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

angellavg · Dec 22, 2003

the hospital that i work at requires us to wear white pants and any kind of top. a lot of the nurses wear faded t-shirts, white jeans, etc. i think we would look better if we all wore scrubs, colored or not. it is a very small hospital (24 beds) and the only people on the floor is the RNs and LPNS, so there wouldn't be a big problem with who is who. all other departments wear street clothes, maybe with a lab jacket over top.

ImaStork · Dec 23, 2003

Originally posted by SmilingBluEyes
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.

come to work at my hospital... we have the ban on fake nails, and the perfume. The smoking is pretty hard since u have to be 20 ft from the building. We all wear the same color scrubs on my l & d unit, they are furnished by the hospital, we can pick our own cover jacket. We also have to wear our picture ID where all can see it it has our name and title on it. Introducing ourselves to the patient is also one of the interventions on our nursing care plan. Each room has an erase board on it we put the name of the RN caring for the patient that day, the LVN if appliable and the Nursery staff who has her baby.

Long Term Care Columnist / Guide · Dec 23, 2003

What I'm wondering is, why should NURSES have to change what they wear to conform to a certain standard? Who decided that housekeeping and dietary should wear scrubs, anyway? They're the ones who ought to change, as they are not clinical staff and should never be mistaken for such!

Where I work, housekeeping staff all wear a black and gold polo shirt that has the company logo, with a dark red cobbler apron and dark pants or jeans. The dietary staff wear similar dark red polo shirts and blue cobbler aprons. Only clinical staff wear scrubs or uniforms of the wearer's choice, except for OB-GYN staff who wear tops with baby-foot prints and blue scrub pants, and surgical staff who wear greens.

We don't have much of a problem with patients being unable to differentiate between clinical and ancillary staff members.:) We are supposed to identify ourselves anytime we walk into a room (e.g. "Hi, I'm so-and-so, and I'm your nurse this afternoon").

Plus, our name badges have our picture, name and title right out there for all the world to see. I personally have never had a patient question my competency or professionalism, and yes, I wear fun scrubs with kitties and seals and other cute critters on them. But again, we don't have issues with ancillary staff dressing like the nurses and nurses dressing like the cafeteria ladies!

jjjoy, LPN · Dec 25, 2003

For the average hospital nursing staff, I'm in favor of uniforms. Easy identification is important. As the nurse, you are the center of all patient care. You want others to be able to spot you and to come to you first for issues related to your patients.

The fact that doctors and lawyers don't wear uniforms and that fast food staff do has nothing to do with it. What nurses wear should only be determined by what's best for nurses and their patients. Staff nursing is a specific kind of work. The work is physical and can be messy, thus making otherwise professional clothes (eg, suits) impractical. Nurses provide service and coordination and thus need to be easily identified by patients, family and other hospital personnel. Add to that the fact that nurses are busy moving about the unit, mingling with other staff and that the nursing staff changes from shift to shift and day to day. Uniforms are the easiest way to provide quick identification of who the nurses are.

I do like the comparison to police officers and security staff. I like to be able to identify them from a distance by their uniform. I also wouldn't want the security uniforms to look just like police uniforms. I want to be able to tell from the uniform whether or not they are police officers or private security personnel. Also note that investigators don't wear the uniforms. I don't think it's because they are "more professional" than the beat cop. It's just that the uniform serves a certain function in the public that isn't necessary for all positions in law enforcement.

lee1 · Dec 28, 2003

I too am tired of mandated uniforms. This NEVER works. As soon as a particular color scrub is mandated for nurses the next thing I always found was that the pharmacy techs, the nursing aides were wearing the same colors. I do believe that housekeeping personal should have their own uniforms and a color code system for nursing aides/techs. Nurses should wear white lab coats, either short or long with their names and titles embroidered large enough for patients to see plus name tags. They could even have their department embroidered on the sleeve. This for those that have daily/hourly contact with patients. What is underneath then is up to the individual. Yes, there should be a dress code for those individuals not compliant with professional demeanor----and health related concerns (long acrylic nails). Most nurses who are direct staff nurses wear scrubs underneath for the wash/wear/bending, etc. convenience.

Of course the other professions all do the same thing, MDS, dietician, PT/OT, Resp TX, etc.

Then what about the "suits" that are constantly walking around?

HNs, Directors, Managers,VPs, admitting, business people?? Besides clearly defined name tags??

jjjoy, LPN · Dec 30, 2003

A uniform policy certainly is pointless if anyone else can just wear the same outfit. It takes cooperation between various departments, such that other departments don't allow their staff to dress the same as nurses. I too question why hospitals would allow non-nursing staff to dress in clothes just like that of the nursing staff. It's very confusing to people who don't know all of the staff. For example, it would be difficult for the average patient to recognize that the unit secretary isn't a nurse. Even if they see the name badge, one still might assume that the unit secretary also has a nurse's training if he/she is dressed like the nurses.

I agree that uniforms can stifle individuality and can sometimes seem a punishment (poor fit, ugly colors, have to pay for out of pocket, etc). There are positives and negatives to uniforms, and there are also positives and negatives to not having uniforms specific to nurses. The policies surrounding either make a difference as well. I hate to see debates end up just being blanket statements - "uniforms are degrading and pointless" or "only traditional whites can instill professional pride."

