are mandatory scrub color-coding in hospitals the wave of the future?

[kelligracie]

The hospital in Twin Falls, Idaho has recently gone to a color-coding system. Every position is color-coded and everyone MUST wear the color assigned to their position. This cannot even vary in shade. Is this how it is in the rest of the country? How about the rest of Idaho? Do you see this as a trend or something here to stay? Pros and cons?

Thank you for your input.

[PMFB-RN, RN]

I notice that many of these hospitals seem to have adopted color coded scrubs very recently. It is a symptom of the oversupply of nurses that was deliberately created. The tools used where tax payer money extorted to vastly expand and create new nursing programs, and the absolutely false "nursing shortage" propaganda.

They created the over supply in order to be able to crack down on nurses, our pay, our benefits, and our autonomy.

I am curious if in any of these hospitals with color coded scrubs if the physicians are also subjected to the same demeaning policies?

[CT Pixie, BSN, RN]

The hospital I did my clinicals at went from any color scrubs you wanted to navy blue tops with the hospital logo and a huge RN on it w/either navy or white bottoms for the RNs as soon as they got Magnet status.

I honestly don't know if the other departments went to a mandated color.

[PMFB-RN, RN]

The hospital I did my clinicals at went from any color scrubs you wanted to navy blue tops with the hospital logo and a huge RN on it w/either navy or white bottoms for the RNs as soon as they got Magnet status.

Its no accident that the hospital waited for the Magnet surveyors to leave before springing the new uniform on the nurses.

[CT Pixie, BSN, RN]

Its no accident that the hospital waited for the Magnet surveyors to leave before springing the new uniform on the nurses.

That may be so. The decision for RNs to have a specific color was put in place prior to the surveryors coming and the color was voted on by the nurses prior to the surveyors also. However, the surveyors were there during the transition of any scrubs to the mandated navy blue for RN's. Some of the RN's (new hires) decided to just get the new mandated ones and wear them early over waiting until the exact date it was offically to start and others just went and got them early to avoid the 'rush'. And there were quite a few RNs on all the floors wearing them so its not as if the surveyors didn't see them.

As a matter of fact, a surveryor had asked me a question (believing I was a staff RN). It wasn't until I fully turned around and faced her, that she realized my navy blue scrubs (my college is affiliated with the hospital) didn't have the hospital logo nor the RN on the top..it had my school logo. Her exact words, 'oh, I thought you were a staff RN because of the navy scrubs...sorry". So she had obviously noticed that RNs were wearing navy blue scrubs.

[CardiacKittyRN]

Our hospital systems used the color coded scrubs. RTs, PTs, pharmacy techs, lab, housekeeping, and unit secretaries through out the system all wear a specific color. Then RNs wear a floor specific color... I'm on a cardiac unit and we can only wear red or black. Medsurg is navy blue, ICU is gray, L&D/nursery wear pink & brown or light blue & brown & have a special badge, and ER nurses wear black.. I like the system!

[calivianya, BSN, RN]

I like color coding, but I am a pretty new nurse. The argument that you know who works where may be great if you're good with faces. I'm horrible with faces. I'll know the people who work my department regularly but I don't know anyone who works in different units in my hospital. This is a problem because I am floated often because our ICU just about staffs the whole hospital - I worked on four different units last week, including my own. It was a blessing to know who was another RN that I could ask when I needed to know something nursing-related.

RNs' badges do say RN on them, so I get the argument about putting titles on badges - but that means I have to stare intensely at a perfect stranger's chest to figure out what they do, and that to me is ten million times more awkward than just being able to pinpoint what they do by the color of their scrubs. I just feel like nobody likes their boobs being intensely scrutinized in a non-sexual situation. Or maybe that's just me.

There is a big part of me that wishes scrub colors were standardized nationally, so at least I wouldn't have to buy new scrubs every time I got a new job. My main job has either solid white or solid ceil blue for RNs and my secondary job has either solid white or a white top and hunter green pants. I was not pleased with having to buy new scrubs just for a PRN job.

[Here.I.Stand, BSN, RN]

I disagree. I think that nursing is a profession and trying to take a more uniform (haha) approach is understandable.. So long as it's practical and there are reasons for it.

I see what you're saying, but most professions don't wear uniforms. The attire worn by lawyers, teachers, engineers, is not uniform. Even the white coat associated w/ the MD is not exclusive to the MD; on my unit alone, the white coat is also worn by the pharmacists, clinical coordinators, and RDs.

[NICURN29]

We recently started color-coding, and I am a fan. I work in a NICU, so this has meant giving up my fun, kid-friendly scrubs, but I do like the look and the ability to identify who works in what position.

Our nurses can wear royal, Navy, or white, or we can combine the white with one of the blues. Our scrub tops and jackets are embroidered with the hospital logo. We don't get an allowance, but we did get a year of lead time before the switch was made permanent, and the hospital negotiated discounted prices with two local uniform suppliers. They also have uniform sales by these two suppliers several times each year at each of our five campuses and offer payroll deductions for payment. Even the more veteran nurses have gotten used to the idea and are fine with it. I do like that I don't fel the urge to buy fun new scrubs like I used to!

[PMFB-RN, RN]

We recently started color-coding, and I am a fan. I work in a NICU, so this has meant giving up my fun, kid-friendly scrubs, but I do like the look and the ability to identify who works in what position.

Our nurses can wear royal, Navy, or white, or we can combine the white with one of the blues. Our scrub tops and jackets are embroidered with the hospital logo. We don't get an allowance, but we did get a year of lead time before the switch was made permanent, and the hospital negotiated discounted prices with two local uniform suppliers. They also have uniform sales by these two suppliers several times each year at each of our five campuses and offer payroll deductions for payment. Even the more veteran nurses have gotten used to the idea and are fine with it. I do like that I don't fel the urge to buy fun new scrubs like I used to!

I really don't like the idea of being told what I have to wear like a child. But worse to me is that they mandate your uniform but do not help you pay for it.

I am curious as to what the justification your hospital used to mandate uniforms?

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

I really don't like the idea of being told what I have to wear like a child. But worse to me is that they mandate your uniform but do not help you pay for it.

I am curious as to what the justification your hospital used to mandate uniforms?

I agree. I don't like being told what to wear. Nor do I see any good justification for it. Our hospital said that the patients wanted to be able to tell which person who entered his room was his nurse. Even with a guide to the color coding posted prominently on the wall and given to each patient and family member, they still don't know what color scrubs the nurse wears. Worse, they don't know who "their" nurse or CNA is . . . they used to be able to say "the one with the Sponge Bob scrubs." But everyone is wearing solid color, color coded scrubs. The enormous name tags we used to have that proclaimed our title in four inch high letters is gone.

As for STAFF liking to know who is who -- why in the world wouldn't you just get to know your co-workers so you KNOW who is who?

[thenightnurse456]

As for STAFF liking to know who is who -- why in the world wouldn't you just get to know your co-workers so you KNOW who is who?

I think it's more if you float to an unfamiliar unit or you are a new employee or a student.

[NICURN29]

Quite honestly, on the list of things I have to worry about, whether or not I am being made to wear a certain uniform is pretty far down the list. I am fortunate to have a job I really enjoy in a health network that I am proud to work in. If they want me to wear a specific uniform, I am happy to do so. It's not like the nursing staff are being singled out and told what to wear...it's network-wide. I just don't understand what the big deal is.