Nurses wearing white

Nurses General Nursing

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The hospital has decreed that all nurses will wear white in the near future. Despite a petition to administration voicing the opinions of the nurses that overwhelmingly the majority of nurses working at the bedside do not want to wear white, the policy has stood firm and the deadline to change to white is rapidly approaching.

My quesion is......do you think that nurses should be forced to wear white? Do you think nurses should all wear the same uniform?

I finished nursing school in 1977 so I actually wore white uniforms (no scrubs) and a cap. It didn't take long to lose the cap and slowly, the trend to wear colored scrubs evolved.

The thought of wearing white all the time just really turns me off. I find it totally impractical and over time, it will gray and stain and tend to need more frequent replacing.

What do you think?

Okay don't hate me...but no I did not grow up wearing those "horrible caps". I put that in quotes because that is what I have heard them called time after time by nurses who wore them before they had a choice.

If the question came down to white uniform or cap....well please let me wear the cap but keep my colored scubs. I usually wear solid colors with, maybe, a print jacket. I would rather keep that on my head than be forced to wear white uniform or even worse.....white dress with hose. Isn't that where we are headed if hopitals go to whites for "professionalism"

Hey I would where the cap for a chance to keep my personality in the clothes I wear. :coollook:

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I like the idea of a uniform, but why white? If a uniform were required, I wouldn't mind at all. But, why white???

Where I work we wear whatever we want, so I have a lot of pretty scrub tops. Some pts really like to see all the neat designs. People are used to it these days. Some folks like to dress seasonally. The male nurses can pick more masculine styles.

Styles change. In the 1800's nurses didn't wear all white. Then, by the twenties, white was in style. I'm glad that I don't have to wear all white now, though. I wouldn't mind a more professional looking uniform. But as long as one isn't required, I'll keep wearing my colorful scrubs. They sure are comfy and fun!

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Specializes in Adult SICU; open heart recovery.

Angie, you're awesome :rotfl: What kind of nursing do you do?

So please, by all means, wear what you like to your job. But don't try to impose your idealistic notions of what constitutes professional dress for nurses on me. Please. Thank you.

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Specializes in Utilization Management.

I'm a Progressive Care nurse--that's Newspeak for tele/med-surg/stroke. :chuckle

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I posted a poll on a conservative Catholic forum on Nursing attire. The folks on this forum tend to be religiously and politically conservative, but it looks like white attire is not important to most...

NURSING ATTIRE POLL

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Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.

And i'll say (already said on a previous thread) that a survery i did for a school project, white was frequently associated with mental hospitals (survery group was random people).

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Specializes in Critical Care/ICU.
Interesting poll, but why doesn't someone shoot down those sexual innuendos that show up in one way or another in a number of the replies?

Is that really alright?

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Interesting poll, but why doesn't shoot down those sexual innuendos?
He was just having a little fun. I didn't take it seriously. It makes a nice break from all the serious stuff on that forum. Some of those folks take religion to a real extreme. One lustful thought and they have their sinful fanny in the confession ASAP! Alot of those folks still go to Latin Masses.:uhoh3:
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One issue that consistently has been reported in patient satisfaction surveys where I work is that the patients can't identify staff. Every employee wears a photo ID - guess the general public can't read very well. In response, beginning February 1st we will have a strict dress code. Nurses will wear navy or white and nursing assistants green. Secretaries will wear black pants and white tops. The other departments have a specific uniform so now everyone will be color coded.

I personally started my career wearing white and don't have a problem with either white or navy. Whites washed with whites with a little oxyclean will stay nice and bright. I do enjoy me colorful tops with pretty prints and will miss wearing them..

Some of the nurses - not all by any means - and especially those on nightshift - come to work looking very sloppy - probably don't like to spend money on work clothing. Our present dress code is white, teal or carribean blue pants with any coordinating top. Some of the nurses come to work in old gray scrubs that god only knows where they came from. Some go to the OR and take the green scrubs to wear though they have been told not to do so. Anything goes. My sense is if everyone would have followed the dress code we presently have and if the dress code would of been enforced by nursing management then the CEO may not of made the decision to color code nursing staff.

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And i'll say (already said on a previous thread) that a survery i did for a school project, white was frequently associated with mental hospitals (survery group was random people).

Marie - that is funny. :chuckle

steph

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Specializes in pedi, pedi psych,dd, school ,home health.

...and the survey says....looking professional has nothing to do with color...its attitude, skills and competence, dressed neatly. Even unwashed, unironed whites look grubby!!!!!! I have been complemented many times on my colorful, NEATLY PRESSED scrubs....after all, how many other professions dictate what color is worn??? :uhoh3:

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In response, beginning February 1st we will have a strict dress code. Nurses will wear navy or white and nursing assistants green. Secretaries will wear black pants and white tops. The other departments have a specific uniform so now everyone will be color coded.

.

When I started the nurses wore white or Caribien Blue, the cna's another, respiratory therapists another and so on. I was a pt at that hospital when I had two of my babies and for 2 minor surgerys. Guess what....When I was hired on I had NO IDEA that the nurses and CNA could be identified by their uniforms. Unless the pt is told on admission then how are they to know. Trust me...a pt in pain is not going to distinquish between colors of uniforms...."oh that's the same blue the other nurse wore....all nurses must wear it!"

My big peeve is that managment wanted to keep it that way so pt could tell staff apart. But on our name badge we have our last name printed ( I don't lik that. and on an approx 2 1/2 inch by 4inch name badge my title (RN) is not bigger than the type in this post. HELLO!!!!!Wouldn't it help if someone with 20/20 would be able to read my title, let alone the 85 yo lady that forgot her glasses.

We have our policy changed. Now any scrubs that are clean, "look nice". Except for black?????Duh...someone suggested maybe it looked morbid. I think that Black scrub pants look nice with a print shirt. I think Managment walking around in a black dress or skirt with heels look more like a funeral procession than a nurse with black scrub pants. ....but whatever.

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