Tooniforms

Nurses General Nursing

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What do you all think about uniforms with patterns or cartoon characters? I have a Marvin the Martian warm-up jacket that I use mostly on Peds, but I don't see anything horrible about wearing it in L&D or PP at the nursing station where it is ALWAYS freezing. One of the other nurses I work with finds it offensive...Any thoughts?

MattC........I acknowledge your opinion and even see its merit.........

however I have to agree with fergus51 and judy ann.............

I can look and act professional in whatever I wear.............

my tweety uniforms, joe cool and kids with wirebrush hairdos.........are the best sellers.........I also love my love/peace one stars and moons..........

Hi, my name is............... and I will be your nurse tonight.............and your patient says........."gee thanks for wearing that.....and I say what.....and they say thanks for giving me something to smile about when I am scared to.......,etc. great ice breaker for patient/nurse interaction and trust development..............

my goal is to have a uniform, totally different 365 days a year........

this is only my opinion.................

but i like what i like.....and i have no complaints..........from patients or families.............

a nurse can present themselves as a nurse and be professional no matter what they wear.........

I wanna marvin the martian uniform.........santa claus are you listening?????????

(no I don't work in peds or ob.........maybe belong in peds..........hey, now that was unaccounted for .......psych you say.........no that is not so.................)but listen to some psych patients sometime.....we could all learn somethin............

micro definitely out in left field, but she likes it there.......daisies are nice.............

lol all.............

tomorrow it is sylvester the cat uniform.........

Specializes in Trauma acute surgery, surgical ICU, PACU.

There are three wards inmy hospital where the unit managers do not *allow* nurses to wear uniforms. They think uniforms in themselves are degrading and unprofessional - I can't imagine wearing tooniforms on one of those wards!

Matt C: what do you think "professional" garb should be?

I think that is the real issue, since all of us consider ourselves to be professionals here....

Originally posted by micro

MattC........I acknowledge your opinion and even see its merit.........

however I have to agree with fergus51 and judy ann.............

I can look and act professional in whatever I wear.............

Question: Would you consider a member of the police force to be "professional" if they showed up at a domestic disturbance in ripped jeans and a dirty t-shirt? What if they acted professionally?

Would you consider a nurse that acted professionally but showed up in ripped jeans and a dirty t-shirt to be "professional?"

Uniforms help with identity. You know a cop on the street by their uniform. You know a navy sailor on the street by their uniform. Unfortunately, you can't say the same for nurses. While professional behavior goes a long way, the health care environment is very confusing and even intimidating to the general public. When someone is admitted to the hospital, everyone looks alike whether surgeon, CNA, RT, nurse, or phlebotomist.

That is part of the reason, I think, that traditional white uniforms have disappeared. Hospitals like the fact that patients can't tell everyone apart. Having nurses identified as such through uniforms can put the patients at ease and help them and their families identify their caregivers.

I would love to see a return to all white. It's traditional and easily identified by the general public, just as a blue uniform and sheild says, "police officer".

Don't get me wrong, professional attitude and knowledge are also important, but perhaps "looking the part" is also important.

Specializes in Geriatrics, LTC.
Originally posted by judy ann

Another place where toonscrubs are not only appropriate but very much appreciated by the residents--LTC. when I am working in a LTC, I am in the resident's home, and that is not the place for whites. I do agree that whites might be more appropriate on the floors, but sometimes a little color makes everyone feel better.:) :o

I have to agree, the residents seem to really enjoy all the different tops and colors. And they don't feel so much like they are in a hospital.

:)

:roll

:kissblush

Oh geeze! Why would they be offended?........................Don't tell me............they're Martian American.:rolleyes:

Brad

Specializes in ER, NICU, NSY and some other stuff.

Matt,

I really think your comparison doesn't jibe. There would be quite a difference between torn jeans and a dirty T-shirt and a clean colorful uniform. Oh Puhleeze. I have many cop friends who are detectives and street crimes that do not wear uniforms. They are sometimes called on to wear ripped jeans and dirty t-shirts but whne the guns come out so do the badges.

