Nurses General Nursing
Published Mar 21, 2010
Sigh...so my hospital is joining the sheep and going to mandated scrub colors. They are saying they do not have to provide any scrubs free of charge even though it is a requirement.
Have you been through this? How did it go???
Thanks
MissyF_RN
12 Posts
the nurses where i work either wear all white or white top and navy pants. pcts wear maroon and grey. lab wears black. and respritory wears brown. personally i like the color coated scubs, lets me know if that person needs to be in the patients room. i also agree that it is mainly for the hospital staff to know whos who because "everyones a nurse".
classicdame, MSN, EdD
7,255 Posts
we did it for several years but now any SOLID color is ok. We wear "identifiers" on our badge that indicates our dept or license status. I also think the cartoon characters are unprofessional. Makes people all look like they work in a car wash.
j621d
223 Posts
I've had the mandated scrubs, and it didn't bother me until housekeeping was allowed to wear them. Since that time (over 5 years ago) things have changed and housekeeping has their own uniforms, but not scrubs.
As for fit, I used the scrub top, but bought solid color pants from an online store (not a uniform store). The cost was about the same and was a better quality. The other reason I went this route is because I am very tall and need at least a 34" inseam.
Ruby Vee, BSN
17 Articles; 14,031 Posts
i actually prefer this practice. it helps the patients, families, doctors, and staff to know who works were and what they do.
the patients and families don't understand the color coding unless you give them a scorecard and they're appropriate enough to look at it. as far as doctors -- you work with them every day. they ought to get to know you . . . your name, whether you're a nurse, a secretary, a cna or whatever. and other staff -- unless you're floating (or they are) you ought to get to know each other as well.
if the problem is that everyone these days is wearing scrubs and the patient cannot tell who their nurse is -- get everyone that doesn't do direct care out of scrubs. put a big, bright red or green or orange or whatever banner on their nametag proclaiming "rn" or "lpn" or "cna" or whatever. introduce yourself to the patient and family as many times as it takes. "hi, i'm ruby. i'll be your nurse today. please let me know if you need pain medication or have questions about your care. mildred is your cna today, and she will help you with your bath, refill your water glass and bring you your meals." and repeat that as often as needed.
color coding is just one more way upper management tries to keep their foot on our necks, and i'm firmly against it.
RPN_2012
259 Posts
Our facility has Lavender Scrubs......Yuck!!!
OMG!!!
I feel for you!
red for housekeeping
bright red? Poor people!
All White head to toe. Ick!! They claim eventually they will change to a color voted on by staff but that won't be anytime soon.
OMG! If I had to wear pure white head to toe, I would run away, literally. I don't wear white. Period. Ever. My weding dress will probably be champagne, ivory, or the like, but not clean white, it's awful on me.
What it up with the managemet...
CrazierThanYou
1,917 Posts
Our hospital switched to color coding for SOME staff. There was no voting, the hospital decided. Nurses wear navy blue or white. CNAs can wear either the ugliest gray you've ever seen or the ugliest burgundy you've ever seen. Health unit coordinators wear black. You buy your own scrubs and the policy is strictly enforced. All other staff can wear whatever they want.
ibme
90 Posts
Thank god I don't have to wear a certain color at my hospital! I am so picky with the colors out there and I can't stand that baby/ceil blue color- and I know w/ my luck that is probably what they would pick for RN's!
I don't think patients would even realize that the nurses are certain colors than the rest of the staff unless told...they usually have so many other things on their minds and don't pay attention to our uniform colors..but, it is good in "theory".
noyesno, MSN, APRN, NP
834 Posts
The hospital I had my first nursing school clinical at mandated the nurses wear certain scrubs half way through our semester there. The color pattern was the exact same as our student uniforms. The doctors kept asking us questions, haha.
kat7ap
526 Posts
My hospital transitioned to color coded scrubs a couple months before I was hired on. They did not give any reimbursement for new uniforms.
RNs and LVNs in Royal Blue
Techs/CNAs in Gray
PT/OT/ST in Navy Blue
Housekeeping in Green
Cardio-pulmonary in Burgundy
Unit Secretary in Red
Food Services in Black and White
Supposedly this is to "increase patient satisfaction". Seems like half the time any staff member doing patient care is just a "nurse" to them anyway! However you can ask were they wearing blue or gray? Lots of the nurses I work with say the patients (most are elderly) really enjoyed the printed scrubs and a gave them some stimulation to their day. I'm neutral on the issue. I do agree it does help the staff keep a more professional look (most of the time) but unfortunately takes away our individuality.
SandraCVRN
597 Posts
Originally Posted by SandraCVRN
The worse thing, is the first impression I got from them was prisioner jumpsuits.