to the two questions below, that would be great! Thanks! :)

1. Please list one "pro" and one "con" of wearing a nursing uniform.

2. If you were given the task of designing one uniform for nurses across the country, that would make them easily recognizable from all other hospital/ health care workers, what would that uniform look like? What characteristics would a successful uniform have to have?

Once again, thanks all for answering!

Hi:

To answer Question 1: Pro is that yes, pt and family CAN distinguish RN from other staff. Con: Everyone feels like their individuality is threatened when you MUST wear a certain uniform. And NO ONE pays us for uniform expenses even if the institution dictiates what you must wear ( what is up with that??)

Question 2: I think it is up to the nursing population. A distinguishing feature does not have to be a color-- it could be a certain designation on the RN's nametag, or a patch ( god forbid, just like school). But I think the RN's at each facility need to decide what meets their needs.

I did work at a facility where the RN's wore white, CNA's purple and support people green. Family and pt's LOVED it. Staff HATED it. It was a stretch on budgets when new ppl were hired and had to buy ALL new uniforms. It did also take away individuality--you felt like you were 'just another nurse' like all the rest in white. O well this is an age old ? that will never come to an end!~!

[zambezi, BSN, RN]

PROS:

Easy recognition of various staff.

Don't have to worry about what to wear to work.

CONS:

Limited individual expression.

Possibly having to wear the "cheaper" scrubs or scrubs I don't think are comfortable (legs to short, legs tapered, waist line up to my chest, tops without pockets, etc).

White

Not having a choice about the uniform and having to pay for it.

Question #2

All of you people are lucky that I am not the one designing a uniform!!

But if I had to I would want a uniform with the following characteristics:

Washable in normal wash

Pockets on the front

Comfortable

Flattering to many figures

The ability of "customize" the uniform sytle: ie: have a lower waistline (can you tell I like pants that are worn lower on the waist?), longer legs/are not tapered--or totally opposite of that if that is what the wearer is most comfortable with.

NOT WHITE

I still think that pants are the most practical...

Bottom line is: when certain uniforms are "mandated" not everyone is going to be happy. Once everyone got used to it, it would probably be okay.

[rnmelissa]

PRO: my street clothes stay germ free.

CON: My NAVY uniform is covered in WHITE great pyrenees hair!!!!! not always a good thing to take to work! lint brush any one?

MY DESIGN: ever seen the back of EMS jackets? The back side of my scubs would have registered nurse across the back, with RN on front left corner. LOTS of pockets.

There are ways to add individuality to your uniforms, even if the is a specific color. fancy socks......

[BowlerRN]

PROS: Easily identified by patients and vistors, Not having to decide what to wear

CONS: NO individuality, I'd have to get rid of the millions of scrubs in my closet (of course half of them don't fit anymore ) CNA's becoming LPN's and LPN's becoming RN's have to buy all new scrubs when they get out of school

I think it should be up to the facility to decide what each of their staff wear. I also think they should only specify color for each department. Everyone should get to decide their own style of scrub. Definitely needs to be comfortable have lots of pockets and comfortable shoes