.... As in, do you wear different colors or avoid certain scrubs when working in psych?
I just got my first nursing job as an LPN at a psych ward. One of the roughest in the area, actually. I am buying my first non-white scrubs (finally), but I wondered if the color you wear has an effect on your patients. For instance, I'm staying away from red, even though I love the color, because of all the negative feelings it's reported to provoke. I'm also avoiding pastels, even though I'm a girly girl, because I fear that the more uncontrolled patients might see me as soft or whatever.
I was aiming for green, navy, blue, and purple. Am I being silly here, or does this stuff actually matter?
Well, guys, thanks for all your input. At orientation we were told that all departments were recently designated a color. The mental health dept is to wear purple scrubs, or scrubs with purple in them. Although, business casual street clothes are allowed too. I guess I'll just wear scrubs on day one and check out what everyone else has on.
Must be the *code purple* thing...I remember when I was in nursing school and they told us that *code purple* was psych that I couldn't help but laugh because purple is my favorite color and I have always thought I was a little bit off my rocker!
I have always work casual clothes in my psych unit. We don't wear jeans but sneakers or nursing shoes are a must. Still need the traction, don't want to slip running to the aid of a pt. Personally I never wear a dress or skirt; possible exposure when dealing with a violent or assaultive pt. And definitely no hanging jewelry.
.... As in, do you wear different colors or avoid certain scrubs when working in psych?
I just got my first nursing job as an LPN at a psych ward. One of the roughest in the area, actually. I am buying my first non-white scrubs (finally), but I wondered if the color you wear has an effect on your patients. For instance, I'm staying away from red, even though I love the color, because of all the negative feelings it's reported to provoke. I'm also avoiding pastels, even though I'm a girly girl, because I fear that the more uncontrolled patients might see me as soft or whatever.
I was aiming for green, navy, blue, and purple. Am I being silly here, or does this stuff actually matter?
I wear mostly all pastels and pt's seem to cooperate better with me than they do with my co-workers who wear strong vivid colors like red, neon greens, loud cartoon patterns etc. (I don't know if it's really the colors we wear or just our different personalities, that help the pt's trust us).
Wouldn't part with my scrubs! I enjoy looking like a nurse and scrubs are very practical. I wear whatever pattern I happen to like or find on sale and my patients don't seem to notice one way or the other.
Specializes in telemetry, med-surg, home health, psych.
I love my scrubs !!!! We are allowed to wear street clothes or scrubs but 95% of us wear scrubs....for comfort, practicality, reassurrance to the pts......therapists and social workers wear street clothes...we nurses love our scrubs !!!! I couldn't imagine getting on the floor or getting blood stains on my nice street clothes !!
Specializes in telemetry, med-surg, home health, psych.
oh, as far as color....wear what you want....I wear anything from all pastel to bright colors...doesn't matter at all.....whatever I like and is on sale is OK with me and my pts.
.... As in, do you wear different colors or avoid certain scrubs when working in psych?
I just got my first nursing job as an LPN at a psych ward. One of the roughest in the area, actually. I am buying my first non-white scrubs (finally), but I wondered if the color you wear has an effect on your patients. For instance, I'm staying away from red, even though I love the color, because of all the negative feelings it's reported to provoke. I'm also avoiding pastels, even though I'm a girly girl, because I fear that the more uncontrolled patients might see me as soft or whatever.
I was aiming for green, navy, blue, and purple. Am I being silly here, or does this stuff actually matter?
I work on a med-surg psych unit in a hospital and we have to wear scrubs,Most of us wear any ole color, have never found it to be a problem, just don't make the same mistake I did on my first job, I wore a disney top with squirrels on it anouncing in bright purple letters to "GO NUTS" lol:chuckle
Specializes in telemetry, med-surg, home health, psych.
I work on a med-surg psych unit in a hospital and we have to wear scrubs,Most of us wear any ole color, have never found it to be a problem, just don't make the same mistake I did on my first job, I wore a disney top with squirrels on it anouncing in bright purple letters to "GO NUTS" lol:chuckle
I've been a psych RN for 30 years now...I'm really happy when I make it to work in something more formal than my PJ's. (Am I the only person that thinks the day shift starts way too early?). Hospital policy dictates...no blue jeans (black or any other color jeans OK), heals would be amusing for both pts' and staff-so comfy shoes. It MUST be washable(spit, vomit etc), sexuality is great for after hours..NOT WORK
I personally would prefer to wear a uniform, not necessarily white but someting conservative and low key.
It has been several decades since the phasing out of uniforms in psych institutions for the apparent therapeutic benefits for patients. I have to tried to find research that could support this theory but have not manged to find recent material. Can anyone help here?
Specializes in psych, addictions, hospice, education.
The reason for avoiding uniforms in psych is to show that everyone there is on the same team, to help the patient get better. Also, there are the old images of starched white uniforms (picture Nurse Ratched in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest) that some might have in their heads.
I prefer "regular-people" clothes, but scrubs are ok. Pockets are required. No white jackets. No red, and no pink. No wild prints. Dark colors. Easily washable. Comfy shoes you can run in.
Valkrie15
1 Post
Must be the *code purple* thing...I remember when I was in nursing school and they told us that *code purple* was psych that I couldn't help but laugh because purple is my favorite color and I have always thought I was a little bit off my rocker!