Okay to wear traditional nurse uniform to work?

[Been there,done that, ASN, RN]

On 1/26/2022 at 12:24 PM, Elliebeanlovesmisterbubbles said:

Hi I don't know if this is a dumb question but would it be prohibited by state if I wanted to wear the traditional nurse outfit to work like the white scrub dress with white stockings? I don't like getting into trouble so I'm currently awaiting my DON's response to this question. However, what are your points of view. I've already done like a self inventory ie: asked myself if 1. Would wearing a dress to work prohibit any functionality? 2. Would wearing a dress to work decrease my ability to administer medication? 3. Would wearing a dress decrease my ability to chart? 4. Would wearing a dress decrees my ability to perform CPR.

Alll answers point to no so would that mean it's okay???

Your attire is mandated by your employer.  You wonder if wearing a skirt would affect  any of your  skills. The answer is no.

 Best wishes.

[NutmeggeRN, BSN]

18 hours ago, amoLucia said:

PERSONALLY, I think you're soooo cool! I'm retired 10+ years, but I would love going back wearing whites. 

JB - I think I'd get all weepy if I saw a nurse in her cap. And I would surely be joining them wearing MY CAP. And my school pins (do they still offer pins???).

I wear my pin proudly, everyday since 1983~ and I l know that our local comm college does a pinning and my niece graduated form Endicott last year and has her pin.

[chare]

I can't imagine any state's BON or other regulatory agency prohibiting this.  And, at my facility wearing a dress, as long as it is the appropriate color for ones job classification, is acceptable.  

[dream'n, BSN, RN]

On 1/26/2022 at 12:24 PM, Elliebeanlovesmisterbubbles said:

Hi I don't know if this is a dumb question but would it be prohibited by state if I wanted to wear the traditional nurse outfit to work like the white scrub dress with white stockings? I don't like getting into trouble so I'm currently awaiting my DON's response to this question. However, what are your points of view. I've already done like a self inventory ie: asked myself if 1. Would wearing a dress to work prohibit any functionality? 2. Would wearing a dress to work decrease my ability to administer medication? 3. Would wearing a dress decrease my ability to chart? 4. Would wearing a dress decrees my ability to perform CPR.

All answers point to no so would that mean it's okay???

Why did you ask the Board of Nursing?

Your work attire is up to your employer

[londonflo]

DON is not the BON. 

I am old. We wore white dresses all the time on the floor. The length was important when doing activities and wearing appropriate underwear was important. In one state we wore regular neutral pantyhose, in another white panty house was required. I can clearly remember when scrubs for floor nurses came in. I waited until others wore them before I wore them.  

Believe it or not, in the early 1970s were wore scrub dresses in the OR. Only men could wear the the scrub pants. 

 In my last teaching position we had a student who, because of religious reasons, felt she had to wear a dress. We worked that out easily. Best wishes,

[Davey Do]

There was an excellent medical nurse, who filled in as house supervisor at times, at Wrongway who wore the old fashion white garbs, Elliebean...

I believe she did so because of her religion, I never asked her, but commented to her she looked like a good ole fashioned nurse. She merely smiled and thanked me.

She was a tall, trim older nurse who had her hair pulled back, eyeglasses on a chain around her neck, white stockings and shoes...

I could go on about her looks, but that would get into an old man's boyish fantasies and we don't want to go there.

[JBMmom, MSN, NP]

We still have a couple nurses at my work that wear the white caps. Our facility went to a uniform about three years ago so they can't wear their traditional white dresses anymore. Unless you have a specific requirement I see no reason why you couldn't do this. We do have a nurse that wears skirts, they just have to match our uniform colors.

[Hope21]

I think it would be up to your employer. The only thing is you may not be able to wear white if all of the nurses are required to wear a certain color of uniform. White is also harder to keep clean! 

If you are wearing the dress for a religious reason, the employer should be able to accommodate you, but again, you may not be able to wear white necessarily. Good luck!

[DavidFR, BSN, MSN, RN]

I feel I'm being transported back in time.

I trained in the UK in the 1980s when female nurses looked like Victorian parlour maids with frilly hats, belts, buckles, the lot. The idea of a female nurse not wearing a dress was outrageous. We male nurses had dentist style tunics and epaulettes that made us look military. We looked ridiculous. At least today we look like the modern, scientific professionals we are.

Scrub type uniforms are a godsend for both sexes. Female nurses always had trouble lifting in dresses. Ergonomically unfriendly and left them wide open to exposing more than they'd like.

Why on earth do you want to go back to wearing a dress in the  clinical environment?

[amoLucia]

PERSONALLY, I think you're soooo cool! I'm retired 10+ years, but I would love going back wearing whites. 

JB - I think I'd get all weepy if I saw a nurse in her cap. And I would surely be joining them wearing MY CAP. And my school pins (do they still offer pins???).

[Davey Do]

On 1/26/2022 at 5:07 PM, amoLucia said:

I think I'd get all weepy if I saw...

...me in my old nurse's outfit?

[vintagegal, BSN, DNP, RN, NP]

Personally I like all my pockets that come with my scrubs. 
As a woman who has, and still is, fighting for equal pay, opportunity, and respect in the workplace, I would probably decline wearing a dress. But that’s my own opinion. I say do what makes you happy and what you feel comfortable in.