I've been nursing for 19 months, a 4th career, and LOVE it. I work in a hospital - on the Oncology unit. I work with newly diagnosed patients, patients receiving chemo and other treatments, and also, do a lot of hospice and end of life care. I am very happy with my new career and look forward to going to work everyday (I work 3 days a week - 12 hour days).
My only problem with my job is the mandatory dress code. Most - not all - of the staff is color coded. RNs and LPNs must wear white pants/white top or navy pants/white top. This code has been in effect about 2 years.
The nurses and other personnel tell me they had no say in this policy. They were not asked their opinion. An administrator (who is no longer employed there) arbitrarily made the decision - the objective being that patients would be able to identify the nurses from other personnel.
This objective has certainly not been met. The patients and their families think anyone in scrubs is a nurse. They don't even notice the color codes unless they've stay in the hospital over a week or so. And even if they notice, they don't know what each stands for.
There are 4 hospitals in this area that are all affiliated. One is new - just opened a few months ago. My hospital and the new hospital are the only ones with the strict dress code. The other two wear whatever kind of scrubs they want. Word is that they "tried" to change the code at these two hospitals too but the nurses "wouldn't stand for it".
I am working my way up the ladder to try to get this abolished. I polled 43 nurses and other personnel with 3 quick questions and received an overwhelming response in favor of abolishing the dress code as it is.
I'm at the 3rd rung up the ladder at this point, with only one more to go after this. The last administrator I approached (with a well written thoughtful, research based proposal) pretty much just blew me off. She stated that staff has "accepted" the policy and there is no need to address it further.
I am stressing the importance of how much it would mean for the nurses to have some autonomy in their wardrobe choice; to show their personality through their scrubs; show creativity; and to offer some vibrance and color to the patients.
The hospital doesn't pay for our uniforms. Many people have old, dingy whites but they are so tired of them, that I believe they just don't care anymore. Having a choice improves self-concept and self-image.
I've asked that we be able to wear regular scrubs just on weekends, or casual Friday's. They don't seem to care. I think they think it makes the hospital look good. I think it's archaic.
Have any of you out there had to deal with this? Do you have any suggestions of a better way to deal with it?
