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

Tiki_Torch · Dec 4, 2003

Years ago in nursing school, one of my professors told us a phrase which has stuck with me and often been the yardstick that I use effectively to answer questions like this one about uniforms. She said:

"In any situation, if you do what is in the best interest of the patient, no one can ever fault you for your actions." Shirley Shell, RN

I've care for patients who have complained that they don't know a nurse from a housekeeper or other personnel. Although we are supposed to identify ourselves when we enter a room, I've watched employees enter my Mom's hospital room and often not even say a word about who they are. They would simply start talking asking her about her breathing (Respiratory therapist), put a temp probe in her mouth and a B/P cuff on her arm (Nursing Assistant), drop off linens and ask, "Will you need help with your bath this morning?" (Nursing Assistant), walk in and sweep the floor and empty the trash (Housekeeping). My Mom could figure out many of these people but she only had nurses tell her who they were and not all of them did so.

My Father was hospitalized last year (in a state across the country from me) and he and I were talking about his experience there. He said he rarely knew who a nurse was and then the next day he'd get a new nurse so he had trouble keeping up with who was his nurse for the day. He asked me why nurses don't wear white or caps any more and I had a difficult time answering him. He said he wished there was a way to tell nurses from the other employees.

I believe patients have valid complaints about not knowing who is a nurse and who isn't. It's true that patients and their families are not at their most alert or up to their best when they are under the stress of being sick or having a sick family member. Over time we become complacent and forget that the general public doesn't know what our credentials or letters behind our names mean unless we tell them (considering the name tag is even obvious and facing the patient conspicuously). When people are under stress, it's our responsibility to do what we can to help allieviate as much stress for them as we can. If wearing a certain color of uniform would do this then it would be a simple and effective way to help our patients.

I like to show my individuality as much as the next person, but I don't have to do that at work... I can do that on my off time when I'm with the people I really want to be around. I'm not out to impress my coworkers or make a statement to every single person I come in contact with. I agree that white uniforms look quite professional but are often not practical. I really like the idea of all nurses adopting a dark blue color for their uniforms. Wouldn't it be cool if every nurse a patient came in contact with, whether he/she is hospitalized in one state or another, could identify nurses because they all wear dark blue scrub pants? That could be like the new uniform... Dark blue pants with whatever kind of top (white, blue, print) and a white lab coat. I think that would look very professional and still leave room for individuality. Uniform companies could begin to make more prints with dark blue in their patterns. Then, other departments could adopt universal colors too in a similar way. (The fake, long, painted nails as well as perfume, gaudy makeup, excessive jewelry, long unruly hair, and wrinkled clothes can be answered also with the statement my professor made.... they do not benefit the patients and can actually cause illness or anxiety for them.)

Just my 2 cents. Let the flames begin!

As I said before, and I feel many will agree, we should do whatever benefits the patients first, and then think of ourselves and our own wishes second.

:nurse:

Isn't it interesting that the smiley on our AllNurses board for "nurse" has a smiley wearing a cap!!! :rotfl:

heartwork · Dec 4, 2003

our facility recently changed policy and is enforcing a new dress code for nursing personnel. Licensed nurses are to wear all navy, all royal blue or all white. (all nurses and clinical techs voted on a variety of colors and the that was how the choice was made) Clinical techs voted on teal and burgandy. Nurses can only wear white jackets and clin techs can only wear jackets the same as there scrubs. The rationale was to help the patients identify their caregivers. The problem is that nursing was the only department included in this mandatory dress code. What about the radiology techs and respiratory therapy techs that happen to be wearing navy or royal blue. Will the patient know whether or not this employee is a nurse. the answer! not unless they ask them or the person identifies themselves or has their name badge displayed appropritely. So what was the point of singling out the group of employees whose morale is already slumped due to staffing difficulties, inflexible scheduling etc. Again nursing has been singled out to comply to rules that they had no say so in only which color do you choose. It is ironic that the single largest group of employees in a large company gets singled out for change and have in effect no voice. I do not have a problem with a dress code and in fact believe that it will look more professional to be in solid colors, however if you include one clinical group you have to include them all and make the change global and at the same time in order for your argument that we just want the patients to know who is entering their room to be valid. otherwise it just looks like a case of management picking on nursing just because they can.

thanks for letting me rant!

Yanksindixie · Dec 4, 2003

OK, as a male RN in nursing school, I believed I looked more like a barber than a nurse in the "required" uniform..esp when I carried my scissors around! Then I worked in a hospital where we had "designated" colors/uniforms...my ICU was supposed to be burgundy scrubs, but since the hospital did not provide them nor did they supply $$ for them, "burgundy" raged from red to purple, some of which were pretty obscene colors.

