Professional in scrubs?

[Kora0880]

Hello,

I just flipped through the April AJN and came across an interesting article r/t history of RN uniforms. An interesting point was made, that although new scrubs are cheaper, easier to take care of and maybe more comfortable there is a big problem with them: We all look alike, nurses, PCT/CNA, respiratory techs, housekeepers, etc. Patients have a difficult time distinguishing among healthcare professionals, and so do we.

Personally I do believe we should go back to nursing uniforms-it's a great tradition, maybe aside from the cap :chuckle We are professionals and our uniform is our singnature, after all if we respect it others may too. Now don't get me wrong, I do not wish to be looking like Florence, but a new, professional, clean cut design would do it for me. (Maybe that's why I'm going to the military? :rotfl: )

What do you think?

[Altra, BSN, RN]

I cannot recall the last time i saw an MD in their white coat. It was either the blue OR scrubs or street clothes.

This surprised me, because I can't recall the last time I saw an MD who was NOT in the white coat, except psychiatrists or those in OR scrubs. This probably varies from facility to facility and region to region.

[cns48]

I think scrubs are comfortable for nurses. I also believe that agencies are suppose to require people to be identifiable. According to law, no one can use the title of nurse except a nurse.

I also think it is up to the nurse to introduce her and himself to the patient so the patient is not confused. I also think it is the way the nurse carries her himself that should stand out.

I do not think that it is necessary to go back to traditional uniforms. This change, so does attire. It doesn't change who the nurse is or what he or she does.

[wonderbee, BSN, RN]

"THE NURSE"

May be a little off topic but now working as tech while attending RN school, I have come to realize that most of the direct, hands-on nursing care a patient receives is from the tech/CNA. Although I'm clear to distinguish the difference between THE NURSE and the PCT to the patient and how our roles will differ in their care, if someone on the street asked me what I do for a living, I would tell them without reservation that I'm a nurse. I have a developed a great appreciation for what good nursing care from the hands of a caring skilled tech can make in patient's health care. Just my .02 cents.

We have a board in the patients rooms with the names, titles and phone extensions of each caregiver assigned to them for any given shift. This alleviates a lot of the confusion. For those who cannot read due to disorientation, it isn't going to matter anyway who wears what IMHO.

[jaimealmostRN]

"THE NURSE"

May be a little off topic but now working as tech while attending RN school, I have come to realize that most of the direct, hands-on nursing care a patient receives is from the tech/CNA. Although I'm clear to distinguish the difference between THE NURSE and the PCT to the patient and how our roles will differ in their care, if someone on the street asked me what I do for a living, I would tell them without reservation that I'm a nurse.

I truly feel that one must EARN the title of "Nurse." For me, it will be all the more sweeter to wait until I have that diploma and lisense in my hand before I call myself that.

[MrsCannibal]

I remember watching my mom graduate from nursing school when I was about 10 yrs old, and I thought she looked so beautiful in her dress, pinafore, and starched white cap. She would grumble and cuss, usually about putting women in dresses to take care of patients, especially white dresses! :) At the beginning of this thread, the discussion touched on the military. I don't know about the Navy (I think that is the branch mentioned, I'm sorry if I am wrong), but I was a combat medic in the Army, and as far as the nurses and doctors, and everyone else went, we all pretty much wore BDU's, just another uniform like scrubs. I could tell who was who, but a civilian, much like a patient in the hospital, would probably have a hard time differentiating between a private working the front desk, and a captain who was also a Doctor.

[jaenshaesmom]

I am currently a nursing student and a PCA at a local hospital. Our hospital just passed a new rule that all PCA's will wear evergreen scrubs that have "St. John's Mercy PCA" stitched on them and nurses will wear navy pants and white tops.

[StrbryJelo]

I've been a nurse for 27 years and had to wear white-with & w/out a cap-for around 17 of those years. The thought of having to wear a "uniform" again makes me sick to my stomach. I hate to even buy white underwear. In the ICU I work in we can wear any colors we like and it's wonderful. The floors are allowed the same freedom. I agree with those before me that badges, introductions and info boards in patient rooms are sufficient. Freedom to choose the colors & prints of scrubs that suite me allow me to make a statement about myself just as it does doctors and "civilliians". And I can choose what colors are most flattering to me personally. I think hospitals, MD/dentist offices, etc. shouldn't have the right to tell us what to wear as long as it's appropriate for our work type/location. What tells patients/visitors that you're a professional is the way you present yourself, not the uniform. How many times have you been in a bank, store or other business and had to conduct business with someone who looked very professional, but was far from it? Think again about this folks. Hospitals continue to keep us down and inviting them back into this aspect of our lives is taking us back a step. We need to empower nurses, not regress.

