Mandatory Uniforms

[StudentRNmt]

What is everyone's opinions on having to wear mandatory uniforms? Yes I think we should all have to wear scrubs, but does your hospital decide what color and patterns you where? Do you like that there is a mandatory uniform? Do you wish that you could where whatever scrubs you want to wear?

At the hospital that is near me each specialty has a different color that they have to wear. This was changed about 8 years ago, before this change the nursing staff could where whatever scrubs they wanted to wear. Now RNs wears solid navy blue, CNAs were solid burgundy/maroon, RT wears solid green, etc.

[chare]

As for scrubs, I don't understand this love affair with them. Nor do I think they are appropriate outside of the OR and a few specialty units (e.g., burns, CTICU, etc.)

As for color coding staff, I think this is absolutely ridiculous.

I have now worked in three separate facilities that have done this, and with very few exceptions, patients and their families still don't know who is who, or what their role is without being told, my personal opinion is that this is more a out controlling the staff than it is patient satisfaction.

If staff would introduce themselves when they enter the patient's room, as they were no doubt taught, this would not be an issue.

[mtmkjr, BSN]

In our hospital, all uniformed staff, no matter what department, wear a basic color theme of black, red or gray (white as accent only) I think it looks neat, clean and professional.

[JKL33]

I confess to liking them. But then, our color code happened to allow me to wear scrubs I would freely choose. I do feel kind of bad for others for whom that isn't the case.

I agree with chare about staff control and I don't like them for that reason. OTOH, my opinion is that color coding has significantly decreased a few work attire issues that I personally felt did not convey a professional appearance. [Yes, I always kept these opinions to myself because what others wear is NOMB. It's just that I was secretly happy to see some of it come to an end.]

[psu_213, BSN, RN]

In my hospital system, each specialty wears a certain color scrubs (nurse=white or light blue, techs=green, radiology=black, I think). The initials of the hospital group are monogrammed on the scrubs. It appears other hospitals/hospital groups also require logos, monograms, etc. I am fortunate to be in a position now where I wear business casual, not scrubs; but, TBH, I really didn't care all that much about having a dress code. You could argue that it is about the hospital trying to have more control over the employees, a power trip, etc. Whatever, they are scrubs, didn't really matter all that much to me.

[quiltynurse56, LPN, LVN]

When I have had to wear specific color scrubs, I actually liked it. Just went in and bought several sets in the color I needed. Pretty much in and out and didn't have to decide what I wanted.

[Kallie3006, ADN]

I've worked at a hospital where the nurses, CNA, RT ect had a set color, and a hospital where we can wear any color as long as its solid. I personally love being able to wear whatever color scheme I want, but it was nice to know who was what by color, especially on a unit you're not familiar with.

[BedsideNurse]

As for scrubs, I don't understand this love affair with them. Nor do I think they are appropriate outside of the OR and a few specialty units (e.g., burns, CTICU, etc.)

As for color coding staff, I think this is absolutely ridiculous.

I have now worked in three separate facilities that have done this, and with very few exceptions, patients and their families still don't know who is who, or what their role is without being told, my personal opinion is that this is more a out controlling the staff than it is patient satisfaction.

If staff would introduce themselves when they enter the patient's room, as they were no doubt taught, this would not be an issue.

You are right about the color coding. If nurses are relegated to all white the older patients seem to know who the nurses are, but aside from that, patients and families still don't know who is who.

(...You really don't think scrubs look appropriate outside the OR or specialty units? Hmmm. I'm curious about that. 20 years ago this might have seemed to be the case, but now almost everyone in the hospital world wears scrubs these days, don't they?).

[DowntheRiver]

My facility is switching to color coding based on profession in January 2019. Their reasoning? "Studies show that patients are able to better identify healthcare provider roles when they are [color coded]."

We were given some color choices to vote on and some bright blue color was the winner. However, I don't know a single nurse in my area who voted for this blue color. Literally every person voted for a different color. I think they just assigned a color and then made it look like we voted for it.

This color does not look good on me AT ALL but I am not going to quit the job I love over this. So far, we have been told that we won't get a uniform stipend and some of my co-workers work 5 days a week so it is frustrating having to shell out $300-$400 for new uniforms when you have perfectly good scrubs.

[neonn965]

As for scrubs, I don't understand this love affair with them. Nor do I think they are appropriate outside of the OR and a few specialty units (e.g., burns, CTICU, etc.)

This surprises me. I don't think I've ever heard anyone say this before. Just wondering why you feel this way and what you would have nurses wear in the inpatient setting? Not being snarky, just genuinely curious.

[morte, LPN, LVN]

My facility is switching to color coding based on profession in January 2019. Their reasoning? "Studies show that patients are able to better identify healthcare provider roles when they are [color coded]."

We were given some color choices to vote on and some bright blue color was the winner. However, I don't know a single nurse in my area who voted for this blue color. Literally every person voted for a different color. I think they just assigned a color and then made it look like we voted for it.

This color does not look good on me AT ALL but I am not going to quit the job I love over this. So far, we have been told that we won't get a uniform stipend and some of my co-workers work 5 days a week so it is frustrating having to shell out $300-$400 for new uniforms when you have perfectly good scrubs.

I am presuming you are not union??? do you work for a state sponsored facility?

[neonn965]

Aside from the fact that our color is white, I don't mind it at all. I do wish our uniform color was black. I think it makes the most sense by far for nursing staff from a utility standpoint. Respiratory and radiology wear black/navy where I work which I don't quite understand because we are the ones who are far more likely to come into contact with blood and other body fluids. The only benefit to white is that it can be bleached. And fortunately I work in a peds specialty where we can wear any color/print top so for me the issue is only my white pants.