I agree that we have to set limits-no street clothes, no street-walker nails or perfume, but I also know that if I have a GI bleeder bleeding out & the other pt is a walkie-talkie waiting for a regular room, I'd hate to roam into the alert pt's room looking like I walked out of the OR on M*A*S*H.

My present hospital is pretty lenient..sometimes too much...but all of the ICU's have decided to print their own t-shirts (upon approval of staff & mgr) & wear them proudly, even purhcasing some from other units as a show of solidarity. The pts/families all comment on how they like them & enjoy the variety. Bottom line is PROFESSIONALISM..also the fact that if hospitals want set uniforms, they need to either supply them or give a stipend, since I can certainly buy nice casual or dress clothes cheper than most scrubs..esp when it comes to scrub variety for guys..UGH!

As far as ID's, I worked security all thru college..they are not laughing matter, esp in this day & age-wear em, wear me the RIGHT way, DON'T put anything over the faces! Also, despite what we see & hear, announce who we are when we walk into a room, since we should be PROUD of who we are..

NUff said!

sherry-lynne · Dec 5, 2003

Hello,

Yes there should be a uniform code for hospitals, of any size. It is a great leveler for the staff, it is immediately identifiable for the patients and removes the frustration of what to wear. I do not agree with limiting colors, I think you should be able to wear anycolor. Everyone entering a patient room needs to identify themselves to the patient. Of course the scrubs should be clean and neat. I agree with the no long nails and hair clean and neat. I have a real pet peeve with dirty shoes, which I see everywhere in hospitals. I agree with the minimum of jewelery for those in direct patient contact. That is what I think, but I must warn you; no one ever listens to me.lol

peace, slm:kiss

gingerzoe · Dec 5, 2003

to yanksindixie- I agree wholeheartedly with everything you said!:)

Rock, LPN, RN · Dec 5, 2003

I agee with Sherry-Lynne

:eek: :roll :kiss

Katnip, RN · Dec 5, 2003

We just had an interesting situation yesterday that made me want to come down on the side of some sort of uniform for nurses.

A patient's family complained--twice--to administration because they were asking the "nurses" questions and the "nurses" didn't know anything, and the "nurses" were sitting at the desk ignoring call bells. The "nurses" were a unit secretary and a secretary trainee who were wearing scrubs.

Maybe scrubs should be reserved for those who have direct patient care since they're more practicle and easy to clean, not to mention have plenty of pockets, (I know I'm going to get flamed from the secretaries) and those can be color-coded according to tech or nursing. Nurses get shades of blue and techs greens and teals with option of coordinated print tops or something.

I'm not really sure of the best answer, but we really do need something that can identify us at a glance and down the hall.

pieWACKet · Dec 7, 2003

When I started nursing in the 80s, we all wore white, a few wore a cap, the [now archaic] reminder of another period in nursing dress.

Now, at the hospital where I work, we can wear the color scrubs we want, and most nurses DO choose scrubs..and so do the housecleaners, and the unit secretaries, etc . Only the pharmacists [present on our floor] and the OTs, and PTs, and nutritionists, social workers, and MDs, wear whatever they want. The result? The professionals seem to be those wearing anything other than scrubs. While everyone else "must be" a nurse. Its silly.

I don't wear scrubs...I wear likewise inexpensive clothing I don't mind getting contaminated and which I use only for work and which allows me to express myself while looking professional, without wearing the awful scrubs that do NOTHING to make a person look attractive [if they are over 28] . And I am evident as a nurse by my introduction to patient, my demeanor, and my job function.

mattsmom81 · Dec 11, 2003

Which is no surprise...we get new directors and bosses every 6 months or so...LOL. BUT WHY do they ALWAYS have to get us all under their thumb by telling us what we must WEAR???

I've been back at this facility less than a year and have gone through two uni color/style changes...now my third.

With zero uni stipend mind you. Don't these people know uniforms are expensive??? :rolleyes:

Speculating · Dec 11, 2003

Originally posted by brian
This month's survey Question:
Do you think hospitals should require a uniform code for nurses?

Sure sounds good to me when everybody has to do the same. The people in the financial office should wear green suits. The people in lab should dress all in red. The people in middle management should wear blue because that's the color I get whenever I try to talk with them. Nursing well we should wear brown because when your getting #@!& on all the time by management what other color could beater hide the stains. Hummm...upper management well they should all dress like clowns and kiss my @$$.:roll

Geeg · Dec 11, 2003

Hospital admin does not want nurses to be easily distinguished by the uniform, then the pts will realize of few RN's are actually on duty.

actinggirl · Dec 11, 2003

I don't want to upset anyone, but I was in the hospital recently and it was very difficult to tell everyone apart. I remember asking one of my family members why anyone except doctors and nurses would wear scrubs. I just don't understand why secretaries or housekeeping would wear scrubs. It doesn't make sense to me, but that's just my opinion.