Ok, I am having a problem with something that probably shouldn't be a problem. I am about to start a new job, all of the staff met this week to introduce ourselves (this is a new physician's practice with an all new staff). Well, we have this slightly anal office manager who suggested to our doctor that the staff all wear the same uniforms, you know everyone wear the same style and color on certain days (blue on Monday, Teal on Tuesday, ugh! :angryfire ) I personally hate this idea, I feel like my uniform is one of the only ways I can express some individuality. I am not talking about wearing wild, off the wall scrubs either. I have a closet full of scrubs that will go to waste while I have to wear colors and styles chosen by someone else. I know this shouldn't be such a big deal, but the more I think about it the more it bothers me. I am beginning to think I need to bring it up while we are still in the beginning stages, but then part of me thinks I should just go along with it to kep the peace. What do you all think? Do any of you have strong opinions about this as well or am I just being a cry baby? Your input and advice would be appreciated.
Are you willing to quit your job over this? If so, you need to express your opinion at the meeting, as most people will not say anything, but grumble about it later. I would make it an economical issue, rather than a color choice issue. It is expensive to buy several sets of uniforms. Print styles change, so don't agree on a print only to have it discontinued later on. Perhaps a compromise could be in order, like 2-3 colors being permitted. Our facility allows the nurses to wear 2 colors, any style. We can mix and match as along as it is only those colors. No prints.
From the mind of a person unconcerned with current fashion craze, just clean clothes:
Work is my JOB. Jobs have REQUIRMENTS.
I have other more important things to worry about and can express myself plenty after work hours.
Glad to be on laptop for Thanksgiving weekend oncall so I can lounge in my PJ's between calls and catch up on allnurses.com news.
Is a guy I've seen who wears a v neck "cutesy" scrub top, with chest hair sticking out. Yuck! I have no problem with chest hair (in the right place, of course)--but this becomes some weird mix of feminine and masculine that just doesn't make it.
Personally, if it's a dr office dealing with all different ages of society I think you should be allowed to wear what you want. I remember as a kid everyone was in white and it was an eeiry feeling. Where I work now, I was told that the dress was navy, so I bought 5 sets of navy uniforms. I am the only one that adheres to the policy. Even the DON wears what she wants. My dentist's staff wears green except for the accounts manager and two other office support staff. They all wear the same dresses which is totally wierd. Perhaps if you have other support staff working with the office manager you could suggest they all wear the same dress? Wonder how she'd take to that.
There is an argument to be made, in a large environment like a hospital, for colour-coding. It's not an argument I personally support, but I can see points in favour of it.
However, in the situation you describe, Limik, this seems ridiculous. What's the point of a rotating uniform, apart from benefiting someone who has shares in a manufacturing company? It's not like the patients can't tell who you are.
I'm with everyone who recommends arguing from an economic point of view. Good luck!
I like the idea of every department having a different color. Helps the patients know who is who. Its also nice for new employees who can tell by looking at the color you have on, who to ask questions of. As for a different color every day of the week, NO WAY.............I would be the one to show up in the wrong color. One of the hospitals I work at, we wear any color or print we want.....thats pretty nice too.
I took DH to the Orthopaedist Wednesday. The entire staff was in the same (dumb looking print) scrubs. I hadn't been to that office in a couple of years, but back then the non- licensed staff wore polo shirts with the Office Group's name over the pocket.
The nurses wore solid color scrubs/uniforms and a lab coat with their name and title. I liked it better back then. 30 something employees in the same scrubs was kind of overwhelming.
And while we are on the subject :rotfl: .....I am all for the nice white duty shoes too. None of these clogs or sneakers. I guess all I am saying is nursing staff should all look professional and not like they are about to go to the beach.
Anyhow.....that is my two cents worth LOL.
I am one of those slackers that wear sneakers instead of "nice white duty shoes" - reason being that those shoes are NOT nice to my feet, which have to be in them for long hours at a time. It's not like I sit at a desk and can kick them off when they are killing my feet. I have tried every brand of these shoes and they are all terribly uncomfortable. Please consider that nurses are not clones of one another and there might be good reason behind others' preferences.
I guess I would have to ask myself, self, do I really want this job? If you want it bad enough then you will dress how they tell you, if not, you can always go somewhere where you can wear the closet of scrubs.
A note to the shoes...I wear running shoes because that is exactly what I do everyday...run!
I do like the idea of different departments wearing different colors, we do not have anything like that at my hospital and since dietary, X ray, pharmacy , housekeeping and even sometimes medical records wear scrubs the patients and visitors complain that they don't know who the nurses are. If you're going to do that they need to pay for the first 3-5 sets
I can see if they want everyone to wear the same color uniform, but definately not a different color each day. That sounds so childish. Think it would be an excellent idea to bring this up now.
purplemania, BSN, RN
2,617 Posts
Are you willing to quit your job over this? If so, you need to express your opinion at the meeting, as most people will not say anything, but grumble about it later. I would make it an economical issue, rather than a color choice issue. It is expensive to buy several sets of uniforms. Print styles change, so don't agree on a print only to have it discontinued later on. Perhaps a compromise could be in order, like 2-3 colors being permitted. Our facility allows the nurses to wear 2 colors, any style. We can mix and match as along as it is only those colors. No prints.