The retro nurse's outfit has returned

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Specializes in Women's health & post-partum.
I don't mind a white uniform, if I can wear pants. I will not wear a skirt, or even the cap.

I agree, although I'm not sure I have any put-in since I've retired.

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Perhaps housekeeping could wear all white? After all, they'll only mop after you've cleaned up the blood, vomit or poo, so they won't have to worry about getting stains on their clothes.

But really, I had a housekeeping job at one time, pants and a polo shirt.

At one hospital where I work, everyone wears scrubs but each group wears a designated color. I like it. Some argue that you can tell who is who by the title on the badge, but not from from more than a couple of feet away and not unless that person is facing you.

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Specializes in Rodeo Nursing (Neuro).
Wow! Would the GUY nurses have to wear the white nurse caps too? I can't WAIT to see this! LOL! (or pantyhose?) Tee hee. I mean, in the name of professionalism and all...

We had a "white out night" once, where we all wore all white as a tribute to a couple of our coworkers who had started when all white was the required attire. One nurse brought her cap, and had me put it on for awhile. All I can say is, anyone who can work a shift in that thing is a better woman than I'll ever be. Did cover my bald spot, though.

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Here is an easy way to tell the nurse from housekeeper: the nurse has a stethoscope. But really I wouldn't mind going retro every now and then.

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Specializes in LTC, Home Health, Hospice.

Nope, Nope, Nope, not a dress. Men have a problem of putting or attempting to put their hands where they don't belong. I don't mind the Hat, its earned no biggie. I do mind the numerous rings, heavy earrings, excessive jewelry etc (Harbors Bacteria and you can and do lose stones!)

Pantie Hose...umm what about when something splashes on your legs..at lease the pants keep things from your skin, but pantie hose allows that stuff right up close. Bacteria, Germs, MRSA anyone? I don't mind the white shoes, I see to many wearing those crocks, no protection, so support, don't get me wrong, they are comfortable, but definitely not practical. I agree with a color coded system, hair needs to be up and out of the way, after all who wants meds passed out to them with hair in it? not me. Short finger nails, please. Those long fake things need to go, you can't clean your hands well enough to eliminate those freaky friends.

Don't get me started on numerous ear piercings..I seen a Nurse once with 7, yes 7 holes in her ears, plus her eyebrow! I don't want her working on me....

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Here is an easy way to tell the nurse from housekeeper: the nurse has a stethoscope. But really I wouldn't mind going retro every now and then.

It works to differentiate us nurses from the doctors too. :)

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I shudder at the mere thought...or suggestion...that I would have to wear a skirt to work in....but refuse to consider panty hose! no, no, no, no, a thousand times no!!

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Can you spell "gimmick?" This is just the latest in a series of corporate tricks that focuses more on veneer than actual quality.

Anyone who wants to wear all white/cap/hose, go for it. But to mandate it throughout a facility is not my idea of a positive change. It's yet another way for the powers that be (in some places) to try to squeeze more out of their nursing staff (at their expense) in the name of looking good.

Who can concentrate on patients and tasks (some of which require bending, stooping, reaching, etc.) when you have to keep worrying about keeping your cap up and your skirt down?

And who is going to pay for the mandated whites? Talk about a kick in the keister.

On top of that, you're still going to have people that come to work rumpled and disheveled or sporting crazy hair, fake nails, and excessive jewelry. Putting them in white won't fix those problems.

No, this idea really doesn't blow my (non-existent) skirt up one teensy little bit.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Cardiovascular and thoracic,.

In addition to liking white uniforms and caps, I will tell you a quick story about what happened when I first started working here in New Zealand. I had to take a 6 week Nursing Competency Assessment Programme before being able to be registered. My "student" uniform was a white blouse and black slacks. Now, I had no pockets, so I wore my white lab jacket. I was never mistaken for a nurse (all of whom wore navy blue uniforms with a bit of white trim) but I was mistaken for a doctor! Was it the lab jacket? Or could it have been the fact that I had a stethescope? (Which many nurses here don't see as necessary like in the states!) My uniform now is navy pants and a white top with a navy collar, buttons up the front - and I have a navy epaulette on each shoulder with a white stripe on each (the white strip signifies I am a senior nurse).Nurses' uniforms are provided by the hospitals.

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Specializes in Trauma ICU, Peds ICU.

What are the guys supposed to wear?

It doesn't make any sense to me. I never really get the "patient's don't know who their nurse is" argument, because that's not something I've seen happen. Even if that is an issue, well, then... maybe housekeepers shouldn't be wearing scrubs.

I could get on board with requiring more conservative scrubs, or a good pair of pants and something like a polo shirt, but those photos of nurses in caps and gowns are just cartoonish and ridiculous.

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Specializes in mental health, aged care/disability care.

I can handle the white, but I'm not wearing a skirt or one of those dorky hats!

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Here is a soultion to the nurses being confused with other hospital personal. One of the hospitals in my area requires the nurses both LPN and RNs to have their first name and their title

embroidered on ther scrubs.

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