Nurse Uniform Study: All Opinions Welcome!!!

RGN1 · Oct 3, 2006

Most hospitals don't allow belts anymore due to health & safety - risk of scratching patients etc. Mind you I never caught a single patient in the years I wore a belt, but there you go. It didn't ride up either.

The uniform I wear now is comfortable enough but the pockets aren't good enough for all the peripheral stuff we have to carry & our tunic design has these flaps in the back that sit in over your butt after you've bent down & really make your bum look big!! So I'm forever pulling the back flap down again! Personally I prefer my dress, despite the tunic technically being more practical, especially when it's hot!

Our uniforms are high grade cotton designed to be washed at a minimum 60 degrees for infection control purposes.

frenchfroggyAPRN, MSN, LPN, RN, APRN · Oct 9, 2006

Used to wear white (YUK) now wear whatever I want, I like to take the sleeves out and turn them into vests , printed poly/cotton scrub tops. It makes it easier to work, ie. the scrub top doesn't ride up over my belly. I can carry all that I need in my pockets. Hope this helps.

SaraO'Hara · Oct 13, 2006

I (a nurse's aide) wear a dress, and it actually allows a fairly free range of movement. I tried scrubs for about a week, and could not get the feeling out of my head that they would rip every time I bent over or transferred a patient.

Not being in the UK, I've never worn a belt, but any belt that sits properly on the waist and is not too loose shouldn't ride up.

adrienurse, LPN · Oct 13, 2006

I think people are coming the the realization that uniforms of the past were not practical and restricted movement.

In my books, the fabric needs to be lightweight, breathable and durable to washing. I like the new fabrics that have a small percentage of lycra, and i like the ones that tie in the back or look like they're wrap-around. I also like to mix and match pieces and never wear a top and pants that are the same color. If a uniform is not comfortable or functional it is not wearable in my opinion. Oh yeah and lots of pockets with double stitching so that I won't tear the when I get them snagged on things of someone confused yanks on them.

Linda Kaumeyer RN/SD · Oct 13, 2006

Hi I am new to this website. My name is Linda and I am 54. I have only been an RN for 10 years. I am currentle on Social Security disability. I have a liver and pancrease problem due to using Zocor. Back to your topic I love the same kind of uniforms that you do. Even though I am not working, I still wear uniforms sometimes just because they are so comfortable and they also (hum hum) cover a larger tummy buldge.

gitterbug · Oct 15, 2006

Some things I would like in a uniform: larger pockets that have some kind of closing device, not buttons or snaps but velcro? better blend of cotton with stretch and soil resistance treatments. love the brushed cotton fabrics. love the prints but some of them need to be chosen for the soothing effect on patients, scooby doo is not needed in ICU unless it is a peds ICU. elastic in pants needs to be of better quality. Creases in pants do not need to be stitched but a permanent crease would be nice. No matter the style, pants should fall straigh legged, slits in side at ankles with nice finished edges would be nice, would be a little more forgiving when getting into bed with patient during a code. reinforced seams underarms.

Cmariehart · Oct 15, 2006

[EVIL][/EVIL] Hey all!!!!!!!

As far as uniforms go. I have to wear ALL white!!!!!! Which is absolutly horrbile because everything shows up on it. But I can wear any type of jacket I want. I only wish they all had bigger pockets and more of them!!! Have a good day...

RNsRWe, ASN, RN · Oct 16, 2006

Breathable fabrics, heavy on the cotton in the cotton blend, please. Large front pockets. Haven't found a chest pocket yet that doesn't dump its contents when I bend over, so I ONLY wear the kind with two large bottom ones. Cut generously enough in the hips and long enough so that you don't feel like you have to keep tugging to cover yourself (and I'm not fat, too many of the newer styles are just too short and tight, IMO). Personally, would love to find more (any?) styles that have a little bit of a fabric loop on the upper chest so that I can clip my badge there easily. I have to stick it on my neckline now, no matter what the neckline, it's annoying. Don't want to wear badge down on my lower pocket; I want it to be where patients can read it!

Hate shiny pants fabrics. Show every spill and wrinkle. Brushed or smooth (no shine) best.

Tasteful prints in paisley, pastels, SMALL not overbearing patterns would be lovely. Too many tops SCREAM at you in ridiculous large prints.

:)

Chicklet2 · Oct 16, 2006

Make all scrubs in a material that'll never wrinkel. I'm sick of ironing!!

jill48, ASN, RN · Oct 30, 2006

I just have to say that there is nothing better than wearing jammies to work! I love wearing scrubs. I think the softer the better. The only thing I don't like is that I can't really wear a jacket, but that's due to my hot flashes, not the material. I just think that the softer and more loose fitting the better.

RN(MH) · Oct 30, 2006

Hi

I wore a uniform when working originally in a private nursing home, being a dress was not very practical, and we had to wear a belt, tights and a silly paper hat, lol hated it.

During my student days I had to wear a uniform for some of my placements,(that was during the early part of my training. Tights and a belt were a must, but luckily no silly paper hats lol. For the vast majority of my training though (as I chose to do Mental Health), I did not wear a uniform. Dont know how it is in the US, but over here in mental health we dont wear a uniform (except some elderly mental health wards that chose to wear one as the staff were more easily identifialble to the elderly). The acute, intensive care, rehab and community staff where mufti (there own clothes), but they have to be suitable, we do have a dress code. I found this great, and so do the patients. I dont like uniforms at all.