No more fun scrubs

WoosahRN, MSN, RN · Feb 23, 2012

My chain of hospitals did this two years ago. I work in the children's hospital and we are attached to the general hospital so we had to do it too. At first I was NOT HAPPY about this. I mean, we're a children's hospital! No fun scrubs? We even tried negotiating and asking if we could wear the assigned color pants and whatever top we wanted. No such luck.

Now don't tell my managers but after two years I have really come to kind of like it. I work a second PRN job at another hospital and most days when I work there, I just wear my blues because a) it's easier, and b) I now can't bring myself to wear printed tops (when I do wear other scrubs they might be different colors but are usually solids). Also, I have to admit I really hated not knowing who everyone was. Especially as a new person, I had no idea who that person in my patient's room was (RD, RT, CNA, Child life, etc). When I get back to my FT job, I have to admit it does look more professional. That said, I would never come down on someone for wanting to wear what they wanted....I was once that person. So hopefully people can get off their soapbox and let someone vent about not being allowed to wear what they want (we all have our opinions).

I will say though, that even when I point out the colored scrubs to patient's families, they almost always state they never even noticed. AND the kids are smart enough to figure out that they don't like the people in blue (RNs), or that the green people (RTs) are there to suction them. This was one of our arguments against the uniforms but alas. Also, we were not given any allowance. At first they were going to give us an allowance based off of status (FT or PT) but then pushed back the date and said that since they were giving us a year notice we would have to "save up" for them.

WoosahRN, MSN, RN · Feb 23, 2012

I will say that because we are a locked down unit in Peds we are especially careful about identifying ourselves and making sure the parents and patient's feel comfortable with who is in their room. We are all very good about introducing ourselves and writing names of everyone on the board but this still didn't sway the argument against uniforms. I think it was mainly because of the adult side but they wanted all their hospitals to "match". Also, what is the point of it if they don't have some kind of guide for the families to reference to?

allnurses Guide · Feb 23, 2012

Been this way here for a very long time. I have no problem with it. I think it looks more professional. However, we get a pretty generous yearly allowance and can either buy scrubs from our hospital "store" or buy them on our own and bring them in to be embroidered. They give us a lot of choices and let us having accenting colors. No restrictions on shoe colors.

I agree that prints look unprofessional. They also seem to fade quickly, which looks just terrible.

NurseLoveJoy88, ASN, RN · Feb 23, 2012

I prefer one color per discipline. I think it looks more professional.

So do I. I rarely wear printed scrubs.

littlegreenfrog · Feb 23, 2012

The patients pay absolutely no attention to the color of scrubs. . .but I find it helps ME a lot figure out quickly who I am dealing with. I like it because people float around and I know who is a CNA, RN, PT, pharm tech, RT, etc. I don't mind wearing navy - I'm just glad it's a nice, DARK color. if I had to wear all white I would be ******. Also, it has saved me a lot of $$ because I used to shop for new cute scrubs all of the time, now I have 4 sets of navy scrubs and that is it.

Jenni811, RN · Feb 23, 2012

Our nurses all went navy blue too. all disciplines are one color. some patients like it cause you can tell who does what. I hated it at first, i thought we all looked like walking robots....all looked the same. But we all got used to it eventually and it wasn't so bad. we all style it up with different shoes. They put restrictions on shoes we can wear, but we all found away around it.

For example...we can only wear white, brown, black or navy shoes. I bought metalic navy danskos and one of my coworkers bought the snake skin navy danskos.

honestly...we were all furious when we found out, but it has all worked out for everyone i think. We all do look very professional.

The only exception was the pediatrics unit. They get to wear navy blue bottoms and white tops with design. (any design with a white background). Oh...and OB they still wear their same light purple scrubs they always wore.

PMFB-RN, RN · Feb 23, 2012

It was recently decided at my place of work that the staff is to change to all one color scrubs, for example, RN's are navy blue, PT is royal blue, LPN's are eggplant...and so on.
The hospital thought it would increase patient satisfaction because they would be able to tell what discipline is assisting them by just looking at the color of their scrubs.
The union is up in arms because we are letting the hospital decide what we wear and how do they reimburse us for all the scrubs we already own. The hospital did respond by giving each staff member a predetermined amount of money to use to buy scrubs based on hours worked.
What are some thoughts about changing to one color scrubs? Has it happened at your hospital? Was it well received or fought by the union?
I'm going to miss all my colors, patterns, and prints. I may have to go out and buy hot pink crocs!

*** Wow, you must work in a great hospital. I assume so since your managment must have solved all real problems long before they had time to wast on such sillyness. They are totaly wrong BTW. It will not increase patient satisfaction. They are trying a very, very old idea and expecting different results than all the other hospitals who tried it.

What color do the physicians wear? Do all physicians wear the same color or are they color coded by specialiety?

Sparrowhawk · Feb 23, 2012

At least they're not making you go back to white.....or dresses.....or hats.....just sayin.

PMFB-RN, RN · Feb 23, 2012

Our nurses all went navy blue too. all disciplines are one color.

What color do physicians wear and are they color coded by specialiety or all physicians wear the same color?

GitanoRN, BSN, MSN, RN · Feb 23, 2012

it was recently decided at my place of work that the staff is to change to all one color scrubs, for example, rn's are navy blue, pt is royal blue, lpn's are eggplant...and so on.
the hospital thought it would increase patient satisfaction because they would be able to tell what discipline is assisting them by just looking at the color of their scrubs.
the union is up in arms because we are letting the hospital decide what we wear and how do they reimburse us for all the scrubs we already own. the hospital did respond by giving each staff member a predetermined amount of money to use to buy scrubs based on hours worked.
what are some thoughts about changing to one color scrubs? has it happened at your hospital? was it well received or fought by the union?
i'm going to miss all my colors, patterns, and prints. i may have to go out and buy hot pink crocs!

the one color discipline scrubs took over a couple years ago where i work, as usual at the beginning there were some resistance. however, it all soothed out when it was announced that the facility was paying for 5 scrubs at first, and thereafter a annual allowance would take place. therefore, rn's chose all black the females loved it because and i quote "it made us look a little slimmer" the lpn's chose turquoise, the cna's, ma's, na's chose burgundy, transporters chose brown, housekeeping kept their gray. in addition, in every patients room, there is a picture with models depicting all disciplines as well as in the admission pamphlet. like everything else in life it's a thing of the past, and at present no one talks about it any longer; or pays attention to the new employees if they do. having said that, when nurse's week comes along everyone is encourage to wear the traditional "white" which two weeks prior nursing week, everyone gets an allowance for the "white scrub" in their paycheck if they decide to pay tribute to our week

nurseprnRN, BSN, RN · Feb 23, 2012

i believe that you can't complain that you aren't being taken seriously as a professional if you dress as if you're going to a middle school sleepover.

Lgroce · Feb 23, 2012

I am with you! I just graduated, will be starting next week so I will wear blue for three months, then have to go buy all new scrubs. To top that off, they are not calming colors! To top it off, we can only shop from ONE store! I have $200 in giftcards to another local scrub store and won't even be able to use it....ridiculous!