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]

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.

In my view if they are forcing you to wear the uniform they picked out for you they should be paying for it. Your view that you are fortunate to have a job is exactly how they want you to feel (and the reason they created the current glut of nurses using the false "nursing shortage" propaganda). I tend to think the hospital is very lucky I have decided to work for them and they should make reasonable accommodations to keep my services.

Network wide? So what color shirt / ties are the physicians forced to wear? Are female physicians given the choice pants or skirt? If so what color skirt is permitted?

[NICURN29]

The physicians group owned by the network also has a business-casual uniform, and there has been a standardization of lab coats and embroidery/logos.

[LynM75]

Where I work, we have an old outdated color system. The CNA wears a specific color and transport has a specific colored shirt. Nurses and resp wear whatever, but so does housekeeping. Hmm, how confusing is that? We do have color coded job tags that hang below our badge which can be helpful, but not everyone wears thiers at all times. That is frustrating!

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

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

there are people who float every day. They are called float nurses, and most of the float nurses I know have a pretty good idea who's who in each department, although they can't always tell you much else about them, including their names.

New employees should make it a priority to get to know their colleagues.

And students . . . . why should a hospital force all of it's staff into low quality, expensive uniforms in chosen colors just to benefit guests who will be here six weeks and gone?

[DoGoodThenGo]

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?

Historically once laundry appliances and or services became common place hospitals and other facilities that employed nurses stopped offering laundry services of uniforms and perhaps other personal items.

Back in the days of whites and caps few if any places offered laundry services for nursing staff, but that didn't stop them from mandating uniforms and yes caps. There was a reason why you always found one or more dry cleaners or laundries located near any hospital, nursing school or anyplace that employed nurses. If you collect or find vintage nursing uniforms of a certain era you'll find many have laundry/name tags or marks inside.

Later has washing machines and or dryers became common in homes and or Laundromats the need was further reduced if not eliminated for offering laundry services.

Biggest change occurred when fabrics switched from mostly cotton to blends if not outright totally man made fibers (imagine wearing a uniform made of 100% Nylon or Dacron for eight hours ). Those "wash and wear" fabrics couple with tumble dryers eliminated much of the ironing required for "starched whites".

Only nursing uniforms routinely laundered by the facility were scrubs or dresses. This however was back when those things were restricted to maternity/L&D, OR and the units. General floor/staff nurses had to fend for themselves.

As one recalls many jobs mandate uniforms but either require you to pay for them outright or take the cost out of one's pay. Everything from airline hostesses to policemen.

[PMFB-RN, RN]

Back in the days of whites and caps few if any places offered laundry services for nursing staff, but that didn't stop them from mandating uniforms.

Yes I understand that amd it is exactly my point. Back in the day it was normal for hospitals to mandate uniforms. Since then the profession has evolved and advanced. The (contrary to EBP) move back to mandated uniforms is moving backwards for nurses.

[NOADLS]

Most places I've seen only have specific colors for housekeepers. Coincidentally, I've found that wearing the same colors as housekeeping works out quite nicely. Either no one asks you for anything and when they do, they get a surprised look when I say "I'll pass that on to housekeeping."

[DoGoodThenGo]

Yes I understand that amd it is exactly my point. Back in the day it was normal for hospitals to mandate uniforms. Since then the profession has evolved and advanced. The (contrary to EBP) move back to mandated uniforms is moving backwards for nurses.

Well some of that might just be push back that things were getting just a bit to sloppy and free. With everyone and their mother running around in their PJs it does become difficult to tell who is who and what is what. What started with ending "scrub envy" by allowing all nursing staff to wear the things drifted so far down the line that housekeeping and almost it seemed everyone that worked in a place was wearing scrubs. Often with no rhyme or reason as to who is who or what is what.

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

Well some of that might just be push back that things were getting just a bit to sloppy and free. With everyone and their mother running around in their PJs it does become difficult to tell who is who and what is what. What started with ending "scrub envy" by allowing all nursing staff to wear the things drifted so far down the line that housekeeping and almost it seemed everyone that worked in a place was wearing scrubs. Often with no rhyme or reason as to who is who or what is what.

And if that is the problem, just mandate that everyone and there mother don't wear scrubs to work unless they are nurses.

[PMFB-RN, RN]

Well some of that might just be push back that things were getting just a bit to sloppy and free. With everyone and their mother running around in their PJs it does become difficult to tell who is who and what is what. What started with ending "scrub envy" by allowing all nursing staff to wear the things drifted so far down the line that housekeeping and almost it seemed everyone that worked in a place was wearing scrubs. Often with no rhyme or reason as to who is who or what is what.

If individuals are looking sloppy then they should be dealt with. House keepers wearing scrubs? I am happy I have never worked in a hospital where that would happen.

If there are problems they can and should be solved.

[BuckyBadgerRN, ASN, RN]

My facility color codes and provides two sets of scrubs per year. They are very basic Cherokee unisex style, but we are welcome to purchase our own, as long as they are the required shade =)

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?

[katnurs]

yeah I feel ya. in my hospital actually, were color coded and on our scrub are embedded words. Like registered nurse, and we wear dark blue. for CNAs they wear light green,for respiratory therapists they wear gray. and yeah, patients dont know whos who either. but it helps the staff a ton.