I am taking part in a research project in my post-bacc nursing program which is looking at the history of nursing uniforms, as well as asking the question, "Should nurses return to wearing uniforms?" We are surveying nurses at a local hospital to get an idea of our area nurses' opinions; but would also like to get a wider variety of responses.
So, if you'd like to be part of this discussion, please answer the following:
1. How long have you been a nurse?
2. In what field of nursing are you working (I.e. long term care, acute care, rehab, etc.)?
3. Where geographically are you located?
4. What is your level of training? (I.e., ADN, LPN, CNA, BSN, masters or higher education level, CNP, CRNA, etc.)
5. Do you think nurses should return to wearing a uniform? Why or why not?
***to clarify-- By "uniform", I mean a move away from scrubs, to a uniform style that would be recognized across regions as belonging to "nursing". This could include the "all-white" uniform, or nursing caps. Whatever it would be, the standard would be set by the nursing profession, for all professionals to follow***
6. If you think nurses should return to a uniform, what type of uniform do you think nurses should wear?
I am only a student but I am going to chime in anyway. Nurses should be in scrubs. Any color. If there is a problem identifying the nurse then non-nursing personnel need to wear different attaire. No reason someone not handling or in danger of being soiled with bodily fluids need to be in scrubs. All admin personnel should be in street clothes. Housekeeping should be in, well the same uniforms hotels and the such use. CNA's probably should be in some sort of scrubs also, maybe with an apron or some distinguishing feature from nurses. Not just color. Or maybe the nurses would love to have the apron and its many pockets. Lab personnel should wear lab coats over their clothes. JMHO.
Thanks for the replies and dialogue! Keep the comments coming!
I have one comment/ question-- and it's for the folks saying that others should be the one changing their uniform, rather than nurses. Is it ok for us as a profession to be so egocentric that we expect others to change so that we look different, even though its US as professionals that want to be recognized as such? If we want the recognition, shouldn't we have to take the steps to look different?
Also-- we talk about scrubs being used by nurses because of potential exposure to body fluids-- housekeepers are just as likely to be exposed-- would scrubs be ok for them?
And why are scrubs a requirement for blood/ body fluid exposure? I just purchased new scrubs this weekend, and spent $40 on two scrub tops. Certainly I could purchase $40 in clothing at, say, goodwill, and not be as worried about the materials getting bloodied. I can understand the "disposability" of scrubs if the cost made them "disposable", but since they're so darn expensive, is there really a benefit to wearing them in "messy" environments?
No way. Not gonna happen. At least *I* won't wear one. If other nurses want to, then fine - but that should not be the means of identifying the nurse.
Anyone that does not know what my role is wasn't listening when I introduced myself. However, if the person opens his/her mouth and asks me, I would be happy to repeat myself. What I have on my head is not as important as what I have IN my head.
Thanks for the replies and dialogue! Keep the comments coming!
I have one comment/ question-- and it's for the folks saying that others should be the one changing their uniform, rather than nurses. Is it ok for us as a profession to be so egocentric that we expect others to change so that we look different, even though its US as professionals that want to be recognized as such? If we want the recognition, shouldn't we have to take the steps to look different?
Also-- we talk about scrubs being used by nurses because of potential exposure to body fluids-- housekeepers are just as likely to be exposed-- would scrubs be ok for them?
And why are scrubs a requirement for blood/ body fluid exposure? I just purchased new scrubs this weekend, and spent $40 on two scrub tops. Certainly I could purchase $40 in clothing at, say, goodwill, and not be as worried about the materials getting bloodied. I can understand the "disposability" of scrubs if the cost made them "disposable", but since they're so darn expensive, is there really a benefit to wearing them in "messy" environments?
Just some thoughts of mine. Thanks for writing!
--Heather
It is not because of being egocentric that nurses should stay in scrubs. It is because when the public sees someone in scrubs they think of medical personnel. So, imho, non-medical personnel should stay out of scrubs.
I have been a nurse for 21 years. Most of my career, I have been a Critical Care Nurse(16 YEARS). I am currently the Director of Critical Care. I personally am not happy that every employee at our hospital is now wearing scrubs. It is hard for patient's and family members to differentiate the nurse from the housekeeper's and the dietary staff. It leaves a bad taste in the mouth of our customers to walk up to someone, who they think is a nurse, to inquire about their familly member, and receives a reply of, "I don't know, I am not a nurse, you'll have to ask the nurse". If you try to pick out a nurse in a sea of SCRUBS, it becomes a little more difficult. I think we should continue to wear SCRUBS. Everyone else should choose another uniform!
