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.

[LibraSunCNM, BSN, MSN, CNM]

I personally like single-color scrubs (outside of pediatrics) because I think it looks more professional, but I disagree with blanket policies, particularly about the color itself. If I look washed out in maroon or drab, communist-era gray, I don't want to wear it every dang day and feel I should be able to make that decision. I also wholeheartedly agree that putting each specialty in its own color will have zero effect on patients' ability to distinguish who's who. Clear communication of your name and role whenever you interact with a patient should be sufficient. I'm curious about the poster who said they don't think scrubs are appropriate on most units---what would you have nurses wear instead?

[JKL33]

Every January I get 5 pairs of navy Wonderwink unisex scrubs, five white tee shirts and a new pair of funky Danskos. Boom and done! My shoes and my socks add the spunk. Well, that and my sparkly personality.

Well that sounds rather familiar [

I don't feel oppressed by this, either. But I'm pretty sure I would feel pretty negative about it all if I had to wear one of a couple of commonly-selected colors that are my absolute most-hated. There are way more important things in life and work isn't a fashion show and color of scrubs has nothing to do with taking excellent care of people. Still...tan scrubs (for example) should be banned from existence and despite the previously mentioned truths I wouldn't feel good about being told to wear them so that people are able to tell I'm an RN.

There's also additional context in that some places were busy taking "RN" off name badges at the same time they were giving the above ^ rationale for instituting color-coding. Which once again created a situation of the "whys" not adding up.

...make a stupid move, get a stupid reaction...

[Ruixi13, BSN, RN]

I have less issue with the colors than I do being given cheap material scrubs... feels like death against the skin and usually sizing is poor.

[Leader25, ASN, BSN, RN]

We have been though every color of uniform/scrubs,and white for all,white for some units,color coded to units,cutsie cartoons, to nothing on them.

Soon the new color will be announced and you have to buy again even though you have brand new scrubs at home.

The reasoning is bogus ,just like the return to all white years ago ,because the "patients did not know who the nurse was".I am surprised they did not bring caps back.The whites today were more transparent and many a nurse bending down was ogled by visitors .

Scrubs color coded to each unit were nice,and and several choices were allowed,but no more.

[FurBabyMom, MSN, RN]

(...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?).

On a very TECHNICAL level, the uniforms floor nurses wear are just that uniforms, not actually scrubs. They are not laundered by the hospital, they are not a specific material/composition/fit or lack thereof.

My "scrubs" from school, being an assistant, being a floor nurse are nothing like what I wear in the OR. In that they cover my body, sure. Beyond that, no. There are no elastic waistbands, no wearing them in to work and home, the tops are in no way tailored (sleeves, cut of the v neck). Furthermore, we are not allowed to wear whatever jacket option fits the hospital dress code. If I'm going to a class, sure. Otherwise, no. There are requirements about linting or lack thereof for surgical scrubs. Those don't matter for floor staff.

And, no. Surgical scrubs should not be worn outside of the OR and other procedure areas. In our hospital, the burn unit also wears them. Can nurses borrow a set if needed (unfortunate patient fluid event), sure. Otherwise, no.

[FurBabyMom, MSN, RN]

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.

On a technical level, uniform "scrubs" aren't actually scrubs. They're uniforms that mimic scrubs. If we want to get very technical, there are linting (or not) requirements, and actual scrubs are hospital laundered not staff laundered. There is a huge difference in materials, fit, design, etc. I'vr worn both as I've worked the floor and been an OR nurse.

[FurBabyMom, MSN, RN]

I also think it would be helpful for the staff members to be able to tell who is what by the color of their clothing especially in an emergency situation.

I work in the OR of a Level 1 trauma center. We're all dressed the same - attending surgeons, surgical residents, anesthesia techs, anesthesia residents, CRNAs, anesthesiologists, nurses, scrub techs. We make it work with very little confusion. I do very proactively ask people who they are and what they're doing in our room.

