more than nursing professionals wearing scrubs

Crocuta, RN · Jan 3, 2008

My hospital has recently begun a move to transition all non-clinical staff out of scrubs so that it will be easier for patients and visitors to recognize who is providing clinical care. All "business" type staff are moving toward professional dress. Dietary opted for their own style of food service uniforms which are very sharp.

I don't care for the concept of color coded departments at all. I've talked to people on both sides of the issue, and I've come to the conclusion that most patients won't be able to determine the difference between uniform colors. Most can't even take the time to care about what medicines they take at home, much less if you are a CNA or a Nurse, or if you are from ER or Surgical.

mesixfuture · Jan 3, 2008

I disagree with color coding scrubs just because I went to a private school for thirteen years and I enjoy not having to wear the same thing every day. However, I do agree that nursing should wear scrubs and other departments should wear something different. It's confusing for the patients, they can't tell nursing from lab, dietary or housekeeping.

ICRN2008, BSN, RN · Jan 3, 2008

At my hospital all houskeeping staff wear the same printed scrub top which is very cute. The phlebotomists wear blue lab coats as opposed to the white lab coats worn by the MDs, PAs and NPs. Nursing, CNAs and other clinical staff wear scrubs.

Most of our parents and patients are pretty good about knowing who is the nursing assistant and who is the nurse because we put our names on the white board at the beginning of each shift.

At the hospital where I used to work, all RNs wore navy blue and all nursing assistants wore light blue. I thought that they looked sharp, but I don't know whether it helped the patients differentiate between the disciplines.

Tait, MSN, RN · Jan 3, 2008

Funny this should come up, as I was just considering making a post about it. There are probably a few posts on this but, whatever.

I used to think color coding was the key, however I think a previous poster was correct in assuming that a pt really isn't going to know the difference.

I think it really comes down to clothing styles. In my hospital everyone seems to wear scrubs.

I remember thinking of scrubs as a rite of passage of sorts, similar to the caps of old. As I got more familiar with the profession I realized that it was really true. Basically it seems if you have a job in the hospital, you have the right to wear scrubs.

Now our housekeeping staff wears maroon scrubs, dietary also. CNA's/RN's/Lab/IV Team (who are RNs) wear scrubs (we don't have LPNs at our hospital).

When I first started nursing I considered the RN patch for my scrubs

http://www.nursingadvocacy.org/action/RN_patch.html

Currently I have a little pin that holds my name tag

http://thumbs.ebaystatic.com/pict/1800869946044040_1.jpg

(quite the lifesaver considering the clip is kinda odd to keep in the right place) mainly because I keep forgetting to order the patches.

Anyway, I really think that scrubs should be limited to nursing staff, as far as CNA's/Techs I think there needs to be some sort of defining look, as I have entirely too many patients confuse their techs with being a nurse (especially the ones that are students as well and tend to throw their "new expertise" around without care) >.

Tait

Gennaver, MSN · Jan 3, 2008

I have been more aware lately that there are all sorts of people wearing scrubs.... dietary, housekeeping, and just recently, I noticed the hairdresser at the LTC where I do agency staffing wearing scrubs.
It really bugs me.... I worked long and hard to be an LPN, and feel that if you are NOT in medicine, you should not wear scrubs.
Along those lines.... I would LOVE to see a "color" code.... ie, nursing wears bright prints, lab wears ____, etc.....
what do you think?

Hello,

What do I think? I think that wearing scrubs is like walking around in floppy looking, ill fitting pajamas all day...Hmph. I do not feel like it makes me look professional at all and wish that I was not required to wear them.

Gen

DutchgirlRN, ASN, RN · Jan 3, 2008

I don't see why they shouldn't be comfortable as well? I do agree with different departments wearing different colors so that patients can tell who is who.

It all goes back to nurses wearing white. When we did, pts knew who the nurses were and we were much more respected as a profession. That said, do I want to go back to all white? No I don't but I would not be totally against going back to caps. Our respect has dropped drastically in direct relation to how comfortable we got with uniforms now called scrubs.

My daughter will have her doctorate in Physical Therapy and will wear scrubs. I have no problems what-so-ever with it.

Name tags with first name and title go a long way to help as well. :an!:

AuntieRN · Jan 3, 2008

We wear color coded scrubs at work. The nurses wear a combo of white and port wine (we are the only ones who can wear all white) the techs/cnas wear carribean blue and white, the lab wheres the darker blue etc....pts still have no clue who their nurse is. They think the dietary staff whom by the way do not wear scrubs are their nurses. Doesnt matter who it is if you walk in the room you are the nurse and you are to take care of their needs.

mrsraisinkain · Jan 3, 2008

I worked at a hospital that did have difference departments wear different colored scrubs and it did not matter to the hospital visitors or patients. I was in pharmacy at the time and was still stopped in the hallway by people saying, "Nurse, can you make my dad's IV stop beeping?" Even though I wasn't a nurse, I still really liked wearing scrubs to work.

But what does bother me is that the people who work at the thrift store down the street wear scrubs. That one I DON'T get!

cardiacRN2006, ADN, RN · Jan 3, 2008

Honestly? I could care less who wears scrubs or not. I don't see how it affects me that a hairdresser wears them...

As far as color coding goes-I think it's stupid. Unless we provide patients with a cheat sheet with the colors and their matching titles I think it's useless. Plus, I don't like people telling me what to wear.

My patients (who are awake) know that I am the nurse. My pt family members know I'm their nurse.

That's all that matters.

CT Pixie, BSN, RN · Jan 3, 2008

I think there should be a way to distinguish a nurse from dietary, although I don't think color coding would work. Patients can barely remember your name and title much less all the colored clothes and which dept it goes with.

I happened to be at a hospital today where housekeeking work ciel blue scrubs..guess what color our school clinical scrubs are..yup the same color. I was asked several times by several different people (nurse, PCT, dietary aid) for things in relation to housekeeping..can you mop up the water in Hall ABC, nurses bathroom needs paper towels etc...ahhh!

Tait, MSN, RN · Jan 3, 2008

I think there should be a way to distinguish a nurse from dietary, although I don't think color coding would work. Patients can barely remember your name and title much less all the colored clothes and which dept it goes with.
I happened to be at a hospital today where housekeeking work ciel blue scrubs..guess what color our school clinical scrubs are..yup the same color. I was asked several times by several different people (nurse, PCT, dietary aid) for things in relation to housekeeping..can you mop up the water in Hall ABC, nurses bathroom needs paper towels etc...ahhh!

Eeeek. Not nursing related, that reminds me of when I was in Target earlier this season scanning for my wedding registry. I was wearing a red thermal and olive green cargo pants and I had the scanner in my hand. I was musing over artwork with my fiancee when this lady walked up and asked if the store had electric blankets. I sort of just looked at her and said "well I am sure they do, however I haven't come across them while I was shopping" she did a double take and apologized profusely and ran off.

The clerk at the desk got a good laugh over it when I was turning in the scanner gun :)