Okay to wear traditional nurse uniform to work?

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???

[RNperdiem, RN]

I can think of a couple of issues to think about before you do this.

Is this a look way different than your peers? How do you think this rather retro look (at least in the USA) will be perceived, and will it cause any professional repercussions? People are curious, so are you prepared to explain over and over again about your appearance?

I still have a cap and a couple of white dresses up in the attic somewhere, but just can't see myself wearing them anymore.

[adventure_rn, MSN, NP]

The bigger question is, why the heck would you choose to wear white? I worked at a place that required a white scrub top with navy bottoms, and it always inevitably spilled something on it (coffee, saline). Plus, it's almost impossible to find a bra you can't see right through white scrubs.

That said, I still know a few nurses who specifically wear scrub skirts/dresses (of the appropriate uniform color) so that they can get creative with wacky, colorful compression socks. They do it specifically because they think the plain scrubs are too boring, LOL.

[amoLucia]

In most NHs I last worked, wearing my whites would prob have been most welcomed by my geri pts. They were sticklers about change. But all things aside, whites did trigger a measure of respect & cooperation. PP Davey Do called it a 'status symbol'. And understanding who was 'the nurse'. Nuns and other religious still wear habits or collars. Military uniforms and even law enforcement uniforms evoke attn (good or bad).

Davey, I remember the time when it was only the OR and L&D staff who wore scrubs

I don't see a problem even when more pantsuits prevailed, but standard PRISON garb is SCRUBS. In the 1950s & 60s we kids would buy my Dad 2 sets of new birthday uniforms for his job as an auto mechanic. Looked just like scrubs. OUR IMAGE WAS SOON LOST!

Not meaning to hijack the thread, but OP prob wearing traditional whites would likely evoke a few smiles and positive comments. 

Funny thing though, I don't remember ever seeing someone's whites so grossly stained (liked so vilified here). Dingy oh yeah; maybe some ink stains and the  betadine stains. But I do remember the alcohol or haispray rubs (AquaNet was the best) and oxydol detergent (today it's OXY). Usually took care of the issue.

Just FYI - had a dream recently where I went back to work and was wearing full whites and my cap. Caps are a whole 'nuther deal!⛑️

 

[brandy1017, ASN, RN]

On 1/26/2022 at 11:24 AM, 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???

We used to have a few nuns who would wear long skirts, even some in purple when we all had to wear purple.  Also worked with a nurse that wore long skirts probably for religious reasons.  Some places limit nurses to a particular color uniform so you'd have to talk to your employer if that would apply.  

White isn't very practical r/t possibly of body fluids splashing.

[donnydilaudid]

I don't think state would have any issue with it.  It would be more of a thing that'd be up to your employer's dress code.  I don't wear a cap and dress (male nurse here) but I do proudly wear my LPN pin and often wear a traditional collared white uniform top, white slacks, and white shoes, similar to when I was in nursing school.  They take a bit of effort to keep clean, I have to bleach the heck out of them, and I've definitely been teased plenty of times by other nurses about looking like a walking Atorvastatin coming down the hall, LOL, but I like them!  Patients tend to like them too!

[mmc51264, BSN, MSN, RN]

We have a dress code (certain positions wear certain colors). Some wear scrub skirts. There is a Christian denomination that women don't wear slacks/pants. It does not affect their ability to do great work. 

[Silver_Rik, ASN, RN]

The first hospital I worked for as an RN (an 800+ bed teaching hospital) explicitly allowed this in their dress code.  However, I only ever saw one nurse who dressed this way.  She was older (70s or 80s?) and from what I observed had some kind of public relations role, not bedside.  
 

[amoLucia]

Had a senior DON n the late 1990s at my NH. She wor her whites with cap. We staff could too, but most of us opted for white slacks and colored tops.  Scrubs weren't the big thing yet.

[kbrn2002, ADN, RN]

I work with a nurse who wears a dress or skirt uniform due to her religious beliefs.  No issues at all. The only possible scenario I could see it becoming an issue is if she is involved in a code that requires straddling the patient. In that situation she might maybe end up showing off more anatomy that she wants but I highly doubt she or anybody else would notice or care under those circumstances.

[kae16]

I was hesitant to wear scrub skirts during nursing school because we bend, run etc but I wanted to stand on my belief, and it turned out to be fine. I wear scrub skirts and I think most hospitals do allow that.

[RN Rob]

My hospital doesn’t have a uniform requirement, so I wear white most of the time. I wear scrub pants with the cargo pockets for my flushes and alcohol preps and other go-to items, in white, and I have a plain scrub top and also a couple of collared tops, one a zip up and one a button down, also in white. I also iron them so they’re creased and crisp. I also at times wear my pin on the lapel. It started as a personal experiment to see if patients treated me differently based on my uniform, and I noticed they did. Nobody seemed to have any question as to whether or not I’m a nurse. I also like it. To me it appears disciplined and professional. I see it as similar to people who prefer to wear vintage clothing in their every day lives, as part of their self-expression, and there’s many versions of this on Youtube; it’s like a niche interest. I enjoy looking the part of a vintage hospital nurse, it does something for me. So yeah, if there’s no policy dictating a certain color of your uniform, go for it. It’s your practice and your hard work that earned you that position, so wear what expresses your personality.

[dream'n, BSN, RN]

8 hours ago, londonflo said:

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,

I really thought I read BON. That's what I get for responding while half-asleep