uniforms: any stranger recognized where you work by your uniform?

[RedWeasel, RN]

Sorry this is so long: Our work is thinking of changing our uniforms to something like all black or all white - a universal uniform for all. I am only asking this question because from a safety standpoint, we are in a rather big city-not like NY or anything. We are one of two hospitals in the area. I guess I am a bit paranoid and I am not worried about myself but I imagine others that work at our job, running to the grocery store after work. Some creep could see their uniform, watch them go to their car and get the make, model and license off it without notice. Then if they are a true creep, could drive around the lot of the hospital that time of night (I mean they know by the time they are in the grocery about when they get off work right?) waiting for one of us. I am just worried. Yes many people stop at a store in their uniforms after work-waitresses etc but they are different. They don't walk and walk out to their car usually-they have a pretty small parking lot to go out in. And everyone usually leaves at the same time-not like nurses who leave at all hours. It isn't like someone going into a store after working at a restaurant in their waitress uniform. Waitresses don't usually have the 4 or 5 lot parking lots we have to hide in. I just don't find it safe to change to such a universal uniform due to this issue. Yes I may be paranoid, or reaching for straws to keep my printed scrubs, but stranger things have happened. It is a large lot and we don't all leave together. There are barely any cameras and would take a while to get a security response from a distress call from the call box. We are trying to get some feedback from other places that have gone to a universal uniform (other facilities) to see the impact on patients. One girl is researching childrens reactions to white, one to brain injuries reacting to all black (looks too much like a police uniform-and sets them off)-we have both peds and TBIs on our floor. I am in charge of asking around about others just simply recognizing where you work. Just a "Oh you must work at ______" from the lady checking you out at the pharmacy, or a "my sister works at ______too." from the fast food cashier taking your money. It doesn't have to have appeared weird or creepy. JUST IF THEY mention they recognize where you work. Thanks! SORRY THIS is SO Long!!! Oh and they recently changed our badges to have big black and white RN badges to solve the problem of all staff looking like nurses. I had suggested back then to put the RN on each side of the badge so that when it turns around there is no question, but they only made the RN on one side. Why change all uniforms instead of just giving us a badge with RN on each side?

[GM2RN]

It doesn't make sense to me to make EVERYONE wear the same color. Now, if you want to have nurses wear one color and housekeeping another, etc., that makes sense.

But, if you do end up having to do it, I don't see any danger in it.

[GreyGull]

I don't know about the comparison to waitresses. They work long hours with varied shifts, put up with drunken jerks as customers who try to wait outside for them, don't have access to security to escort them, don't always have cars and may have a long wait at a bus stop in a bad area in the middle of the night by themselves in an area police don't like to patrol. If parking is at a premium, restaurant owners will make employees park in a public lot several blocks away. Their shifts may be start or end at different times so not everyone abandons their customers for "shift change and report". Waitresses may also be required to wear very revealing uniforms and many will change their clothes before leaving work to look more normal.

Like uniforms were a thing of the past and have made a comeback sometimes due to people taking advantage of liberal dress codes. While I also hate the idea of same color uniforms, I can understand a few of the other side's reasons also.

People are going to know you work someplace just by wearing some type of uniform be it a pretty scrub set or a plain one that looks like everyone else.

For safety, follow some simple rules like anyone else who must be out at strange hours. Have your hospital provide security escorts. I don't know of any hospital which will not do this. Have your keys in hand and read. Don't keep a lot of valuables visible. Be aware of your surroundings. Carry pepper spray and a whistle. Leave with someone else if possible even if you have to wait a few minutes and it doesn't have to be with someone from your unit. Get everyone involved if safety is an issue where you work. Administration may not listen to your arguements about the uniform but they will generaly take safety seriously.

I also don't wear my uniform to or from work. If I did I would not stop at a grocery store after being exposed to all types of patients and their bacteria all day. I even leave my shoes at work and do a scrub out before when I go off the unit. Sometimes I take my car and sometimes mass transit. I'm sure I exposed to some serious nastiness just sitting on the seats of the train but at least it won't be in my car and I can feel cleaner when I put my uniform on at work.

