Should nurses go back to wearing all white?

gwk · May 28, 2004

some nurse should not be allowed to wear white pants..they r not flattering and some forget to check the mirror..they look really unprofessional

Dixiedi · May 28, 2004

I wore all white for years (when it was the thing to do) then we started wearing white pants and colored scrub tops, first in peds, then everyplace else. I liked it that way. By far most of the stains were on the top and it was still easy to see who the nurses were becasue we were the only ones wearing white pants. I think we should return to white pants colored tops.

gypsyatheart · May 28, 2004

Uhhmmmm, in a word, NO! I can not even imagine wearing white to work! The last thing I need to be worrying about is how my white uniform looks after getting splashed w/some body fluid! Or after crawling around on the floor trying to get to plugs, move eqpt, etc....

There will always be confusion about who the healthcare staff is with so many "team" members. As the RN I make sure my patients know who I am and that I am their nurse.

SmilingBluEyes · May 28, 2004

If there is confusion as to who the nurses are, blame your institution, as well. Allowing housekeeping staff and others to wear the same scrubs nurses do is VERY confusing. Used to be that way where Iworked and YES patients used to ask HOUSEKEEPERS nursing questions. Hard NOT to be confused in that case. Housekeepers do NOT belong in scrubs which are indistinguishable from nursing staff,and thankfully our corporation realized this and now they wear distinctive uniforms of their own.

Long Term Care Columnist / Guide · May 28, 2004

Oh Lord, not this old argument again......... :rolleyes:

I say, if a nurse wants to wear white, s/he should do so.......but DON'T demand that others be forced to wear it as well. :stone

paacollins · May 28, 2004

I had to wear white back in the mid 80s when I was a chiropractic assistant and it was a job to keep those uniforms clean. Now that I plan on being a L and D nurse, there is no way I would want to wear white. Like so many have said, think of all the wonderful stains those uniforms would acquire. lol I'm also a fair skinned, redhead and white doesn't exactly give me a rosy glow. I much prefer colored scrubs. I also like the variety of colors and prints nurses are allowed to wear now.

As for it being difficult to tell who is who, any time I have been a hospital patient, I just look at the name tag to see if the person is a RN, LPN, CNA, etc. If for some reason they aren't wearing a tag, and I think ALL hospital employees should be required to wear picture IDs for various reasons, I simply ask the person who the are. Once I am the one wearing the scrubs, I plan to make sure I identify myself as the patient's nurse. I realize that older people, as well as those on medication or with vision problems, might not be able to read the name tags.

I think the all white uniforms should be left in the past along with those blasted starched caps. lol

allnurses Guide · May 28, 2004

Ya know, the last time I went to the bank I was looking for the mortgage guy and as I looked around all I could see were women in dresses with heels and men in suits with ties. I couldn't tell the tellers from the secretaries from the mortgage guy from the bank president. I think for my convenience in telling people apart they need to start making the mortgage people wear all white so I can tell them apart from the other folks. I mean, how rude to make me ask!! :angryfire

Don't even get me started on the grocery stores! I mean, they all wear the same colored aprons! How are you supposed to know who is who?

(The solution seems to me is simple verbal communication . . . and a big name tag).

This is a neverending argument . . . . .

steph

TeenyBabyRN · May 28, 2004

Ya know, the last time I went to the bank I was looking for the mortgage guy and as I looked around all I could see were women in dresses with heels and men in suits with ties. I couldn't tell the tellers from the secretaries from the mortgage guy from the bank president. I think for my convenience in telling people apart they need to start making the mortgage people wear all white so I can tell them apart from the other folks. I mean, how rude to make me ask!! :angryfire
Don't even get me started on the grocery stores! I mean, they all wear the same colored aprons! How are you supposed to know who is who?
(The solution seems to me is simple verbal communication . . . and a big name tag).
This is a neverending argument . . . . .
steph

:roll

I love it!

ktwlpn, LPN · May 28, 2004

The other big problem with white is that it turns gray after a few washings. I thought I would be smart and use bleach....but nobody told me bleach weakens fibers. I bent over in my white britches and SPLITT!.

Try a little bit of blueing-it works wonders .I wear white pants-with solid colored shirts and jackets of various colors and patterns and I do have a couple of white ones.I am trying to get rid of the grungies annually and shopping here on the net-I have gotten lots of good deals with several uniform companies

allnurses Guide · May 28, 2004

I wear white denim jeans, the stretch kind. No bleach necessary usually, never gray and stretch with you.

steph

chaosRN, ASN, RN · May 28, 2004

NO, NO, NO! As the world's most messy & most clumsy nurse, all my white uniforms would be another color in no time. I just love wearing dark color pants with a printed shirt. Harder to see stains. Just Wednesday, I got bright yellow medicine all over my new white shoes. (I was pushing them down a NGT) :chuckle

CHATSDALE · May 28, 2004

i WORKED IN A FACILITY THAT ALLOWED FIVE DIFFERENT COLORS (THAT WERE ON A LAB COAT) AND I LOVED IT....THE FACILITY I AM IN NOW REQUIRES ALL NURSES (LPN & RN) TO WEAR WHITE......BUT I CAN LIVE WITH IT THOUGH I PREFER TO HAVE SOMETHING DIFFERENT ONCE IN A WHILE