Introductions ARE part of our routine though. You know enough people in the OR to figure out who is a fellow or resident and who an attending is or isn't. Or you just ask. The people are more limited for us.

The only time we have people dressed in a manner other than acceptable OR clothes or bunny suits are when we have a seriously critically ill patient - too sick for the flight team or ED staff to hand off to anesthesia in PACU.

I will say that there is probably something, more so, to the professionalism argument than the patients will know who you are argument. They refined our policy from allowing hospital t-shirts to not allowing them anymore within the last year. Some people wore things until they were beyond wearable...which does make the organization look less professional.

For all of you complaining about cost - save the receipt and write it off on your taxes.

[tinyRN72, BSN]

I am also curious about the question of scrubs not being appropriate outside or OR or specialty units. I honestly can't imagine what else I would wear to work. I am a floor nurse on a CVSD and though I have had very few occations when I actually "wore" body fluids, I certainly wouldn't want to be in anything else if a mishap happened. On the few occations when it did, I was thankful that it wasn't on clothing that I might have worn anywhere other than work. You certainly have my curiousity peaked with that comment.

[tinyRN72, BSN]

My opinion is that I hate having to wear the same color every single shift, year in and year out. I find it personally boring! I also find that the patients still don't know who is who -- they aren't given a color coding chart upon arrival, after all! I have had a few comments, always from elderly patients, that nurses "should all wear solid white". I would almost have to quit my job if that were the case because I have not yet found disposable scrubs and I would never be able to keep all white scrubs clean enough. And, all ladies would have to agree that this could lead to some really embarrassing moments. One time in a code, a fellow nurse was doing compressions, and let's say that the motion was causing a problem. Because of the navy scrubs, she was able to be pretty discreet about this, but imagine if she had on white pants!

On the other hand, I have had many patients tell me that they miss the "fun" scrub tops that nurses used to wear. These poor soles must have been in hospitals too much because they said that it helped with the boredom of being stuck in the hospital. They liked to see what everyone would come in with - pretty flowers, heart designs, cartoons or whatever. It sort of gave them something to look forward to each day and it gave them something to talk about.

At any rate, while I really just wish that I could switch it up and have some pretty pink or teal scrubs, I don't expect it to change anytime soon.

[neonn965]

On a technical level, uniform "scrubs" aren't actually scrubs. They're uniforms that mimic scrubs. If we want to get very technical, there are linting (or not) requirements, and actual scrubs are hospital laundered not staff laundered. There is a huge difference in materials, fit, design, etc. I'vr worn both as I've worked the floor and been an OR nurse.

I am aware. I wear both depending on the day, in my NICU we have the option to wear our own scrubs or surgical scrubs from L&D. The post that I originally quoted was referring to scrubs on a general level, or at least I presume. So as far as semantics go, I certainly understand the difference, but that's not really relevant to the OP.

[SpankedInPittsburgh, DNP, RN]

I hate to say it but I'm for mandatory scrubs and a stricter dress code in general. Too many nurses wear to tight, old or cartoonish scrubs. Its hard to represent a profession when every time some nurses bend over you get to see their tramp stamp and color of thong on display or their scrubs are older then some of their coworkers or they look like an advertisement for toon time. I wear black Carhartt scrubs exclusively and recommend them highly. They wear well, look good and don't stain

[emmjayy, BSN, RN]

My hospital requires color coded scrubs and I like it a lot. Everyone wears solid colored scrubs - nurses are navy, RT is bright blue, speech pathologists are purple, PT is green, OT is brown, etc. It's nice because I don't have to think about anything when I'm buying scrubs or getting dressed.... everything matches and I just need to get whatever is comfortable. I know that patients don't really notice who wears what, but I find the color coding system to be VERY helpful when I see people going into my patient's room. If I've been waiting for PT/SLP/whoever to see my patient and I notice someone going into their room, based on the scrub color I know whether or not I need to hoof it down there and explain what I need them for/be available to help out.