[Otessa, BSN, RN]

If you are worried, change into street clothes before you leave work.

[Fribblet]

I'm more concerned about any Joe Blow being able to find my license number and full address on the BON website than being identified as a nurse by the color of my uniform.

The hospital I work at now doesn't list our last names, but other hospitals I've worked at do. THAT's more worrisome, imo.

Seriously, what purpose is there to listing my address?

[Bobbkat]

My scrubs not only have a uniform color, but also have the ame of my hospital and 'RN' embroidered on it. It's never been a problem, but then again I don't go out anywhere in my scrubs after work.

[backatit2]

i think you are definitely grasping at straws.

your employer isn't going to change their mind. uniforms help everyone identify each other quickly. i might not know your name, but i know if you're a RN, LPN, CNA, housekeeping, etc. which helps a lot when i need something or have a question.

if you are REALLY worried - go to the bathroom and put on a t shirt before you leave work.

[classicdame, MSN, EdD]

Our facility dropped the "each discipline gets a color" routine. Now everyone can wear any color as long as the scrubs are solid colored, not cartoony. Our name badges have "RN", "LVN", "RT" in BIG letters to indicate our discipline.

I take off my badge before I enter a business, whether in uniform or not (I am not required to wear scrubs).

[RNperdiem, RN]

My hospital went to uniforms, and I like the change- no more sloppy t-shirts or tacky prints.

Is it a security issue really, or do you just not like the uniform change?

[HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD]

None of us like change, do we?? Over the years, I have found the most problematic issues for any hospital to address is any change in the dress code or uniform policy.

Here in Houston, there are a very large number of hospitals in the Texas Medical Center. Every one of them has a distinctive nursing 'uniform' so it's pretty easy to determine who works where. They're seen as "team colors" - employees are generally proud of where they work and enjoy the fact that they are easily identified as belonging to an elite organization, especially in such a highly competitive environment.

If you're on the organizing end, that is one tactic you should consider - that the uniform would be a mark of distinction which identifies you as 'one of the best'. It is also much easier for patients to identify nurses because they can sort out uniform appearance rather than try to read tiny little hanging badges. That may be a good thing or a bad thing - LOL.

I am sure there are a jillion funny stories about misguided uniform selections. A few years ago, the Houston Life Flight crew decided that all black scrubs would be just the ticket... "slimming", "unisex", etc. They did not account for the reaction of the public - who were generally appalled and associated them with the grim reaper or harbingers of death.... hmm. Or what about the unfortunate appearance of the (very large) nursing assistants who were outfitted in bright purple scrubs... quickly became known as the "Fruit of the Loom" look because of their resemblance to the animated grapes in the commercial. I would also caution against choosing white slacks or scrub pants - unless your staff has very attractive underwear.

Keep us posted on your decision - I'd love to hear how it turns out.

[Patchouli]

personally, i like the option of being able to wear whatever color scrubs i like. we have name badges that include the rn label at the bottom. to be honest with you, even if our hospital went to mandatory colored scrubs, i would still be the nurse, houskeeping, kitchen, secretary, tech, and so on. so, i really don't think it makes a bit of difference in the long run.

[backatit2]

personally, i like the option of being able to wear whatever color scrubs i like. we have name badges that include the rn label at the bottom. to be honest with you, even if our hospital went to mandatory colored scrubs, i would still be the nurse, houskeeping, kitchen, secretary, tech, and so on. so, i really don't think it makes a bit of difference in the long run.

yeah, regardless of what color uniform you have you still hold the same title, but uniforms do make it a lot easier to identify each other. you can spot a nurse from the end of the hall instead of having to get 1 foot away and ask them to flip over their name badge that is turned backward half the time. during an emergency like a code the doctor needs to know who the nurse is quickly and the uniforms help imo.