I was prompted to join a nursing forum today so I could research what my employer is implementing as far as a new dress code.
Although the committee who drafted this new policy stated that this was a result of employee AND patient satisfaction polls, many of my collegues are furious that our opinions and input was never asked for. I work at a 350 bed hospital and level one trauma center. Specifics: we buy from the same vendor, the SAME style, and color-coded for our differing professions ie: RN's, PT, CNA's, RT, etc. will all have their own color. They are offering a stipend for three uniforms for start up, and after that we are to purchase our own.
I wanted to gain the opinions of other professionals whose hospitals/employers have changed to this policy. Whether it worked or not and why. What actions were taken?
This new policy seems like a step backward in time.
The rationale for them is that we will look more professional, the patients will take more comfort in knowing who their nurse is as opposed to environmental services (funny, but I have yet to come across ANY RN, RT, PT, or CNA who does not introduce themselves as such upon entering the room).
We feel like 'drones' who are now going to be dressed every morning because apparently we are unable to do so ourselves.
Personally, my patients frequently give wonderful comments on my jackets.
So tell me what your ideas are on this.
How can we fight the battle and have a chance at ending this ludicrous and military type of policy?
What's next? Limiting hair styles to above the collar?
:trout:
They are telling us that this is the NEW trend and that this is what patients want.
From experience, I say that they are full of it.
I would really like the local news to investigate...even if it is only an internet poll.
I for one would have to quit my job at the hospital and just do home health if they forced me to wear some of the uniforms you have described.
What I am about to say next is NOT meant as an insult to anyone, just how I feel about it good or bad. I am a male nurse. It was hard enough for me to get past all of the sterotypes out there about male nurses. I have nothing against anyone that is gay, I just don't like for people to assume that I am, any yes they do. I work in a small, very rural area in Nebraska. There have been SEVERAL comments made to me and to other staff(even to my wife that works there as well) that Pt's just thought I was gay because I was a nurse--stupid? Yes but still they thought it. If I had to wear white, or any other light flowery girlie color---I'm out.
I for one would have to quit my job at the hospital and just do home health if they forced me to wear some of the uniforms you have described.
What I am about to say next is NOT meant as an insult to anyone, just how I feel about it good or bad. I am a male nurse. It was hard enough for me to get past all of the sterotypes out there about male nurses. I have nothing against anyone that is gay, I just don't like for people to assume that I am, any yes they do. I work in a small, very rural area in Nebraska. There have been SEVERAL comments made to me and to other staff(even to my wife that works there as well) that Pt's just thought I was gay because I was a nurse--stupid? Yes but still they thought it. If I had to wear white, or any other light flowery girlie color---I'm out.
Just my 2cents
Tom
It is so, so sad that it is a stereotype of male nurses, and I wouldn't blame any guy for being upset about that. There are so few male nurses, and it's hard to figure out where it came from.
I don't think that male nurses should be forced to wear "girlie" colors. THAT is unprofessional. A guy is a guy and they need to come up with a male-oriented uniform if they want to have "pink" as the primary color in a department.
I was prompted to join a nursing forum today so I could research what my employer is implementing as far as a new dress code.
Although the committee who drafted this new policy stated that this was a result of employee AND patient satisfaction polls, many of my collegues are furious that our opinions and input was never asked for. I work at a 350 bed hospital and level one trauma center. Specifics: we buy from the same vendor, the SAME style, and color-coded for our differing professions ie: RN's, PT, CNA's, RT, etc. will all have their own color. They are offering a stipend for three uniforms for start up, and after that we are to purchase our own.
I wanted to gain the opinions of other professionals whose hospitals/employers have changed to this policy. Whether it worked or not and why. What actions were taken?
This new policy seems like a step backward in time.
The rationale for them is that we will look more professional, the patients will take more comfort in knowing who their nurse is as opposed to environmental services (funny, but I have yet to come across ANY RN, RT, PT, or CNA who does not introduce themselves as such upon entering the room).
We feel like 'drones' who are now going to be dressed every morning because apparently we are unable to do so ourselves.
Personally, my patients frequently give wonderful comments on my jackets.
So tell me what your ideas are on this.
How can we fight the battle and have a chance at ending this ludicrous and military type of policy?
What's next? Limiting hair styles to above the collar?
:trout:
They are telling us that this is the NEW trend and that this is what patients want.
From experience, I say that they are full of it.
I would really like the local news to investigate...even if it is only an internet poll.
Congratulations on being given this responsibility! Clearly your leadership and friends respect you and need your leadership on this hot button issue. I read all the posts this morning, boy we nurses sure have strong opinions!
and that is terrific, but we need common ground. Do you have a library at your facility? If so please do a lit search and find the facts. Why are uniform standards changing? What are the experiences of other organizations? How does this effect the care of patients? Job satisfaction? Morale? Turnover? Retention? What does it cost? Deliver to your employers, patients and peers a professional, thoughtful, fact based assessment - include the documentation, and your recommendation based on your assessment. If you do not have an onsite library - ask leadership to pay for the research using an area health organization or physician service. Good luck!
The facility I work at just implemented a dress code on Oct 1st. Nurses wear khaki pants, cna's ceil blue, housekeeping navy, dietary black, restorative grey, wound nurses pink, therapy green. We had absolutely no say in this, and was given no money to buy new scrub pants. The reasoning was that our rehab patients couldn't tell who was who. Most of uour patients are alert and had no trouble telling who was who. They had no trouble remembering my name as the nurse. We are still allowed to wear whatever scrub top matchs and/or jacket with our "color". Most of my patients like the interesting or different print tops. Sometimes it is an icebreaker to start a conversation to alleve their anxiety and to bond with your patient. Alot of the facilities in my area are having the nurses go to all white, so I am thankful that we are still in colors... I think these trends will cycle around. I have seen it before.. The admission person is giving the patient a chart to keep track of what colors who is wearing.. We always wear our name tags too. All the people I have asked hate the color coding...
The hospital that my wife works at(and I will be starting at next week), went to a dress code. RNs wear wine, aides wear royal blue, ER Techs (me) wear green. We have to buy our own, and they have to be embroidered with first name and position. Though I do think it looks good, and it's easier for employees to tell who's what, from what my wife's told me, I don't think it's made a big difference in the Pts. being able to tell who's who. Just my .02
I don't like the idea of having to wear a certain scrub bc I don't like how most fit me-they are uncomfortable. Either the crotch comes down to my knees or the pants slide off my butt when I bend over. I found the perfect pants that I love and they fit me-I'd hate hate hate to be told I couldn't wear them. As for tops, I could go both ways. I used to wear all one color, now I have tops, but I try to stay as professional as I can. Meaning, my tops usually don't have tons of dizzy-ing colors or patterns. Usually they are a flower like hibuscus or disney. I have had patients say they hate some tops bc they have too much going on, but been told by the same patient that she did like mine. Who knows. I just know I love to be able to choose my own peices. NOW, if I had to have the same color-just let me pick out the pants!!!!
RN BSN 2009
1,289 Posts
No, dont do it!!