Is there power in the color white?

Nurses General Nursing

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Hi all. I'm looking for some opinions on whether you believe that returning to wearing all white uniforms might give us back some power.

Now let me explain power. I've been an RN for 21 years and we (the profession) seem to have gone from "thank you nurse" to being treated less than a house keeping staff (and their role is important in hospitals too). I just find patients, their families, government, even our own supervisors do not treat "hands on" nurses with the respect we deserve.

Please be bluntly honest.

Specializes in NICU, ER, OR.

White has nothing to do with our image, power, or anything else. The wearing of white , and those hats, are from a different time and place. People, doctors included, were different then. To think that if nurses to change to wearing all white, or any color, is going to make anybody change their attitude, or gain respect for nurses, is completely rediculous.

And for the nsg instructor, who wears all white and the cap..... for you to have so many pts asking for "the nurse" (you) just because you are wearing white and a cap, and not even realizing that their are actual nurses taking care of them, well........I find that odd........not that I dont believe you, but how can they be that clueless that nurses are not required to dress like that anymore? And that YOU are the only nurse there? That struck me as weird.

I have an anecdote to share. I went to an old school-school, a diploma program. We had this old fashioned instructor, who until the year previous, wore her cap while doing patient care. Well, she was doing a dressing one day, and the hat fell right off her head and landed right in the wound.The pt got an infection. She vowed that day, it was a safety issue, and she wouldnt wear it , and made it a school rule that they are not allowe to be worn at clinical. (this used to be required). So, I think that is a pretty good reason NOT to wear the hats. And the white? I cant think of any reason not to wear it, or any other color exclusively for that matter. It's just a non issue. Wear what you want.The respect comes from being accountable, professional, and knowing what you are doing. Period.

I just want to say that as a male and someone who is transferring into a nursing program, I refuse to wear the white uniform (outside of school requirements). Even the currently being tested all navy blue hospital bought uniforms at my current hospital irk me, as long as they are mandatory. The respect that I see is all about the demeanor of the person, not what they are wearing.

"Professionalism" is what you are, not what you wear.

as a student, jim, you make a lot more sense than some of the experienced nurses!

thank you, i appreciate that

aloha

jim

Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.

"Professionalism" is what you are, not what you wear.

Well said.

Specializes in Acute Care Psych, DNP Student.

I think professionalism is how you present yourself, how you act, AND your attire.

About the hats: The really old school hats were actually practical- they covered your hair. Somehow, they were gradually reduced to something merely ornamental. I guess today's equivalent of the old caps would be an OR cap. Or, a bandana, I guess. Or a hair net? Anyway, I wouldn't object to being required to have my hair covered, or pulled securely back. Um, as long as I didn't have to wear a hair net, that is...

While people may disagree about whether or not they prefer to wear a certain kind of uniform or not, I think the main issue is one of quick recognizability. Police often wear uniforms and I think they are considered "professional." Not all police officers wear uniforms. If they are investigators, for example, they don't need, or may not even want, such instant recognition. Does the uniform guarantee that the person wearing it is a police officer? No. Does the uniform mean the police officer is more professional than if he weren't wearing it? No. Fire fighters wear uniforms, and I doubt it's just for safety. They could produce multi-colored, varied styled outfits that would function well. I imagine the uniform is for quick recognition by each other and by others of who are fire fighters and who aren't. On a busy hospital unit with nurses (regular staff, floating staff, travelers, etc), aides, physicians, social workers, allied health personnel, visitors and more, I can see why some might argue that nurses have some kind of uniform that makes them easily identifiable to patients, visitors, other health personnel, and other nurses.

Specializes in 7.

Your question is quite interesting. Maybe there is power in white (uniforms). Every where I turn, someone is wearing scrubs. Currently I am a hospital director, but it still frustates me that nurses blend in with any and everybody. In particular, if I may, my family doctor employs approx 4 medical assistants and they all identify themselves as nurses!! It drives me crazy!!! It seems that there is no more respect for us. I wear a white lab coat over my dress clothes at work. I think there is some power in wearing white!

I think wearing white people automatically think your a nurse. I have been a nurse for 20 yrs and don't advocate wearing caps again but think we get lost in the sea of colors at the hospital. I currently wear burgundy and there is nothing to distinguish me from the housekeeper.

I dread wearing all white, I am going to work for a home health agency that all nurses wear white, yike! It was tough to keep whites white indoors but outside in the winter is going to be even tougher. What ever happened to the "white ocat "syndrome? White doesn't get us more respect just more laundry to do!:wink2:

Specializes in SICU, CVICU, CCU, Cardiac Rehab.

Forget the whole psychology of color for a second. I have trouble with the other logistical problems associated with wearing white, like finding bras that don't show through them, or bleaching them enough to keep them looking fresh, but not so much that they yellow.... AARRRRGGGHHH!!!

White was practical initially because at least you could tell if itwas clean and sanitary. That is all. There was no power in it, there is no power in it. If you want to be powerful and respected, act powerful and demand to be respected.

Specializes in LTC, wound care.

I've worn white to work.. and I've worn my cap... older patients liked it . but it just wasn't practical.. I didn't experience a difference in how I was treated by the patients families, or by the other staff members. my staff never had a problem with recognizing me as their supervisor, my patients families all knew who I was as I was the only one that actually introduced myself.. I think the introduction was the key... they'd come out and ask to speak to the nurse and they'd know my name...

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