Color Code for All

[edmia, BSN, RN]

So, where I work, we supply our own uniforms. Some units, like L&D and OR, have hospital issued scrubs and each service has a color code.

When I first got hired, I was told that the entire nursing department was considering changing the uniform policy to make 1 color for each service, but nothing was in writing yet. Basically, the policy as it stands is anything goes.

So, since I was a new nurse, I spent quite a bit on scrubs. It was nice to wear some colors and prints after wearing nursing school 1940's styled uniform!

Now, it seems the color code policy is becoming a reality. Some polling as to what color we want started going around. The choices they offered are awful - dark brown anyone?

I'm not against wearing a color, that's fine with me. The only thing that isn't clear is whether they expect the staff to provide their own uniforms or if the hospital will be providing them like they do for the other services that have mandated colors.

I don't feel like spending another couple of 100 dollars on scrubs, so what can happen if I don't follow the policy once it comes out? Most of my colleagues feel the same way. Anyone gone through this transition at their place?

Thanks for the input!

[hypocaffeinemia, BSN, RN]

My hospital doesn't pay for our scrubs, but we can order monogrammed scrubs through our hospital and have the cost subtracted over as many paychecks as we want (ie, $5 a paycheck or so).

[SaraO'Hara]

Now, it seems the color code policy is becoming a reality. Some polling as to what color we want started going around. The choices they offered are awful - dark brown anyone?

Who gets dark brown - the GI lab?

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

i'm against color coding of scrubs -- i went to school, earned a degree and dress like a professional. trying to tell me what color to wear to work strikes me as treating me like a child. i think that would be enough of a reason for the resumes to start going out! hospitals will always say they're "doing it for the patients," but unless the patients have a color chart, they're not going to be able to tell who's who anyway.

[justme79]

I thought a color code system was a good idea was I was in nursing school. Then reality hit when I started to practice, patients will not remember and do not need the extra stress of trying to remember who wears what color. I recently started working on an oncology/hematology unit and many patients tell me that they appreciate the bright colors we wear. To identify ourselves EVERYONE must introduce themselves to the patients and their families. The hospital I work for also has RNs, LPNs, and TECHs wear the glow-in-the-dark badge that hangs below our hospital badge. Even physicians can identify this system!!

[margrue]

We are being required to wear solid color scrubs starting in September. After years of wearing bright colors and prints it is not going to be fun. Each department has a different color assigned. Nursing has to wear navy, which I hate; respiratory grey, lab burgundy,etc. This is supposed to make it easier for the patients to know who the nurse is. I don't think the patients will find it any easier. And I will hate it!

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

we are being required to wear solid color scrubs starting in september. after years of wearing bright colors and prints it is not going to be fun. each department has a different color assigned. nursing has to wear navy, which i hate; respiratory grey, lab burgundy,etc. this is supposed to make it easier for the patients to know who the nurse is. i don't think the patients will find it any easier. and i will hate it!

unless you also provide a color chart -- and ensure that the patient can read it -- that isn't going to help the patients to figure out who the nurse is. an enormous, brightly colored tag that says "rn" might help. i can't help but think that the color coding is just another way to subjigate the nursing staff. and it sucks.

[ChristineN, BSN, RN]

unless you also provide a color chart -- and ensure that the patient can read it -- that isn't going to help the patients to figure out who the nurse is. an enormous, brightly colored tag that says "rn" might help. i can't help but think that the color coding is just another way to subjigate the nursing staff. and it sucks.

i agree, with your rn tag idea. we recentally got tags that say "rn" or "gn" or "pct" in big bold letters at work to wear with our name tags. i think that will be more helpful to pts than color coding. btw: where i work we can wear whatever scrubs we want.

[traumajunkie63]

hey, I know...they can print up a little card for the patients, like they do for us with all the "color codes"..IE...CODE RED, CODE GREY ETC...but have one for the hospital employee...wouldn't that be grand????? and then reduce the staff...now that the patients know who is who they can send in nasty gram to the "press gainey" people...and then they can yell cause our "scores" arn't up...a bit bitter here??? you bet....our staff has over 140 years of experience and they want to tell us what color to wear????? Do they really think it matter to the person who is coming in to have surgery cares what freakin color we where.....i don't think so.....i agree with the Big tricked out name tag thing......

[KellySaraLynne]

At the hospital system I work for, RNs can only wear solid ceil blue or white scrubs and the tops and bottoms must be the same color, no white tops and blue pants, etc. This dress code was mandated about 2 years ago and all nurses had to pay for their own scrubs. RTs can wear black but they don't have to be solid, they can wear prints. NTs can only wear teal green and theirs are provided by the hospital. Lab wears burgundy.

It's pretty boring, I'm sick of white and ceil blue.

[nursejennie76]

All the nurses where I work ( LPN's, and RN,s ) wear royal blue only!! You look like a damn crayola crayon. I hate it!! Maybe it would not be such a bad color if I was not forced to wear it!! And the techs wear burgandy ( nice color combo) I hear all the time, "could you get that nurse in the burgandy scrubs for me!!" So the colors do not help at all!!!!!!!!

[AnnaN5]

At our hospital the nurses are only allowed to wear navy blue or white, none of the other staff have a color code. It seems to becoming a trend around here because a couple of the hospitals I interviewed at required the nurses to wear navy blue. I don't know if it is easier for the patients but they do only have to remember that their nurse is the one in navy. Our hospital does not provide scrubs or any sort of allowance to buy scrubs. When they made the transition to the color code they did provide us with a coupon to the local scrub shop for a free outfit.