I would be equally leary of the guy frying my burger at the grill if her were wearing a dirty t-shirt. But he is wearing what.......

oh an all white uniform maybe he is really an RN.

Specializes in Home Health.

Well Matt, I hate wearing white and I'll tell you why. First of all, it is very hard to keep clean, after a few washings in my hard water, they look dingy and more unprofessional than anything else. Second, the woman's uniforms are so freaking see-through, I really don't want anyone to see if I am wearing bikins, a thong, or no underwear like many of the men under their scrubs. That goes for the kind of bra I am wearing too. I feel naked when I wear white. If it's white cotton, it's always too see-through, if it's a polyester blend, you drip sweat. If you wear a dress, a woman needs a slip and hot pantyhose. I'm sorry, it's just not practical.

However, I would not mind having a uniform like a military fatigues or something of that nature, where only by a certain rank could you where a certain color or style. Instead of the stupid white starch hat, how about a matching beret, looks good on woman and men.

I don't mind the tooniforms. I wear many brightly colored uniforms, angels, hearts, flowers, flags, etc.. My home care pt's always enjoy them. My 100 year old pt looks forward to seeing what top I wear next.

As an aside. When my husband was a pt after his last surgery, he made an intersting remark. He said when this one girl came in the room, he said I could tell she was the nurse, it was the way she carried herself. Maybe that is b/c he lives w a nurse and has observed me and my nurse friends, not sure, but he was able to tell the difference. It does irk me to no end though to think hospitals do encg the wearing of any color for anyone just to make people think there are more nurses. I truly believe you are right about that.

Specializes in LDRP; Education.

Matt,

While I like my colorful scrubs, I also look just like the Medical Assistants, the houskeepers, etc at my clinic. Identity is a major issue where I work, especially since the MAs don't wear nametags.

I would give up the colorful scrubs in a heartbeat. I agree with you.

I don't have to worry about the who is a nurse thing because we are an all RN staff. The only place we have CNAs is in LTC and the only LPNs are on med-surg.

I will NEVER wear white. Did I mention I work L&D? Don't know how much time you've spent there Matt, but believe me, nothing is more impractical than white in L&D:D!!! It is a wet, gooey, disgusting place at times (I have had to rip women out of the shower before, can you imagine doing that in white?! I would look like a contestant in a wet t-shirt contest!). Patterns are way more practical!! I have never had a problem with people thinking I am not serious about my job. I am sure ICU is different, but I find a the atmosphere in L&D is one which breeds familiarity between the nurses and patients and there is a lot of joking around and time spent getting to know eachother.

Specializes in LDRP; Education.

Definitely Fergus! On my OB floor there isn't an identity issue and I would NOT wear white there! OMG!

But the clinic is a different story completely. Worlds apart. ;)

Specializes in Community Health Nurse.

This topic of conversation reminds me of when I was a student nurse going through my pediatric rotation. As students, we had to wear the starchy white uniforms and hat. There was a four year old pedi patient pulling a two year old patient to the nurses station in a little red wagon. She was looking for "the nurse". I said, "May I help you?" She said, "You're not a nurse!" (pronounced more like the word noyse). "I wanna wheel noyse". Needless to say, we all busted out laughing, and the little one rolled her eyes and headed down the hallway in search of a "wheel noyse". :chuckle :roll :chuckle Ahhh, gotta love those pedi kids, huh? ;)

Bottom line: the "wheel noyses" wore tooney tops, and the only ones on the pedi unit with white uniforms and hats were the nursing students. Couldn't fool that four year old! Not only do kids say the darndest things, they are so brutally honest! ;)

Specializes in LDRP; Education.

Actually, Renee, your post points out how uniforms DO help to differentiate who is who, even to a 4 year old.

Nowadays, that 4 year old wouldn't be able to tell - trust me. ;)

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