Hi everyone! I am a new Lpn, I have been working for 3 months in a LTC facility. The facility has a strict no scrubs policy. All nursing staff, housekeepers, kitchen, and activities staff must wear matching khakis and a uniform top with the company's name on the front. The reasoning behind this being that everyone must work equally as a team to provide resident care and nobody should feel inferior to another member of the care team. I am asking for your opinions on this.. I think it's ridiculous. I am young, 22 years old, but most people guess I am 17 or 18. Because of this, when resident's families come in looking for the charge nurse (me), they typically mistake me for a nurse's aid or other staff member because of our matching uniforms and because I'm a lot younger than my coworkers and don't "look old enough to be a nurse". I I feel that if nursing could wear scrubs, resident's families or other facilities could easily distinguish us from other staff members. We also are not allowed to have titles on our name tags (lpn, cna, etc) which doesn't make any of this easier. It's just frustrating sometimes when people can't tell I'm a nurse because of my "uniform". Not to mention it's confusing for families who come in looking for a nurse, the only way they know I'm a nurse is if im behind my cart. Opinions please??
While I do agree with the company's reasoning behind it, I still believe that nursing staff should have something (different uniform color maybe?) to distinguish them from other staff members..
In our ED, techs wear cranberry scrubs, nurses ceil blue, doctors navy blue. I still walk into a room and the patient says to me "well, doctor…" (I'm male, and I'm sure part of this is gender bias on the part of the patient.) I remind them multiple times I am their nurse, it says "RN" on my badge, and the patient will still call me doctor. I have seen techs called "nurse" multiple times, even though they are in cranberry colored scrubs and it say "PCT" on their badges.
Uniforms and uniform colors really don't matter that much to patients and families.
I don't know, I need my scrubs. I need pockets, lots of them. I also need breathable, comfortable material that is easy to move in. I guess if there isn't much of a physical aspect to the job that would be one thing.
It wasn't uncommon for me to walk 10 miles during a 12 hour shift, and transferring, bathing, lifting, etc. makes for a not very glamorous me.
I kid you not there were days that I would be dripping in sweat with a towel around my neck to absorb it.
I am not there to be pretty, or wrinkle free. I am there to take really good care of my patients and make sure their needs are met. I promise not to have poop stains on me, but that is about it.
I'm late but it drew my attention! When I first started out as an LPN I was 19 (same job now 21) at my facility we have the same type of dress code. I say just give it time once the family and doctors see you there doing your job they'll eventually know you're the nurse in charge regardless of the "young look" it's frustrating but non the less it happens.
Specializes in Psych, Addictions, SOL (Student of Life).
I think I work for the same company who recwntly bout out the old company. While the nursing staff still wear scrubs we have heard that new scrubs are coming with the company name on the left breast with the company slogan on the back. Hey if they want to buy my scrubs more power to them. What you are talking about is called branding and is designed to keep the name of the company/facility in front of customers (patients and Families) as much as possible. Capitalism at it's finest.
When I was working assisted living the company I worked for had a no scrubs policy. It was khaki, navy, or black slacks with a professional looking top. One of the med techs kept upsetting people with her cleavage though so we ended up with polos. I do direct support again now. Only real dress code is clean, covered, closed toed shoes, and keep your shoes on. At points in direct cate my hair has been blue, teal, white, and hot pink.
Specializes in Psych, Corrections, Med-Surg, Ambulatory.
My thoughts exactly. Nothing wrong with having a mandated uniform to keep people from coming to work looking slovenly. (And scrubs have gotten so hideous! People can't choose colours and prints to save their souls.) But the no name tags? I think the facility is engaging in deliberate deception. Trying to make it look like there are more nurses than there are.
Your wanting to wear a name tag is not about how proud you are; it's about the public's right to know who is providing their care. I think it's worth checking if there are any laws in your state about that sort of thing.
Specializes in Psych, Corrections, Med-Surg, Ambulatory.
If everyone wears the same uniform, it gives the illusion that the facility is better staffed than it actually is. It has nothing to do with a "Kumbayah, we're all in this together" sentiment.
My thoughts exactly. Nothing wrong with having a mandated uniform to keep people from coming to work looking slovenly. (And scrubs have gotten so hideous! People can't choose colours and prints to save their souls.) But the no name tags? I think the facility is engaging in deliberate deception. Trying to make it look like there are more nurses than there are.
Your wanting to wear a name tag is not about how proud you are; it's about the public's right to know who is providing their care. I think it's worth checking if there are any laws in your state about that sort of thing.
but it drew my attention! When I first started out as an LPN I was 19 (same job now 21) at my facility we have the same type of dress code. I say just give it time once the family and doctors see you there doing your job they'll eventually know you're the nurse in charge regardless of the "young look" it's frustrating but non the less it happens.
psu_213, BSN, RN
3,878 Posts
In our ED, techs wear cranberry scrubs, nurses ceil blue, doctors navy blue. I still walk into a room and the patient says to me "well, doctor…" (I'm male, and I'm sure part of this is gender bias on the part of the patient.) I remind them multiple times I am their nurse, it says "RN" on my badge, and the patient will still call me doctor. I have seen techs called "nurse" multiple times, even though they are in cranberry colored scrubs and it say "PCT" on their badges.
Uniforms and uniform colors really don't matter that much to patients and families.