Couldn't tell who was a doctor or nurse!

stbernardclub · Dec 26, 2004

This has Been A Problem For Some Time And Guess What??? You Won't Hear Many Nurses SAY That They Want To Wear All White To Differentiate Between Nursing And All Other Staff, The Majority Want To Wear Prints And Different Colors (not Me, I Would Rather Be Able To Be Known To Patients As A Nurse). Another Reason Why You Will Never See A Change Is Hospitals Love It When Everyone Looks Like A Nurse To The Patients...think Of All The Money it Saves Them Passing People Off As Nurses And Actually Making It Look Like They Are Staffed Well...sad Huh...bunch Of More Bull...ho-ho-ho

Mystery5 · Dec 26, 2004

I wouldn't mind wearing a uniform. It wouldn't have to be all white. In the UK I believe they still have some sort of uniforms.

S.N. Visit, BSN, RN · Dec 26, 2004

I know exactly what you mean! My husband had an appt last week for an Ultrasound, CAT scan & endoscope. We couldn't tell who was who. When we first arrived to admitting, there was a hospital employee sitting talking with a person in steet clothes. My husband automatically assumed she was a "nurse", because she was in scrubs. We later found out the employee was a "housekeeper." When he had the Ultra sound done, he thought the tech was an R.N.(because she was in scrubs and was very professional.) When he went to the lab, the admitting person was again in scrubs and he thought she was an R.N. Everyone's name badges were too small to read, and most were turned inward so that you couldn't even see the front.

It's fustrating to look for a nurse, and get a housekeeper or dietary aide instead. (my experience as a patient on the OB floor)

:idea: It's a good thing other professions are proud to be in uniform! Can you imagine what it would be like if police, fire-fighters, football players ect, didn't distinguish themselves?

I like the Idea of wearing "Nurse", in big, bold ,black letters!" :chuckle

GingerSue · Dec 26, 2004

If they were wearing stethoscopes - who were they? Even if they weren't nurses or doctors did they make any effort to help locate the appropriate staff? I sure hope so! Do other staff at least have the responsibility to do that?

Even wearing uniforms and names tags with designations doesn't always solve the issue - what about situations in which agency RNs are doing private duty in a hospital, but are not working for the hospital. I had been in that role, as an agency RN doing private duty, but hospital staff did ask me to help them with some of their tasks. Even patients would approach for help while the other agency nurse was giving report on our patient - they don't know the difference. As I've thought about this I figure that it is my responsibility to at least guide the patient to the appropriate person(s) - although I might not know specifically who it is - because I'm not included in their reporting and scheduling arrangements.

Silverdragon102, BSN · Dec 26, 2004

I wouldn't mind wearing a uniform. It wouldn't have to be all white. In the UK I believe they still have some sort of uniforms.

Yes here in the UK most nurses who work on the wards have uniforms to wear. These are bought by the hospital and remain their property. Most hospital nurses wear tunic and trousers although dresses can be work and what every your role is ie Auxillary nurse (basis carer) to sister/charge nurse will have a colour designated to distiguish who's who. The main ones who don't wear uniforms are Nurses working in mental health or nurse specialists but that will depend on the rules of each hospital.

allnurses Guide · Dec 26, 2004

smkoepke - I'm sorry to hear about your FIL. Having had 2 seizures, I understand how scary that can be and am just glad mine happened at work and my family has not seen them. Especially my 3 year old - although I worry about it when I'm home alone with him. But I digress ... :)

As I was reading your post, I wondered how having a nurse or physician in a specific uniform would have changed the outcome of your experience. . . . "dietary aide was in scrubs, the NAR, the secretary and housekeeping assitant" . . . . the dietary aide and NAR and secretary and housekeeping assistant would still have physically been there - they work there. The issue is finding your FIL's nurse in a timely manner and if she is busy elsewhere, having on a white uniform with a white cap and a beacon flashing blue lights would not have helped you. Wearing a specific uniform does not change staffing issues.

And regarding someone in the hall with a stethoscope not being a nurse or physician . . our CNA's take vitals so they wear a stethoscope. It could easily have been someone who legitimately was supposed to be wearing one.

Making your FIL's nurse wear white would not have placed her outside his door easily available.

Of course this is coming from someone who is NOT gonna wear a white uniform and cap. :)

Wishing for peace for your FIL and family.

steph

Trauma Columnist · Dec 26, 2004

At our hospital and in fact at a neighboring hospital also - we have an additional tag with two inch letters (letters are white on bright red card) that say RN. These are mandatory as is having our nametags at chest height. This has met with many positive comments from staff and patients.

allnurses Guide · Dec 26, 2004

At our hospital and in fact at a neighboring hospital also - we have an additional tag with two inch letters (letters are white on bright red card) that say RN. These are mandatory as is having our nametags at chest height. This has met with many positive comments from staff and patients.

I like this idea but see how it could make nurses easier to identify but id'ing wasn't the problem for smoepke . . it was having a nurse or physician available and having "RN" in large letters or "MD" tatooed on the forehead doesn't do anything to solve that problem.

steph

SmilingBluEyes · Dec 26, 2004

At our hospital and in fact at a neighboring hospital also - we have an additional tag with two inch letters (letters are white on bright red card) that say RN. These are mandatory as is having our nametags at chest height. This has met with many positive comments from staff and patients.

This seems to be a simple enough solution to me. Why get into uniform wars? A nametag seems a very viable and real solution. OH and KEEP housekeeping and dietary OUT OF SCRUBS....that would help, too.

sorry about your family member, smkoepke.

Tweety, BSN, RN · Dec 26, 2004

Sorry about your dad. I've never understood why secretaries where scrubs. I worked at one place where the secretaries dressed in street clothes. Here they wear scrubs. Weird.

smk1, LPN · Dec 26, 2004

i think part of the issue is that as the public we feel comforted when we see a lot of people walking by that look like medical staff.... but a lot of them aren't and it is misleading. I wasted my time running up to people whom i assumed could help us, that couldn't. I certainly am not advocating for nurses to return to all white. (i am a student and have no desire to bleach and starch my work clothes once i am a nurse!) but I think at least having all the other staff wear clothing that actually relates to their jobs (apron or other restaurant style attire for dietary, house keeping in uniforms like in hotels and secretaries in business attire) also I do like the idea of the word NURSE in bold black letters on the scrub top. I know it would help to identify who is who. Obviously staffing needs to be addressed as well. Another good idea would be to have a large emergency sign in red or some other bright color next to the button or pulley that calls the nurse, because it wasn't easily seen and the one person in the room who probably knew where it was, was having a seizure!