Nursing Uniform-Solved Here?

[flowerchild]

Hello everybody!

I have been thinking about the nursing debates on uniforms for a couple of years, and I have an idea. I know everyone won't like it, but I think it is a compromise. I know it won't work in places that dictate what we wear unless changes are implemented.

The problem:

Nurses have no way of deferentiating themselves from other occupations who wear the same exact clothing.

Nurses receive, in general, more respect and compliments when they are wearing traditional type nursing uniforms.

The one symbol that set us apart from the maids and others was the nursing cap, which is no longer practical in most areas of practice.

Patients are confused and often ask non nurses for nursing advice b/c "they all look the same." Unfortunatly, there are plenty of people who wear scrubs, who are not nurses but are always ready to give out advice. PLACING PATIENTS AT RISK. (not yelling, just making it stand out on the page)

Nurses want their own identity, style, and uniqueness and, will never agree on one style.

The possible answer:

Taking the color choice from the English nurses to provide consistancy as well as tradition and b/c it is one of the most popular colors picked by people as a favorite.

To make nurses stand out from all other occupations, to increase patient safety, to maintain our own styles, to wear or to not wear the cap will be the same-personal preferance, we could wear:

dark blue bottoms, white top, dark blue or lighter blue jacket prn.

Pedi nurses could sew on some cute things for the kids to wear even. You could wear your cap, if you choose.

If we all wore the same colors, implemented policy at work that no others can wear those colors and that only we can, we would become recognizable to all. You could choose any style you want, from dress slacks, capris, skirts, to scrub pants, from a white blouse to a T-shirt, from a dress jacket to a scrub jacket. This way all nurses, in any capacity, could become uniform and recognizable. We could phase out our old uniforms for the new ones, pass the word, and within a year, have a grass roots effort that would change.........a lot!

P.S. I went on http://www.myvirtualmodel.com and tried on the outfit and it looked pretty good, imo.

[flowerchild]

Obviously a really bad idea. I'm surprised nobody replied to this post. I thought I'd atleast hear how it wouldn't work.

Anybody????? Any thoughts?????

[legsmalone, RN]

I think some good points were brought up....a classmate of mine works at a So. Cal. Hospital where all nurses wear a very similar uniform to the one dexcribed, navy blue scrubs and a white jacket embroidered with the hospital logo. She says the patients have a much easier time telling who is their RN and who isn't.

[salvati08]

I too think it is a good thought but bad idea. I think by wearing the same color pants and white top everyday would really be boring. We are offered such cute patterns and colors that it would be a shame to have to wear the same thing everyday. Plus I don't personally think it is the best color choice. I like the idea of getting to mix and match my pants and shirts and have the choice to wear different things........just my opinion.

[JedsMom, ASN, RN]

That's the color combination all of our administrative personnel wear;)

[debralynn]

I do believe nurses should wear something that makes them stand apart from everyone else, but:

1) I am a sweat hog, so don't even think about telling me to wear any kind of jacket!

2) I can see it now, have on nice white cap, leaning over really far to see if I got all of the poopey, and, spat, my nice white cap in the middle of said poopey, no thanks!

[Katnip, RN]

I think she mentioned that the jacket and cap are a matter of personal preference.

As far as wearing the same old thing every day, I'm fine with it. I'm not there for a fashion show. A lot of professions wear uniforms. I like not having to worry about what goes with what at 0430. And that way, more money for me to spend on clothes outside of work where I think it matters more.

[P_RN, ADN, RN]

What happened with us was we started with 3 colors navy, caribbean and white. Then as staffing got worse and travellers and agency became more frequent there were a zillion different scrub combinations. Of course the staff just went along. THEN new CEO new merger and we were told no mor, go back to white....that lasted about 30 seconds as you can imagine.

The not knowing who is the RN/LPN is a real problem. I can tell of more than one occasion something adverse happened because "the nurse" told some one they could do something, "the nurse" was told about a symptom......."the nurse" turned out to be a housekeeper, transporter, PT aide.

We do need someway to be identified. I can't see the trend of scrubs going away. A big problem I also saw was the hospital laundered the lower paid staff's scrubs and starched and ironed them (they also bought them for them.) Most of the time THEY looked spiffier than the nurses who bought and maintained their own uniforms.

I do like the UK uniforms, but I think that's because they're unusual to us in the states. I like the South African uniforms witht the epaulets on the shoulders signifying position. I like the Australian uniforms too. But that again is only because they are different.

Other than color and name badge how else can we stand out?

[MishlB]

Originally posted by flowerchild

Obviously a really bad idea. I'm surprised nobody replied to this post. I thought I'd atleast hear how it wouldn't work.

Anybody????? Any thoughts?????

I actuaqlly think this is a great idea, sort of like school uniforms for kids. Each department wears a single color...or perhaps housekeeping and dietary just do not wear scrubs???

[Allison S.]

I don't care for white tops because of the tendency to stain, and my own propensity for yellow armpits.

What about something that said NURSE on it.

We have had trouble identifying our unity, which belongs to one hospital but is housed in another. I have proposed getting tops made that say:

OUR OWN HOSPITAL

REGISTERED NURSE

[fab4fan]

I wouldn't want to wear a uniform with epaulets. Can you see it if a nurse refused an assignment/refused to be mandated...someone from admin. would come down and "strip" said nurse of her epaulets (slapping her across the face with white gloves would be optional).

I like wearing different scrubs, just my personal preference.

[BadBird, BSN, RN]

This uniform debate has been beat to death already!!! When I go into my patients room I introduce myself as their nurse to both patient and any family there, I have never been mistaken for a aide or housekeeper. Your professionalism in managing patient care speaks volumes to both patients and family members. Uniforms are a non issue, good competent, compassionate care speaks volumes.