Different colored scrubs for RNs and LVNs?

[chris_at_lucas_RN]

Our hospital recently went to mandatory color coded scrubs.

LVN's and RN's wear the same color.

I've never seen this before. I thought the color designation was to help reinforce the differences in scope of practice--after all, techs are part of nursing service, why don't they just wear the same color we do? LOL

It may be because we have LVN's in supervisory positions, like staffing coordinator.

I've found that I cannot get the LVN's to do what I ask, and get a lot of lip back. I'm sure it's not just about the uniform color, but I don't think it helps that they don't wear something different.

Thoughts? Ideas? Experiences?

[cardiacRN2006, ADN, RN]

Our hospital jsut recently went to all color coded scrubs a year or two ago. Nurses wear green (all nurses), techs port, lab/radiology light blue, housekeeping, etc.....

The benefits of this is that we get our scrubs provided to us for free :) , but in the beginning I did feel like we were a little alienated. Now nobody cares. The reason was for the pt and doctors to know who the nurses were. But unless we tell everybody when they come in the door, then nobody knows what the color codes mean. Maybe we should give the pts a color coded bookmark or something.

[ljds]

But unless we tell everybody when they come in the door, then nobody knows what the color codes mean. Maybe we should give the pts a color coded bookmark or something.

Ha! Good point!

Lori

[BETSRN]

No, I'm not the one deciding who should wear what color scrubs, that's for administration.

As an RN, I am responsible for delegating tasks which LVN's and techs are to do. It's part of my responsibility. Delegating and accepting assignments are part of nursing and patient care, and when they are not managed properly, patient safety can be compromised. Since the LVN always functions as the med nurse when she works, and meds can be dangerous if omitted or doubled, I'm sure you can see my point and concern.

When I attempt to delegate a patient care task to the LVN, I often get "I'm too busy" or the occasional "no." I ask nicely and with respect. I care about my coworkers and I do not expect to be responded to rudely, so it is always a surprise.

Case in point: Several meds were d'c'd. The LVN was the med nurse on the previous shift. She lined through the note and wrote (not at all clearly--it looked a lot like her initials, actually) "DC'd." I nearly gave the med because the entry had not been yellowed out.

The next day, I just asked her if she would please yellow out the d'c'd med orders in the MAR. She said "if I have time." She has time to sit around once her meds are given, she is on the phone a lot.

I don't think I was asking too much, and yes, I think that was "lip."

Sorry you were offended, but I can't really imagine why--unless there might be a little hidden resentment there, but this is really about the color of uniforms being different for RN's and LVN's, not about whether someone else thinks I have an attitude, OK?

Thanks for your response.

Usually, it is policy to yellow out a discontinued medication. I would check with your facility and act accordingly, If it is policy, then I think you need to speak with this LPN. She may not be practicing within a standard of care. just so you feel more supported, I would go to your superior first and get his/her backing.

[StephOScope]

In my facility, RNs and LPN/LVNs have to wear different colors and only nursing staff can wear scrubs. Occasionally I have a patient ask tongue-in-cheek for the color key that tells them who's who...and when explained to them, maybe half understand the difference in scope of practice anyway.

I think it makes more sense to have RNs/LPNs wear the same color--to identify them clearly from all other staff as NURSES.

[shellsincanada]

No, I'm not the one deciding who should wear what color scrubs, that's for administration.

As an RN, I am responsible for delegating tasks which LVN's and techs are to do. It's part of my responsibility. Delegating and accepting assignments are part of nursing and patient care, and when they are not managed properly, patient safety can be compromised. Since the LVN always functions as the med nurse when she works, and meds can be dangerous if omitted or doubled, I'm sure you can see my point and concern.

When I attempt to delegate a patient care task to the LVN, I often get "I'm too busy" or the occasional "no." I ask nicely and with respect. I care about my coworkers and I do not expect to be responded to rudely, so it is always a surprise.