Mick

[PACU R/N]

I agree with you. There should be a requirement to look neat and tidy. In my early nursing days, we had to use title and surname when speaking to Doctors and senior nursing staff. I don't address my self to patients using my first name. Always state - Sister Tozer. You can tell I'm of the old school.

[RNNoMore]

In England, dress uniforms are still worn for female nurses - the colours are standard for whatever type of carer you are - a different colour uniform for ward sisters, nurses, assistants etc. Male nurses wear tunic tops and pants, Doctors wear white labcoats. It certainly does make it more easier to instantly distinguish between staff, and it looks very smart, although I wouldn't want to wear it (pantyhose is way too expensive and I can never wear them more than once without getting a run - I would be bankrupt within weeks LOL!).

As a student-to-be, we have been told that we cannot wear scrubs, but we have to wear a white tunic top and pants (whatever style we like, as long as it's not scrubs). I'm not too keen on the colour because of practical reasons, but I do LOVE the tunic & pant style I've chosen. It looks very smart and professional and is comfy too. I like the idea of patterned scrubs for pediatric nurses, but not really for adult wards. I think, if allowed, I will carry on with the tunic & pant uniform when I graduate - but in a more practical colour :)

P.S. Hubby is VERY disappointed that I won't be wearing the traditional dress (complete with stockings & garter.....) he was looking forward to that SO much LOL!

Paint.

[RNNoMore]

I just thought of something else - a lot of people have said that they prefer print scrubs because they don't show the messes (the 4 P's someone called it, Poo, Pee, Puke & Pus). I'm sorry - but if you've got that stuff on your uniform then you are a walking biohazard and you should change into your spare uniform immediately right? I don't think I would want a nurse caring for me with someone else's puke all down their front....whether it showed or not is not the issue! I agree that prints hide stains better, if any remain after laundering, but aren't disposable plastic aprons provided for the 'messy jobs' anyway? I know that all the nurses in England use them...

On a different topic - I wouldn't want a nurse caring for me who had long or painted fingernails either....yuck! Just my opinion.

Paint.

[StrbryJelo]

Paint, it sounds as if you're British and, not to be rude, you're not in England anymore. I don't wear colors because of the dirt/stain factor, but it is something to consider. I wear them because I got tired of wearing the same thing day in and day out. Try it now. Wear only one color in all your clothes and see how quickly you want to wear something else. Try it for several years and you'll be ready to scream. I wear solid colors as well as prints and have yet to hear a patient or family member make a negative comment to any of us or to administration. Trust me, administration would let us know quickly if this were the case. I've actually had several patients and visitors over the years that have told me they like the colors. And no, I don't work in pediatrics. Sick kids scare me, but that's a dfferent story. As for the docs, I have them making routine rounds, not a crisis visit ( I work in ICU), in 3 piece suits, bibb overalls, boots and cowboy hats, mini skirts, see through blouses, blouses with major cleavage exposed, sweating from working out and in gym clothes, and a few bring their kids expecting us to babysit and allowing the kids into patient areas. The doc "mystique" disappeared for me a long time ago. Wow, we could start several threads from this stuff. I don't have long fingernails, but I do wear big earrings and believe it or not they have absolutely no effect on my nursing abilities. And I've gotten positive feedback on them as well.

Good luck in school and with your career.

Mick

[RNNoMore]

I didn't mean to sound rude, but I only have experience of British hospitals - I've only been inside a hospital once in the 4 years I've been here, and that was only very briefly in the ER (visiting my Dad who had flown over to see us, got bronchitis and got ambulanced to ER because the doctor thought he was having a heart attack...but that's another story). I am certainly not saying that British hospitals are better than American ones (quite the reverse is true, with the NHS being so underfunded for so many years...), but yes, I do think the nurses look smarter (but are probably very uncomfortable LOL!).

I am only going by what I've read and heard. I've read that many nurses prefer the patterned scrubs because they don't show the messes so much, and I've also read (from my nursing course) that short un-painted nails are preferable but also optional. I don't dislike the patterned scrubs - I just personally prefer the look of a more tailored tunic top (I'm very slim at 5'6 and 110lbs, and the scrubs just hang off me like potato sacks LOL!). I also prefer more practical colours, like navy or burgundy. Having been a Food Microbiologist for 10 years back in England, I have always kept my nails very short, unpainted and very clean. I get the shudders even if my hairdresser has long, fake nails let alone a nurse, and have walked out of a hairdressers before because my hairdresser's nails were dirty - so I was a bit horrified to learn that short nails are optional (on the nursing course at least). I'm not against letting your personality show (I was an art student with green hair and safety-pins through my ears once!), but I do believe that some jobs necessitate a certain degree of moderation, because it's in your clients best interests - same as food preparation workers cannot smoke in the kitchens because it's a hazard - same thing with long nails & lots of jewellery.

These are just personal opinions on uniform preferences - and that was what was asked for in the original post.

Best wishes, Paint.