Specializes in Clinical Research, Outpt Women's Health.
I think that in a hospital scrubs should only be worn by nurses, medical personnel on the floors/unit, and OR staff. I don't think it is egocentric at all as scrubs are the symbol for care givers/medical personnel. Housekeepers, dietary, other non medical staff should have there own uniforms, but not scrubs. Ancillaries - street clothes with a lab coat. Since the housekeepers etc. are so poorly paid the institution can buy the uniforms for them and that would end the issue. I don't care who wears them outside of the care environment, but in a medical facility it should be a sign like a cap was of a nurse, and nurses are exposed to a lot more staining type fluids than even housekeepers so they are the ones that most need to wear the scrubs. Phew..........didn't realize I was that worked up about it!
BS RN for 25+ years in the southwest in acute care facility. Many of my patients have commented positively on our fun scrubs, and it helps get their minds off their illness. I would find another job if I were forced to return to white and caps. As others pointed out, whites get stained and dingy, and this definitely does not convey professionalism. The origin of the nursing cap came from the subservient nuns and working women. "The designs alternately conveyed servitude, yet authority, domestic service, yet professionalization." http://www.civilization.ca/hist/infirm/inevo01e.html
Authority and professionalism I can go for, but servitude and domestic service? No wonder a lot of docs like caps...puts us in our place.
I certainly don't want to look like a marshmallow, so I'm gonna say no way on the all white uniforms...yuk. I've always thought that it would be a great idea if nurses at any given institution would stick with a color scheme or do one color with all of the shades and hues in that color...for example...if blue were chosen then everything from baby blue to royal blue to navy blue could be worn and mixed and matched (white and black could be included too for variety)... anyways I almost always wear ceil blue top with white or black pants... the endoscopy dept. at my local hospital is the only dept. to have a set standard of uniform scrubs. They wear black pants and black shoes with a really cool printed black, royal blue and white top. It looks great!
5. I would like to see nurses wear "clean and neat shoes and uniform", whether it is scrub or standard white uniform. I want to be distinguished as professional caregiver. Patients do notice your personal appearance. At work, we are required to wear scrubs that look professional. As for myself, scrubs with conservative designs, I will wear. I could wear single colored-pants, dress shirt plain or printed with a lab jacket. I have 6 pairs of white shoes that I rotate so that they are always clean when I wear them.
6. I do not think that we should return to wearing the standard uniform. As I have noted above, scrubs or whites are fine, one thing i want to stress is to be clean and neat from head to toe when reporting to work. Your personal appearance says much about you. Patients feel safer, too.
Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
I think that in a hospital scrubs should only be worn by nurses, medical personnel on the floors/unit, and OR staff. I don't think it is egocentric at all as scrubs are the symbol for care givers/medical personnel. Housekeepers, dietary, other non medical staff should have there own uniforms, but not scrubs. Ancillaries - street clothes with a lab coat. Since the housekeepers etc. are so poorly paid the institution can buy the uniforms for them and that would end the issue. I don't care who wears them outside of the care environment, but in a medical facility it should be a sign like a cap was of a nurse, and nurses are exposed to a lot more staining type fluids than even housekeepers so they are the ones that most need to wear the scrubs. Phew..........didn't realize I was that worked up about it!
agree. it's not about ego, it's about being able to identify who is who. housekeeping has NO business in scrubs. There are plenty of housekeeping uniforms out there; let them wear those.
ayndim
462 Posts
I am only a student but I am going to chime in anyway. Nurses should be in scrubs. Any color. If there is a problem identifying the nurse then non-nursing personnel need to wear different attaire. No reason someone not handling or in danger of being soiled with bodily fluids need to be in scrubs. All admin personnel should be in street clothes. Housekeeping should be in, well the same uniforms hotels and the such use. CNA's probably should be in some sort of scrubs also, maybe with an apron or some distinguishing feature from nurses. Not just color. Or maybe the nurses would love to have the apron and its many pockets. Lab personnel should wear lab coats over their clothes. JMHO.