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?
2. In what field of nursing are you working (i.e. long term care, acute care, rehab, etc.)?Hospital: ICU, ER-Critical Care
3. Where geographically are you located?West
4. What is your level of training? (i.e., ADN, LPN, CNA, BSN, masters or higher education level, CNP, CRNA, etc.)BSN
5. Do you think nurses should return to wearing a uniform? Why or why not?
6. If you think nurses should return to a uniform, what type of uniform do you think nurses should wear? NO!! That would be a huge step back in time IMO.
I am in the navy (wont be soon) and we have to wear our khakis. This means horribly uncomfortable shoes and if you dont want to look sloppy you have to wear shirt stays (these are elastic things that attach to your shirt and socks to keep your shirt pulled down tight). There are very few of us who get to wear scrubs. Imagine me, short person, reaching up to hang a fluid with something pulling on my socks. I really didnt think we would have to wear these. Then on the last friday of the month we are forced to wear our whites. These are just as uncomfortable and get dirty at the slightest touch. Our poor corpsmen are the same they have to wear white for a peroid of the year, at least they get a uniform allowance. I will be so happy to wear scrubs, and I dont want them white or have to wear a cap. I have been a nurse for 3 years.
I am currently a CNA/HHA, starting my BSN journey next week. My HHA agency requires that wear all white, which I hate. I feel like I am delivering milk. Hopefully, when I become a nurse, this won't be required. I would also be horrified if required to wear a skirt or dress. During that time of the month it gets very messy for me. I wouldn't want the poor kids at the hospital to think I am bleeding to death...I know, I know, TMI
It's interesting about caps collecting germs when we wear the same shoes all the time and they are worse than the caps would be. I think some kind of wet spray to disinfect and air dry would work for shoes or caps...not that I want to wear caps...its just a thought.
I do like the white and I have been away a bit from bedside and I was excited to wear the white again and feel like a Nurse again. I don't wear all white just a top or the pants, but all white looks clean and professional. Imagine walking into the unit and seeing all the nurses in all white?? We would look awesome and stand out for the patients. If we got dirty---put scrubs on from the hospital not a problem. we do that now anyway. I wonder if this will happen with the Magnet status etc becoming more important.
It amazes me to think how much our uniforms have changed over the past few years. I can't imagine a general return to white uniforms any time soon. I'd say scrubs are here to stay but have you noticed how they are evolving from the simple reversible garments found in the storeroom to the very fashionable and varied outfits you see today.
The hospital where I used to work allows crocs. Almost everyone there wears them. Serious nursing "shoes" seem to be a thing of the past.
They identify RNs by means of a red card marked "RN", attached to and peeking out from under the the ID badge.
It doesn't matter so much in the nursing home where I work now. They just KNOW who we are.
i'm an RGN (?RN to those from the US) with a Bsc(?BSN?) in Scotland, qualified 3 yrs. currenlty working in haematology ward, but have been in cardiology, surgical, CoE and rehab. have to say that over here, we all have pretty standardised uniforms - navy blue tunics for staff nurses, dark blue for charge nurses and white for assistants. we wear dark trousers and as long as they're not some mad pink or green, we get to wear what's comfartable on our feet!!
wouldn't get me wearling a cap and a dress, though!!!:chuckle
I am a BSN with 13 years experience in PICU and NICU, I live out west. And I too, feel that scrubs ARE our uniform! I do not feel that a standard uniform is necessary for nurses- I think others like housekeeping and office types like unit clerks should NOT be in scrubs as they have no direct patient care. Maybe I'm crazy, but... we have RN in large red letters on our badges, we introduce ourselves as "Nancynurse, your RN today", and write our names under the RN box on their white board in their room. That seems like enough to me.
Perhaps we should just wear T shirts that say-RN in huge letters on the front and back----- kinda scarlett letter style! That otta get the message across!!!
scampi710
71 Posts
1) 28 yrs.
2) Critical Care
3) Texas
4) BSN
5) Scrubs are uniforms.
In 1978 I did a research thesis on nusing caps. My hypothesis was "Nursing caps are a vector to carrying pathogenic organisms".
My hypothesis was proven and accepted.
Myself and my research partner cultured the caps and grew multiple pathogens on our petri dishes.
Easily transmissible to patients at the bedside.
Follow up was eliminating the wearing of nursing caps.
All the literature is in the National Archives in Washington D.C. Well buried by now I would imagine.