It used to be that someone wearing a white coat and carrying a stethoscope would most likely be a doctor. Not so anymore. It used to be that someone wearing scrubs probably worked in the OR. Not so anymore. It used to be that nurses wore caps and white starched dresses. Not so anymore.

It just seems that as nurses' roles evolve and as more and more tasks are delegated to non-nurses, nurses would want to highlight their presence and function in inpatient care and not blend in the other staff.

This is not a top priority topic but it is worthy of some discussion, especially if you find your hospital considering implementing a uniform policy. You can hone your arguments and persuasive skills to advocate whatever clothes policy you'd support.

cadeusus2004 · Jan 3, 2004

Here is why I think there ought to be uniform codes. (I'm not as conservative as you might think).

1. Patients recognize nursing uniforms. They should, to me, be basically white, with discreet patterns for friendliness (like in Pedi). I'm not impressed with Harley-Davidson type patterns, e especially on adolescent units because they may leave the wrong impression.

2. Physicians can easily recognize the nurse , especially in critical situations. No confusion.

3. A really professional look that says: "I am Nurse. I am proud of it and won't hide it. (However, I think the hat is passe and might be unsafe.

4. A uniform of collegiality. We are Nurses. We are one. We are together and wear this because of it. It is an honor.

5. Unification: No competitive differences, please. If Neruo wears Kelly Green, Pedi wears blue patterned, OR wears Sea Green, Maternity wears Pink, Ortho wears Brown, whatever. It just separates us. Identity is one thing. Isolation is another.

6. I think that if Nurse Managers, who are RNs and part of the Nursing team, want to wear street clothes, they are divorcing themselves from the profession and making a sartorial alliance with management.

7. White is good. Patients who can't see well don't have a problem. They automatically know who the nurse is.

8. The uniforms must be clean, white (or something easilyu ID'd), formal, professional and denoting us a something special. After all, when we trained to be a nurses, we got turned from civilians into other animals called a RNs. Let' ( And you can take the cleaning, the maintanence and purchase off your taxes, not street cloths)

9. White is traditional. If you hate tradition, then you won't like it. But, if you don't have a hangup about it, you might feel better seeing yourself in that white, crisp, pure, uniform.

9. Purity and cleanliness. White is the symbol of hope, purity, cleanliness, faith, dedication. That's powerful stuff in my book.

10.I am a male and many times patients call me "Doctor". Its a burden I must live with. If they ask me if I am a physician I simply say: "I'm (my name) a Registered Nurse and am in charge of your case today." I don't say: "No". I don't have to and don't want to. Besides, it's not required.

11.I am so pleased with my accomplishment as a successful RN, I'll wear any color to pronounce myself as what I am.

12. I realize that certain Nurses must wear different colors, say green for OR or patterns for Pedi or Pink for Maternity or Post Partum, there is no jealousy. But, just because someone wears a different color, it doesn't make me or they superior.

13.I will agree that Nurses want to identify themselves with their specialties. That is entirely fine. But, lets get together on this issue. Color is not rank. Professional, clean, easily identifiable uniforming as an RN in the profession of all RNs, is the way to go.

14.Personally, I dig white. I just love it. Always have. I look really good in it.

cadeusus2004 · Jan 3, 2004

forgot something:

NO! I don't hink hospitals have any right telling a nurse what she or he can wear as long as it is clean professional. It is WE who ought to do the regulating.

Let me tall you something about most hospitals. The only color they care about is money green. They do not care about us.

Tell an administrator or a nurse manager: "Oh, you work in the hospital, eh? Maybe you ought to be bound by the same regulations as us." See what they say.

Pardon my French: "FTW".

Sarah, RNBScN · Jan 3, 2004

If they want to pay for them, keep them laundered and so forth...sure. I will wear what is provided...

Presently, I enjoy my prints, I am always neat and professional and do not wear artificial nails (I'm not a nail person) nor perfume on the job. My name tag is clearly visible with my position listed. Since I am paying and caring for my uniforms, I like to wear what I want.

Sarah

cadeusus2004 · Jan 4, 2004

Sarah, I respect your decision. But, I think you will find dress codes, either written or implied, in almost all other professions.

A lawyer would not dare show up in court in the same clothes he wears to mow the lawn, nor would a physician see a patient in less than a nice shirt and tie. Salespersons also wear 'dress up'. Let's call it 'part of the job'. The only place where I ever wore a uniform and the business paid for the laundering and upkeep was when I worked summers as an auto mechanic. (Even the ASE has a dress code. Ask an ASE certified mechanic). But, if your job allows you the latitude you like in dress, (say casual in a Mental Health setting), more power to you. Viv La Difference!

tymomrn · Jan 4, 2004

I've seen plenty of doctors come in dressed in jeans or sweats/shorts if coming from the gym! One guy I work with wants uniforms like the medics. Um, no thank you. Why? We don't do hands on pt care just take medic calls. Hell, I've come in in t-shirts! Nobody sees us in this box. When I work ER, I wear scrubs, but they are always neat and clean. I hate when tops are short enough so that when someone bends over you can see the tattoo on her back. Most of my tattoos are covered, as well they should be. As long as you are neat, clean, and professional looking, you should be able to wear whatever you like.

ainz · Jan 4, 2004

Yes, a dress code should be written and enforced. I have seen hospital after hospital that relaxes their dress code and within a year people are wearing all sorts of things. The public, our customers, expect a certain look from people who hold themselves out to be "professionals." If the customers don't come you don't get a paycheck.