Question: Why don't hospitals color code the scrubs?

Moogie · Jun 22, 2009

Have to comment, I am one of those who wear the pretty tops, colorful scrubs ect and never have I been told I am unprofessional, I find the clothes you wear don't matter, it is how you introduce yourself and carry yourself that determines your professional status. Color coding while it appeals to the ocd in me just doesn't seem to work. People need to introduce themselves and their designation, I don't introduce myself as a nurse, I am an RN and proud of it.
White, I love it, but can't launder it !!

:yeahthat:

When I worked LTC, I wore brightly colored scrubs, usually with animal or flower prints, because the residents seemed to appreciate them. Some of them would comment on the tops I wore and it made for light, enjoyable conversation.

I do miss the days of wearing white, however, but I don't miss all that laundry. Scrubs are so much easier to keep clean!

BTW, regarding men in white, I don't necessarily think of the ice cream guy---I think about how *amazing* male Navy officers look in their dress whites. Ummmmmm, nice!

DolceVita, ADN, BSN, RN · Jun 22, 2009

:yeahthat:
BTW, regarding men in white, I don't necessarily think of the ice cream guy---I think about how *amazing* male Navy officers look in their dress whites. Ummmmmm, nice!

OMG you are soooooo right! :lol2:

ktwlpn, LPN · Jun 22, 2009

This is my first thread so please go easy on me.
It is so hard for me to know who is what (it is all about me after all ) -- RT vs Tech vs RN vs housekeeping vs. volunteers vs. lab personnel and so on. Patients seem to find it hard as well.
I know that if you are working on a unit you get to know everyone and such. That's great...really. Also, love the whole express yourself thing (well not all of it), but is it me or are women's scrub tops becoming more and more like fashion tops? I come from a different professional background so the very girly tops, although pretty, wouldn't really go down well.
I am interested if anyone knows the history behind this move here too.
No I am NOT suggesting that nursing goes back to the starched caps etc.

I swear that when hospitals went to colored scrubs they wanted all staff from all depts. to look like nurses so the patients could be lulled into thinking the floors were better staffed then they actually were...

MAISY, RN-ER, BSN, RN · Jun 22, 2009

I swear that when hospitals went to colored scrubs they wanted all staff from all depts. to look like nurses so the patients could be lulled into thinking the floors were better staffed then they actually were...

You know, as I read that I am 100% on that track! I believe you are right! Definitely an AHA moment!

Unfortunately, nursing gets the blame when the "nurse" didn't do what they asked. :nono: Which nurse?

allnurses Guide · Jun 23, 2009

:yeahthat:
When I worked LTC, I wore brightly colored scrubs, usually with animal or flower prints, because the residents seemed to appreciate them. Some of them would comment on the tops I wore and it made for light, enjoyable conversation.
I do miss the days of wearing white, however, but I don't miss all that laundry. Scrubs are so much easier to keep clean!
BTW, regarding men in white, I don't necessarily think of the ice cream guy---I think about how *amazing* male Navy officers look in their dress whites. Ummmmmm, nice!

Well, yes. . .you certainly have a point there. :redbeathe Like Tom Cruise in Top Gun, Richard Gere in An Officer and a Gentleman, and waay back Joseph Cotten in Since You Went Away. :bow:

The most unique outfit I've seen was four-inch white high heels, dark hose, white pants capri-length, and a Spongebob Squarepants jacket. :omy: :lol2:

BabyLady, BSN, RN · Jun 23, 2009

Our hospital used to not have a dress code but about 3 years ago, went back to solid-only scubs, with a color per position.

This was after a code blue was on the floor on the night shift....and time was wasted trying to figure out who did what because the nurse was new to the hospital, and had no idea who was an RN, LPN, RT, etc.

cherrybreeze, ADN, RN · Jun 23, 2009

Our ER went to color coding to give it a try; RN's are in Navy blue, LPN's are in burgundy, techs are in hunter green (something like that, anyway). I wouldn't mind that, but unless it's spelled out somewhere for the patient, I can't see it being all THAT helpful (although our frequent fliers probably have picked up on it :rolleyes: ).

I can't do white either, sorry! IMO it's just too impractical (I do understand the nursing/whites connection, though). I don't like wearing light colors at all, and I don't wear prints...I just think solid/dark/plain scrubs look more professional (don't flame me!).

The nursing staff in the rest of the hospital now have an extra plastic things behind our nametags with our titles in big letters, and those are not only very easy to read but are color-coded. I think the biggest problem also is that too many people wear scrubs, period....I don't think the HUC's need to, for example (we have some HUC's that are cross-trained and are also CNA's, so that's a little different). The HUC's we have that are JUST HUC's should be in business casual dress, IMO (we only have ONE that actually does dress that way, and to me it looks the most appropriate). Housekeeping shouldn't be in scrubs. We have dietary personnel whose jobs are specifically to pass trays, and they wear polos (orange for the guys, fuschia for the women) embroidered with the hospital's logo and black pants/slacks. THAT I think works well, and I wish other ancillary depts would adopt it (like housekeeping). In fact, now that I think about it, our therapy depts also don't wear scrubs any more (or they're getting away from them), that staff wears navy blue embroidered polos with khaki pants. They look nice, too, and you know right away who the therapists and assistants are.

I also agree though, too, that everyone should be introducing themselves properly! That's the first step in avoiding confusion.

NeoNurseTX, RN · Jun 23, 2009

we are color coded...but it seems no one but hospital staff knows what the colors mean!

BabyLady, BSN, RN · Jun 23, 2009

we are color coded...but it seems no one but hospital staff knows what the colors mean!

We were told that the color coding was not for the patients, it was for the staff. If you need help, it's hard to spot the name tag all the way down the hall.

NursEMT-P · Jun 23, 2009

Even though I undertand the reason behind color coded scrubs, I still like bright, pretty ones better:) Even when I was in the hospital as a patient I liked the nurses bright colored/print scrubs, they made me happy. And I always knew who my nurse was so it was never a problem for me. But working, I see how it can get confusing

Ruby Vee, BSN · Jun 23, 2009

i worked hard for my bsn, i worked hard to pass my state boards (which is what they were called when i passed them.) i'm a professional; i get to decide what color i wear to work and whether or not i wear scrubs.

color coding scrubs only helps the patients if they understand the color code. that assumes they've had the code explained to them, they've retained the information, and they're oriented and appropriate. and that they can see the colored scrubs.

if the problem is that no one can tell who the nurse is because everyone is wearing scrubs, then get everyone else out of scrubs. housekeeping, pharmacy techs, unit secretaries and diet aides don't need to wear scrubs; they don't do direct patient care. if they weren't wearing scrubs, it would be easier to distinguish the patient care staff from everyone else. then add the huge name tag that says "rn" or "patient care tech" and you're set.

this whole thread pops up frequently, and it's usually because some new rn missed her opportunity to wear the starched whites. sigh! if you want to look like everyone else, go for it. but *i* just want to look like me -- neat and professional, but not uniform.

DolceVita, ADN, BSN, RN · Jun 23, 2009

I can assure you I have no desire to wear the whites of old.

I am curious as to when they were ditched. What ignited the change? I suppose it would be impractical to have nurses dress business casual with a lab coat (then doctors would probably go bananas about a nurse being mistaken for a doctor)?

I am just fine with scrubs but I think what others have said about housekeeping and stuff is correct. They really should not be in scrubs. I suppose it is cheaper for a facility to tell everyone to wear scrubs because otherwise they would have to pay for a uniform (for non-nursing people).