Survey: Do you think hospitals should require a uniform code for nurses?

Long Term Care Columnist / Guide · Nov 19, 2003

Beyond being clean and functional, I don't believe nurses' clothing choices should be dictated by the workplace. Those who want nurses to wear white should wear white themselves; the same goes for those who think nurses should wear only solids. We already have few enough choices as it is; our selection of scrubs shouldn't be limited by people who subscribe to the corporate group-think that already permeates so much of the world.

ebnrsg1 · Nov 19, 2003

I do not necessarily think that all nurses should wear white ( I wonder who thought of white as THE color. I for one could walk into a sterile operating room in white and come out looking like I had been walking the sewers of a large metro area for a month.)

I do not particularly care for seeing wrinkly dirty scrubs. I think that nurses should dress professionally not so much because the hospitals dictate it but because we need to portray our profession in a dignified manner. My theory is that you should dress for the circumstances of the job. If you are a nurse that goes on outings to the amusement park you should dress casually. If you are selling DME then a suit. I do not think it would be out of the ordinary to say neat casual clothes with a lab coat

What I would ban if I were ruling the world is the wrinkly scrubs that look like pajamas. It's hard to look professional in your pjs.

that is my two cents worth and not meant to offend anyone

chris_at_lucas_RN, RN · Nov 19, 2003

I suspect white worked because it was bleachable.

I like being able to tell who's one of us and who isn't.... but I think white can be disturbing to patients (and it's hard to keep clean since we're not wearing 100% cotton much anymore).

Brita01 · Nov 19, 2003

Hospitals need to be happy that nurses want to work there at all instead of worrying about requiring things like uniform codes.

8ntth · Nov 19, 2003

The hospital where I work has been in the process of changing to a uniform - dress code. In the past each unit had their own color of scrubs. We are now going to color by profession. All nurses are to wear navy &/or white. It can be all navy, all white or navy bottom white top, but NOT white bottom navy top. Aids & unit clerks ar to wear all teal or teal bottom white top. Xray techs will wear maroon or evergreen, etc. The idea is so the patient can identify who's who. I like that idea but as a nurse I think it's nitpicky not to be able to wear white bottom, navy top. No mention of shoes or socks----yet.

StreetRN · Nov 19, 2003

This has been a hot topic for many many years. Putting aside our own personal feelings about what color to wear to work, let's look at it from the patient's perspective. My elderly mother was recently a patient in a hospital. She was never certain at any point in time who was providing care for her. We all operate off of visual queues and everyone who came into her room was wearing scrubs in a variety of colors, with badges turned around backward or hanging from the hem of the scrub top. (although I am certain none of us have ever done that) She was frustrated with asking someone for assistance or instruction only to be told "I'm the physical therapist or I'm the respiratory therapist". Once mom finally got to the correctly "scrubbed" person, she was frustrated and took it out on the "real nurse". Bottom line is if you a nurse, wear white. It directly affects your patients. Thanks for the opportunity to vent.

SmilingBluEyes · Nov 19, 2003

I would LOVE every hospital to mandate NO fake/long nails, ban the use of perfume and smoking on the job, and have SOMETHING to say about loud makeup/hair and GUM POPPING!!!. I don't care the uniform (LONG AS IT IS CLEAN!!!), the UNIFORM does make the nurse really to me. But these other pet peeves of mine bug me more than silly uniforms do. I can't stand the above....they are annoying, sometimes hazardous, and definately detract from a professional image...they have NO place in professional nursing, period.

SmilingBluEyes · Nov 19, 2003

A CLEAR NAME TAG and PROFESSIONAL demeanor and ANNOUNCEMENT of who the person is and his/her title, will let patients KNOW WHO is CARING for them.....all white is not necessarily practical in all areas of nursing, especially where some of us have to go into the O.R. for csections/tubal ligations.

mother/babyRN, RN · Nov 19, 2003

Nope, not unless the plan is to do the same with every other profession....

RNKPCE · Nov 19, 2003

I think there should be a dress code. It does not have to be specific where all nurse where this color or that. But there should be things that can't be worn. No sleeveless shirts, no jeans, no street close, no midriffs showing.

We had one nurse who is wearing street clothes to work. I kid you not. He wears a nice polo shirt and nice docker slacks with mens loafers or tie shoes. Other than his badge there is nothing to indicate in his dress that he isn't a visitor, doctor etc. Our manager is aware of the way he is dressing but nothing has been done. So despite the fact that he looks nice it is inappropriate for a hospital inpatient setting.

StreetRN · Nov 19, 2003

Sorry, forgot to mention our dress code does ban fake nails & nail polish (from our ID nurse) & perfume. There has always been a million excuses for not wearing white. I have worn it in a busy ED setting, pulled my fair share of the load and still went home looking better than some of the staff I see leaving in "scrubs". There's no way anyone can look professional and competent when you're wearing the same attire we send homeless people out with. Scrubs are fine for pajamas or going to the car wash, but they aren't professional attire. Dress the part.