"you don't have to wear scrubs, just uniform"

[jalvino1]

I was recently hired as a new grad RN and when I asked the nurse manager about the dress code, she simply stated "you don't have to wear scrubs, just uniform." I was confused by this statement because to me scrubs are uniform. But When I showed up on the unit for the first time, there were nurses wearing sweaters, regular t-shirts, pretty tops accompanied by colored scrub pants. My eyes then wandered to their feet to see black clogs, dark blue hybrid sneakers, and a variety of footwear. I stood there with my white nursing shoes, white pants, and blue flower-patterned scrub top, and felt out of place!

I contemplated imitating the laid back dress code to fit in, but I just don't feel like a professional if i'm not wearing scrubs.

In New York i've never seen nurses wear anything except scrubs and dominently white shoes, so I can't tell if this dress code is a California thing, or if it's common.

Can I get some opinions? What do you wear to work?

[StokoRN]

I currently work in a PACU in a central Florida hospital. We are provided light blue scrubs, as are the ACC & OR. However, the rest of the hospital nurses are required to wear all white. I mean ALL WHITE. That includes shoes, socks, warm up jackets etc. Aparently Press Gainey discovered that patients felt nurses belonged in white. The administration unilaterally mandated that nurses, therefore , would change to white so they would convey the proper "professional" image. Just one of the fallouts when a hosp sets policy by p r scores.

Other places I have worked have had unit specific colors. Other places have had loose dress codes that allowed any color scrubs, as long as nothing "distastefull" was displayed.

I have a hard time figuring out why some hospitals feel that the uniform makes the nurse and therefore affects patient care. I think it really all boils down to a matter of CONTROL.

"Your flag decal won't get you into heaven anymore, it's already overcrowded from your dirty little war. Jesus don't like killin', no matter what's the reason fore..." John Prine.

The miracle is not that I finished. The miracle is that I had the courage to start.

[rogramjet]

I work in an outpatient ed clinic, and my boss told me that I didn't have to wear scrubs if I didn't want to, I could wear a shirt and tie instead.....hmmmmm...wear my jammies to work or a noose around my neck...hmmmmmm....I went with the scrubs. Wearing a shirt and tie would remind me too much of the corporate life I left behind, and I wouldn't feel like a nurse.