Mandatory White Uniforms for RN's- your experience

anonymurse · Sep 23, 2009

Doctors won't wear white (except for a loose-fitting lab coat) because white makes everyone look fat. Think about it.

The Navy is the longest-running institution that has a white clothing fetish, and look where they ended up--giving the boot to everyone who looks fat. Think about it.

Maybe white on women gets them recognized as nurses, but white on men gets them recognized as food service or barbers. Or Navy. Think about it.

Oh, and what will LPNs wear? Think about it.

BKCinNOLA · Sep 23, 2009

I don't currently work on a floor with a uniform, but many of the units I have interviewed with do have a uniform policy..

Location: New Orleans, LA

type of nursing: Med/Surg

color of scrubs: White and/or green

rationale: Affiliated University school colors

Location: New Orleans, LA

type of nursing: Oncology

color of scrubs: Navy and/or grey

rationale: I think it was just their floor colors

I also was a nursing assistant on an L&D Unit and they were considering uniforms beyond just the hospital issued ceil blue. Purple for L&D/ante/post partum, pink for NICU I think. But EVERYONE (including MDs, MWs, NAs, RNs, UCs) would be required to wear them, so it was more of a way for a way to distinguish Maternity Units and the rest of the hospital.

Flare, ASN, BSN · Sep 23, 2009

I worked on a unit that had white for a nurse floor color. We all hated it. It stains so easily, you can't wear any different colored clothing underneath cause it shows right through. I understand the reasoning of people picking our nurses in white, but it's time to move on and wear colors that may cheer people up. I don't think white uniforms cheer anyone up.

gigipanurse · Sep 23, 2009

I work in a 248 bed community hospital in Central PA and come Jan 2010...all RN must wear solid navy or solid white. Footwear must be white, black or same color as your uniform and socks much be solid colored...white black or same as your footwear...additionally, footwear must not be mesh, it has to be a wipe-able material...leather or leather-like. LPN's Caribbean blue and CNA's misty green. I am so not happy...I love my Tafford print tops and solid pants with matching Dansko's but, it's hospital wide and the union has done anything that I am aware of to prevent the policy from going into effect come Jan

MikeyBSN · Sep 23, 2009

Our facility has different colors for different units and departments. For example, all of the radiology techs wear one color, CCU nurses where a specific color, as well as ICU. Peds can wear scrubs with bears and pictures. The tele and med/surg nurses wear white. I wore white as a student and didn't like it. We wear blue in the ED, which I think is better. I think darker scrubs should be worn in areas where nurses are going to be exposed to more more blood.

WSU_Ally_RN, BSN, RN · Sep 23, 2009

Where I work, all nurses, regardless of department or whether they are an LPN or RN wear white. This includes all the hospitals that are affiliated with the one I work for. They went to this policy about 5 years ago. Most MD's that are not in dress clothes also wear white, especially the surgeon's. I think they also did some research study with patients, and they said that they know who their nurses are when they are in white. Our PCNA's wear hunter green, respiratory is in navy, phlebotomists in red/grey, etc...

I don't find it that awful... you always know what you are wearing to work, don't have to worry about matching anything. As long as you have a change of clothes in your locker, it's not too bad...

zofran · Sep 23, 2009

I work on a med surg onc floor in wash state. All RN's, LPNs, and CNA's must wear white pants and white shoes. We can wear any top we like, including non scrub type tops but we can't have childish prints.

We were told the same thing you were, they quoted the studies you talked about.

I don't mind it too much but you can always see peoples underwear, some people have had to be counseled for wearing THONGS! :no: Also when you are having your period it is a bit scary. You always know when some are on their period because they refuse to wear the white pants during that time. (sorry, maybe too much info but true ha ha)

So maybe you could suggest just white pants and shoes. I cant imagine wearing a white top too...Oh all the bras we would see! :chuckle

SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN · Sep 23, 2009

Whites. LPNs and RNs. I like it. I wore them anyway, before starting here. No matter how confused or disoriented my patient he instantly knows what my purpose is and trusts me.

miss81, BSN, RN · Sep 23, 2009

This is not an official "research" study, but I find that if I walk into a patients room in navy or green or black etc, (with a big badge that says "RN") the pt and family ask questions and treat me with respect. BUT the times I've worn white all I get asked for is bedpans, water and "tuck me in", "turn off my light." Now don't get me wrong, I still do all this stuff when not in white but I find ppl don't take me as seriously in white. They say, "oh, you must be the nursing assistant" or "You must be a student?" Plus, I will manage to get blood/mucus/feces/urine etc on it so i'd rather not have stains all over me. I do agree that people shouldn't be wearing silly prints either.

aussienurseaz · Sep 23, 2009

Hello All

When I first wored in USA I was really confused with colored scrubs All RN's in Australia wear a uniform that is decided on . Can be a combination of pants, skirts, 3/4 length pants in summer with a shirt/vest/cardigan with hospital logo

The only people who wear scrubs are OR staff and surgeons outside OR

OC_An Khe · Sep 23, 2009

If your facility is mandating what you wear in terms of specific uniforms that should at least pay for them, supply them or give you something towards laundering them.

It is time to move from old sterotypes.