I work at a Banner hospital in AZ and in the last few weeks we just found out that our hospital is going to uniforms in January. Uniforms will be color-coded for job title. RNs will be in Navy blue and we are only allowed to wear the assigned uniforms bought through the hospital (must be Cherokee uniforms, in the chosen color-can't find the color at a store in case it doesn't match, with the hospital logo on them). We are also being told that we have to match any undergarments (i.e. long sleeves) to the top and any coats/jackets have to be the same color with a Banner logo on them.
So far there are now three AZ Banner hospitals doing this but we have now heard that they are taking the system wide and every single Banner hospital will do this. It may take a while to get to everyone but that is the plan so we were told we can't argue it.
The kicker is that I work in Peds and the hospital I am at is building a 7 story Children's Hospital. The adult and peds ER will connect but the Children's Hospital will be independent. The rules only "bend" slightly to allow pediatric RNs only to choose from 3 assigned "kid friendly tops". Meanwhile all their advertisements regarding the pediatric department is "Creativity" and "Through the Eyes of a Child".
I just talked to another Banner employee (that works at a different Banner) tonight and that was the first she had heard about any of it. She knew the newest Banner was uniforms but thought they had voted that was and that it was just the one hospital. She is now going to inform her co-workers of the new decision.
People are mad and feel discouraged and disrespected. My patients know who I am (job title) and now my kids will associate my blue uniform with the last person who stuck them with a needle. Let the kicking and screaming begin (for the kids AND the employees).
Hopefully this can be stopped but right now we are told we can't do anything. The decision, I imagine, was made by some suit who never steps foot in the hospital and has never worn scrubs or worked a 13 hour day on his/her feet. I really like where I am but if this goes through I am considering going to the other Children's Hospital. As far as I am concerned they need me, along with the other several thousand employees that work at Banner, more than I need them.
Ok, so those are my two cents. Sorry to those that this is news to.
If you work at Banner you can go on the intranet and search for "fashion show" or "uniforms" and you can see pics of the new uniforms.
I've had two sons and a husband as patients at the new Banner Estrella hospital and I have to say the color-coding makes it a lot easier on the patients, and family, when it comes to trying to figure out who is who. Who matters when you need to ask somebody a question, or something has gone wrong. I like the color coding. I can sympathize with you about being in pediatrics, though. Hopefully, the "kid-friendly tops" are really kid friendly.
Specializes in SICU, EMS, Home Health, School Nursing.
I work in a hospital where we have color coded uniforms. Each department has their own color...RNs can wear either ceil blue or white and LPNs wear dark purple. We also have large tags with our titles that hang below our name badges (RN or LPN). I absolutely hate the color coding! I wish we could wear whatever we wanted (to a point), but I have seen where the color coding works for good. It is very easy for people to spot who is what. One time I was down in the cafeteria and I was the only RN in there... I was very easy to spot because I was the only one in blue... someone started coding in another area and since I was so obviously a nurse, they ran and grabbed me. I started coding the lady and yelled for them to call a code blue. I hate to admit it, but thanks to the color coding I was easily spotted and able to start the code in time to save her.
Just be glad they didn't insist on starchy white dresses again.
I have a Scandinavian friend who says if the hospital mandates a uniform, they have to supply it. Nurses arrive in their street clothes, change into the uniform, and change back at the end of shift. They've cut down on the number of infections being carried into and out of the hospital as nurses go back and forth.
They'd never do that here. It makes too much sense. They'd rather keep those MRSA cases coming in from the community.
we also just changed to navy uniforms...new CEO ...same old problems... short staffed...cutting hours....total upheavel....but we all are in uniform now....there are 6 shades of navy...we all never match the tops pants and coats.... we can't even wear white with the navy...just total navy blue....after the shift ends in the icu...we look like we have rolled in dirt......oh well....some things never change......it's always something:lol2:
Our hospital in 'Vegas has color codes for each unit.
A bit annoying at first....
and since my unit color is deep Grape, I look like Barney every day...
BUT it does help to recognize when someone NOT from my unit is walking around. I work in a secured, limited access Women's Unit, where security for our babies is very tight.
The policy states only matching color plain warm-up jackets or white...but our boss allows us to go wild on our jackets instead.
Why are they requiring you to BUY the uniforms? If it has the hospital logo and this is a new rule, they should provide the uniforms (OK, maybe 2 or 3) for the current employees. Usually you can't change the work rules for current employees without some type of compensations. You CAN require new employees to purchase appropriate attire as that's one condition of the job. Not sure but I think this is covered under one of the Fed statutes in that if an employer changes working conditions, they cannot compel a current employee without some type of compensation.
Actually where I'm at now requires royal blue scrubs and a VERY large RN badge that is noted on both sides. Don't have a problem with this or requiring certain colors....as long as the colors are chosen wisely. Worked at one hospital that had teal green for the RN.....after three or four washings, it looked like they had been soaked in bile.
and RT wears black. Only the RTs are allowed to wear printed tops that match the black pants because black is "morbid."
Our facility recently had the RNs vote on uniform color - Black was the chosen color - we think because many felt if black were chosen admin wouldn't make us wear it. NOPE - black it is. Solid black, solid white OR any combo of solid black or white. Pedi gets one (ugly - IMHO) print and Psych wears business casual.
LPNs get solid red or combo of red and white - no prints and no solid white. PCA's get solid apricot (??? - but they voted...), solid brown, or any combo; no prints. RT is grey and Environmental is blue.
Now really - caregivers in black, white, red, and brown - this is a good idea gone VERY VERY wrong. I feel for the plight of Banner staff.
here in MO are also going colored coded, not many people are happy about it here in MICU
ayla2004, ASN, RN
782 Posts
Nurses in the UK have blue based uniforms
with navy being the colour of the Sister or Charge nurses