Case in point: Several meds were d'c'd. The LVN was the med nurse on the previous shift. She lined through the note and wrote (not at all clearly--it looked a lot like her initials, actually) "DC'd." I nearly gave the med because the entry had not been yellowed out.

The next day, I just asked her if she would please yellow out the d'c'd med orders in the MAR. She said "if I have time." She has time to sit around once her meds are given, she is on the phone a lot.

I don't think I was asking too much, and yes, I think that was "lip."

Sorry you were offended, but I can't really imagine why--unless there might be a little hidden resentment there, but this is really about the color of uniforms being different for RN's and LVN's, not about whether someone else thinks I have an attitude, OK?

Thanks for your response.

All this delegating on one little thing - that probably took longer then if you had actually done it yourself.

Anyway- if you are going to colour code professions then a nurse is a nurse is a nurse. All are licensed and to the patient rarely makes a difference. To want to separate them colour wise seems to me like "pulling rank"

[puggymae]

When patients are admitted to our hospital they are given a pamphlet that explains hand hygeine (and that they are to ask every person who comes into the room if they have washed their hands or to tell them to), how to use the phone or wireless internet, how to order something from the dietary hostess, and an explanation of what the different colored uniforms mean.

This changes frequently - the RN's are wearing all white, LPN's navy pants with white tops, CNA's all navy. House keeping and kitchen wear grey, everyone else maroon.

The patients tend to eyeball the card as every person comes into the room - but they know who the different people are.

I agree that name badges with name and title are the most important part of your uniform.

[gentlegiver, ASN, LPN, RN]

A LTC that I worked for went color coded uniforms, They set it up so Nursing staff wore White tops and blue pants, CNA's wore blue on blue, other staff wore colors for thier department, ie: kitchen - black with white & black tops. This helped the pts to know who to ask for help, I thought it was ok, but, white makes me look washed out so I always had pt's asking if I felt ok.

[flashpoint]

I think as long as name tags are visible, color of scrubs shouldn't matter. I would like to see all non-nursing staff out of scrubs. At the LTC I work at, even the activity director wears scrubs...it is hard to tell who is who.

[Susan9608]

My hospital has a color-coded dress code. RNs wear royal blue, LVNs wear navy blue, CNAs/HUCs (often do the same job on different days) wear maroon, RTs wear black, PT/OT/ST wear green (a different shade for each one; I'm not sure which is which, though), and housekeeping wears tan. We have a poster in every room in the hospital with a picture of the scrubs and a description of who wears what and what their qualifications are.

Our names tags also read our name (first name only), then our job title, and then our specific qualifications. Mine reads, "Susan, RN, BSN."

I like it that way. I'd prefer to be able to wear whatever scrubs I want (since I hate royal blue) but I do like not having to constantly explain, "No, that person was housekeeping, not your nurse" to patients. I also like having my job title and qualifications on my name tag. I worked hard for my BSN; I don't think there's anything wrong with letting people know that my qualification is a BSN. I don't see how that or the color separation is pulling rank. If people have different job titles, like RN vs. LVN, then it seems to me that there must be some difference - however slight - in their job description/scope of practice, so I don't see what's wrong with people knowing that.

[EmmaG, RN]

As long as my scrubs are clean and pressed (well... wrinkle free lol), I have a name-tag indicating my position, and I tell the patients I am their nurse, I don't think it should matter what color I wear.

[MoopleRN]

Interesting thread/replies. At my previous facility, nurses/aides could wear whatever scrubs they wanted (though several nurses wore white). At my current, new facility, nurses must wear a combo of navy/white (techs wear a different color since they aren't nurses) and the other depts wear different colors. Supposedly, this is to help patients differentiate the different depts (it doesn't!).

Anyhoodles, I think it looks more professional for a certain dept to wear one color. Some of the scrubs out there have really cute designs but solid colors or a combo of solid colors, IMO, look more professional.

[EmmaG, RN]

I'm certain Press-Ganey and/or JCAHO is behind this.

They always are...