Just hate those navy blue scrubs

mamamerlee, LPN · Oct 6, 2009

This too shall pass. I remember all-white - DRESSES. hose, shoes, caps. Scrubs were for OR, ICU and such, and were laundered by the hospital. We changed in the locker rooms.

I, for one, would like to return to the hospital-provided scrubs, and not have to go home in my now-germ-coated clothing. Let me strip it off, and leave it at the hospital.

If you are required to wear something in particular, then the institution should provide you with a starter pack, say three sets, or a uniform allowance. Rather than worry about the color that is worn, I would like a name badge that has my first name and my title in letters at least 1 - 1 1/2 inches high so it is easily seen.

Some of the hospitals around here use brightly colored named tags with RN, LPN, PT, etc in bold black letters on a bright background.

I remember quite a wardrobe of cute little white dresses......!

criticalHP, MSN, RN · Oct 6, 2009

Do patients get a listing of the color scrubs different disciplines are wearing? How can a patient differentiate between LVN and RN based on the color of their scrubs? Housekeeping is easy--their the ones cleaning the room (of course this could be a nurse too)

Not trying to be a you know what--just curious.

criticalHP, MSN, RN · Oct 6, 2009

This too shall pass. I remember all-white - DRESSES. hose, shoes, caps. Scrubs were for OR, ICU and such, and were laundered by the hospital. We changed in the locker rooms.
I, for one, would like to return to the hospital-provided scrubs, and not have to go home in my now-germ-coated clothing. Let me strip it off, and leave it at the hospital.
If you are required to wear something in particular, then the institution should provide you with a starter pack, say three sets, or a uniform allowance. Rather than worry about the color that is worn, I would like a name badge that has my first name and my title in letters at least 1 - 1 1/2 inches high so it is easily seen.
Some of the hospitals around here use brightly colored named tags with RN, LPN, PT, etc in bold black letters on a bright background.
I remember quite a wardrobe of cute little white dresses......!

When I began in nursing in 1997, there was this CNA that always wore a white dress and a corsett. Male patients would comment on the lady in the white corsett, but she was always professional and very good at her job.

caliotter3 · Oct 6, 2009

I wish we had to wear navy blue - I work in LTC and they put us all in these hideous black scrubs. Not kidding...we look like a freaking grim reaper parade. It's soo incredibly depressing.....ugh.

I would think that LTC is not the place to wear all black. Somebody should have a little more regard for the sensibilities of both the residents and the workers.

tolerantgirl · Oct 27, 2009

I think most hospitals are going to navy blue. I think we all look more professional.

OrthoRN09 · Oct 28, 2009

Navy isn't all bad. At my facility, staff nurses wear navy, OR light blue, float nurses green, respitory royal blue, ER black, PCA's teal blue, and there are a couple units that are purple or royal blue. The peds unit staff can wear fun tops, but that's it. Personally, I prefer it. This way patients and family members know who is a nurse and who isn't.

Hoozdo, ADN · Oct 28, 2009

I work at a navy blue hospital. I hate it. I have tons of NICE scrubs that are very colorful and express my personality.

I am now a drone in navy blue.

Bortaz, MSN, RN · Oct 28, 2009

I had to wear hideous ceil blue in school. Now that I've graduated and gotten a job, I was pleased to toss those ugly things in the garbage.

I'm going to be working in a NICU, and they allow only pink (uh, no), white (uh, no), navy, or a combination of these.

Thank God for navy.

meluhn · Oct 28, 2009

I am LOL because I have to wear the dreaded white scrubs at my facility. We all hate it alot. They get so dirty and grungy looking so fast. Not to mention that white adds 20 lbs. I actually considered not taking the job because of it.

freefalr · Oct 28, 2009

this is a neat thread. it's so interesting how what we wear, even just its color, can affect how we feel.

i prefer colored scrubs, mostly in the blue/aqua/purple/grey family. i like white tops, but have always felt a little paranoid wearing white on the bottom (as a woman, sometimes things can be unpredictable ). i'm really picky about prints (there are some seriously hideous ones out there). i wear a white scrub jacket, but also have a cute hello kitty jacket my mom gave me (to her, i'm still 12 :loveya: ). i tried a navy scrub jacket, and was surprised to find that wearing it made me feel like a lunch lady (meaning no disrespect of cafeteria workers anywhere--i've done food service myself, and it ain't easy!).

while we're on the subject of color: i would never, ever wear chartreuse or yellow on the top. blech! i love it "in real life" (not on me, on others), but in the workplace setting, it just conjures up images of vomit, bile, poop...and worry that it might evoke nausea in my patients (kind of like a strong odor of perfume, etc.).

AZ_LPN_8_26_13 · Oct 28, 2009

If the employees can't remember, how on earth are the patients? :)

It's just one thing of many in identifying who's who. Everyone

has a picture badge with name and title on it also, plus when

you enter a room you are supposed to identify yourself to the

patient "Hi, I'm John/Jane, your nurse...." etc.

AnnaN5 · Oct 29, 2009

My first job out of school was at a hospital that required the nurses to wear navy or white. I thought navy was horrible until about a year ago I switched to a hospital that requires their nurses to wear caribbean blue! I would take my navy back any day. Caribbean blue is the hardest color to find!