Are nurses blue or white collar workers?

Are nurses considered blue collar or white collar workers? My co-workers and I were having this conversation and there was no consensus.

the state of _____ has licensed

---as a professional registered nurse

active____ expires _____

hence, we are white collar. dont give in to the blue collar theories. we have a degree specifically preparing for this profession and one can only enter it after having said degree and utilize it during everyday "work"

not all blue collar jobs require degrees. not all blue collar jobs have entry level requirements.

I thought, if anything, nursing would be categorized as white collar. I just don't see a profession that has the education requirements, knowledge-level, responsibility, and licensure that we have to be blue collar. But I never looked up the actual dictionary definition. I guess the terms blue and white collar just aren't as relevant in modern times.

No color collar is fit to describe what nurses do :)

My sociology book calls nursing a white collar profession but I definitely feel like a blue collar worker.

I'd have to say nursing would be a "hybrid" of the two, our work at the nurses station documenting care, making care plans, assessment, would seem more white collar I would think, however when called upon to help with a code "brown" i would think that falls back under the blue collar category

A "nurse" is a very broad term that encompasses an extremely large occupational pool. Any hands on nursing such as bedside nursing, school nursing, and the like is considered blue collar. Nursing that deals in the trade of ideas can be considered white collar such as managers, researchers, and the like.

Specializes in Med Surg.

My non-official thought is that blue collar workers are paid by the hour, while white collar are salaried. Hence, most nurses are blue collar in my eyes. There's also the education factor--I don't see how a one year or two year degree can be on the same level as a bachelor's or beyond. If the HVAC and automotive students at my school had the same number of years in education, and they're considered blue collar workers, why wouldn't we nurses be blue collar as well?

But then, I don't buy into the caste system that seems to have developed in the U.S. lately that puts white collar workers above blue collar. Without the blue collar trades, our society would be in a world of hurt. Thus, I am a very proud blue collar bedside nurse.

Specializes in School Nursing.

I honestly don't have a strong opinion either way, but I have to say that this site has just provided me a new favorite word...manglement. Move over, fomite!

Grey-collar refers to the balance of employed people not classified as white- or blue collar. Although grey-collar is sometimes used to describe those who work beyond the age of retirement, it is also used to refer to occupations that incorporate some of the elements of both blue- and white-collar, or are completely different from both categories.

Examples of grey collar industries:

  • farming, fishing, forestry, and other forms of agribusiness
  • health care, aged care, child care, and the personal service sector
  • protective services and security
  • food preparation and the catering industry
  • high-tech technicians
  • skilled trades, technicians, etc.
  • typists, stenographers

Grey-collar workers often have associate degrees from a community college in a particular field. They are unlike blue-collar workers in that blue-collar workers can often be trained on the job within several weeks whereas grey-collar workers already have a specific skill set.

Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho, ASC.

Name any white-collar professional that punches a time clock.

Specializes in Hospice / Psych / RNAC.

This color code was developed long ago when nurses were truly blue. Now the profession of nursing has advanced I would say we are more white then blue. Blue literally referring to the blue denim worn by the workers and white referring to the white shirts worn with suits. Lab coats are white and many nurses are paid with a salary. Also the education level is higher now for nurses and the white collar worker is traditionally considered more educated.

With BSN RNs, APNs and nurses with doctorates I can't see how the nurses profession can be viewed as blue anymore. I myself have been salaried for half my career and have ended up in administative positons.

I believe whether one believes the nursing profession is white or blue will be determined on that individuals current position in nursing and their education level. I also like the grey definiton but why doesn't nursing create it's own color...eggplant is a vibrant color; mahogany...reds are nice.

Advance, go forth, change the status quo

Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.

I'm an ADN, but consider myself white-collar because I'm in management......that is, when I think about pigeon-holing people at all. ;)

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