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Does your facility require you to wear a certain color scrubs for your unit, and if so, do they provide them, or give a clothing allowance? Our ER is talking about requiring nurses to wear one color, techs one color...etc. However, the rumor is, we are going to have to pay for them ourselves. I'd appreciate your feedback. Thanks!
Yes, we wear mandated colors, just started this past month...ER nurses wear one color...er techs another color...and so on...they bought us 2 sets...the rest is up to us...doesn't matter to me either way...less thinking when I get dressed and I don't have to worry about whether my tops and bottoms match...it actually was a pretty easy transition...and it really is easier to tell who is who, especially being in such a big department...I can't spot our CT tech or resp therapist from a mile away now...
Currently I can wear whatever color scrubs I want, but there is talk of some sort of color designation either for each unit, or for each title-RN, LPN, Tech secretary. Not sure how union will respond-we do not get a uniform allowance now. Most nurses wear scrubs, although I know of 2 RN's who wear a white dress uniform-and they are against any color designation. The last hospital I worked at did try this-we were maroon in the ED, units were surg green, ob was pink, etc. not too bad initially, until you got pulled to another unit, or changed departments, and then there were the male nurses. We did get a 100 uniform there, but then that ended, and so did the color designation.
ED color codes-
Nurses- white scrub on top- any warm up jacket must be white- any color bottom ( we decided to buy men's PJ bottoms at Walmart real cheap to add a little personality-but we stay away from the harley davidson/beer bottle pant designs)
ED techs- misty grey
Unit clerk- navy blue
Anne
We are color coded per unit. In the ER we wear black. I didn't think I would like it, but it actually looks pretty nice. You can wear any color print top, but you have to have black pants. Years ago when we wore blues, they were hospital provided. As soon as we picked our own colors, we were on our own. We have never been provided a uniform allowance. At least I can keep all my receipts and use it as a tax deduction.
In my hospital Nurses are required to wear all white or white top navy bottom. The weather in rochester is messy 80% of the year I think white is not practical. It's impossible to keep white clean.
I miss wearing colors especiallly this time of year. After a long cold winter I think wearing some color improves you spirits. We have to pay for our own uniforms. I think their should be some flexibility on occasion
On January 1 we went to colored scrubs for our hospital. RN's in navy, Lvn's in columbia blue and Tech's in teal. The hospital spent a year preparing for this change over because of the unhappy staff. The first two pairs were provided then you are on your own, for staff level only. We do have payroll deduction available but you have to buy from the contract company which only sells Crest. :uhoh21: Of course it doesn't help the situatin much if everyone in other departments can wear these same colors. Why bother if the colors weren't going to be exclusive.
teeituptom, BSN, RN
4,283 Posts
life is simple
either scrub it or leave it