Color Coding Nurses

mattcastens · Oct 6, 2001

I have always received compliments on how professional I look, and I don't wear white. I hate white! It's possible to look like a health care professional without white. Our hospital's policy is wear whatever scrubs you like.

I wear: Black pants with black shoes (yes, black), a solid color top, and a short white jacket with my nametag.

Professional dress shows pride in yourself and your job. I've also found that doctors, families and patients all stop and listen when I talk. I attribute some of this to my professional dress.

Along those lines (and I might be starting a new thread with this), I find it hard to take seriously nurses who don't follow healthy living practices. So many smoke, eat junk, or are overweight ... what must their patients think?? I realize that these are hard habits or addictions to break. Even so, the best way to teach healthy living is by example.

essarge · Oct 6, 2001

Brandy,

If I remember my nursing history correctly (someone correct me if I'm wrong), the stripes on the RN caps were predominently dark color stripes on the white cap. The LPN school that wore caps had the lighter colors for stripes (pink, light blue, yellow).

Maybe this is the way they are carrying over the "traditional" colors without going back to white uniforms and caps?

tonchitoRN · Oct 7, 2001

My hospital tried to designate a different color for each area. The funny part is there were so many nurses who floated, agency, pool etc. that on any given day the staff had on a variety of colors so really it was a moot point. Personally I always wore white because I am paranoid about bringing home germs and this is the only color I could bleach out the germs. :cool:

Cdn student · Oct 14, 2001

At my hospital - it's a trauma 1 centre, the nurses rarely wear scrubs anymore. The fashion now is to wear street clothes with a short white lab coat. (Only the Dr.s are allowed to wear long lab coats). A few of the older nurses still wear scrubs with a colorful jacket over. :eek:

sandigapeachlpn · Oct 14, 2001

in our long term care facility we are encouraged to wear bright vivid scrubs. The theory is based on the effects of alzheimers/dementia and the ability to see white as opposed to the other colors of the spectrum. in our lock down unit the toilet lids are black so the residents can distinquish them from the floor. when i started at the facility i only had white as i was required to wear white as a floor nurse in the hospital. so i had to train myself to change and let loose with the color. it is interesting though.... the lucid residents always take note if i am wearing all white, especially if i wear my dresses. they always make comments about me being professional. and then on the other hand when i am close to a demented resident many times i have found them touching the hem of my jacket or uniform top and gazing at the designs, or material. the best example of what color can do to our residents though happened with my husband. he is a cna in the alzheimers unit and quite a rebel. never to be outdone, he went and purchased the first black scrubs ever worn in the facility. we the staff thought they were cool, but i did worry about the darkness of the scrubs and if that would have an effect on the res. needless to say one of our more colorful res at that time was quite a PIA at times but of course he had his moments. one night my husband entered the room and he started screaming 'GET OUT , GET OUT I DON'T WANT TO GO ' thereafter we nicknamed him the grim reaper. one night i was working the unit and i was wearing navy scrubs. i walked into the activity room to give a med, and one of the res saluted me and stated " i have the utmost respect for you officer".

all in all, i have to say i love wearing all white. i was so proud when i finally didn't have a student uniform on and i felt that i had finally earned the right to wear white. if they still wore hats i would wear one. i am 37 and have been a nurse for 5 years. the other nurses rag me and say the hat was for the birds.... but i still wish that we would have kept that tradition.

Dyno · Oct 14, 2001

In response to Ted, re what nurses wear in other countries..

In oz we don't wear scrubs unless we are in theatre/recovery. Most hospitals now have a corporate uniform although the traditional white can still be worn.

In my hospital...for RNs

Females can choose navy trousers, shorts or a skirt combined with the corporate top, ours is a choice of white with the hospital logo printed on it or a chambray shirt (denim blue/grey colour) or choose the traditional white dress. Black or blue shoes can be worn.

Males can wear navy shorts or trousers with a chambray shirt or opt for traditional white shorts/trousers & top, blue or black shoes can be worn.

Uniform allowances are given, also in the public system, the hospitals have to supply the uniforms (returned when no longer working in that hospital) & uniforms can be laundered free of charge at work. This has been union negotiated.

The private system also has corporate uniforms, usually navy pants/shorts & the corporate top. I don't know their arrangements for allowances. Uniforms are also tax deductible in both systems.

Paediatric wards sometimes have a separate brighter top but not always.

ENs (LPNS) wear same corporate uniform but blue uniform instead of white if they take that option.

Maybe we are 'behind' the times down under but it works well for us and we definately look professional. The trouser/top combination is comfortable & takes away the 'hospital' , sterile look. Patients can easily recognise the nurses apart from other staff.

Hope that gives you some insight.

BlueBear · Oct 15, 2001

We wear white. White pants, white top, white jacket. I hate it! Yup I am looking for a new job, not because of the dress code but boy it willbe a relief to finally choose what I want to wear!