Uniforms.. color scrubs vs whites

[staceylee67]

Is anyone else sick of hearing "I can't tell the nurses from the housekeeper"? My response is "here's a hint... your nurse is the one who does your assessment, gives you pills, pokes you with needles, etc and the housekeeper takes the trash out, mops the floor, cleans the toilet, etc". A nurse who does not introduce him or herself will not start doing so just because of a white uniform. I wish people would put the responsibility back on the nurse and stop blaming the color of the uniform for pt's not knowing who's who. Does anyone else agree? I'm sure I cannot be the only one who feels this way.

[DutchgirlRN, ASN, RN]

I agree except when it comes to telling the nurses from the tech. Between the techs telling the patient they are their nurse (hey I know many don't, I'm not starting a discussion here) and them taking vitals and such many patients get confused. I like the RN or LPN patch sewn to the right sleeve that was proposed but evidently fell through. I certainly don't want to go back to white. I might consider wearing my cap but certainly would rather not.

http://www.lydiasuniforms.com/scrubs/RN_Patch_szp.html?p_prodid=2700

Establishing the identity of the nurse has been a contentious issue since Florence Nightingale sought to change the practice and image of nurses in England in the 1800s—an image Charles Dickens caricatured to satiric effect with the slovenly, ginnipping buffoon of a nurse Sairey Gamp in his 1843 novel Martin Chuzzlewit. To counter that image, what nurses wore became as important as what they did.

FIGURE. Nurses are no longer distinguishable from many health care workers.

The woman in white, that 1950s stereotype in white cap, dress, and shoes, has prevailed as the media icon of American nursing, although she has long since left contemporary practice. Nurses in this country began shedding their white uniforms in the 1960s as part of the anticonformist movement, and the clear identity of the RN was blurred. Ever since, patients have complained that nurses are unrecognizable to them. And even nurses debate what nurses ought to wear. For example, tunics festooned with flowers and cartoon Teddy bears, worn by nurses and nonnurses, seem “unprofessional” to some nurses when worn outside of pediatrics. Those critics may be right; journalist Suzanne Gordon has noted that the ways nurses present themselves to patients shape public views of the profession.

Artists Mark Dion and J. Morgan Puett extended the debate over nurses’ uniforms and identity through their exhibition RN: The Past, Present, and Future of the Nurses’ Uniform, on view in Philadelphia at the Fabric Workshop and Museum from October 2003 until February 2004. In collaboration with the University of Pennsylvania’s Center for the Study of the History of Nursing (of which Karen Buhler-Wilkerson is director), Dion and Puett documented the societal trends that have shaped what nurses wear while at work. The single most dramatic response, from nurses and others, was that nurses are no longer distinguishable from many health care workers. This month, AJN has adapted part of the exhibition’s catalog and published it with photographs of uniforms both historic and futuristic (see page 40). Read the article, and let us know what you think about nursing’s uniform dilemma.

Prior to the exhibit, the artists surveyed nurses: what elements would the “ideal” nursing uniform contain? They incorporated those elements into their own design of the ideal uniform, which they displayed. In addition, the artists designed an “RN” logo for the exhibition as well as an embroidered “RN” patch distributed at the museum (and which we display this month on our cover). One nurse who attended recognized an opportunity to assert her identity and sewed the red-and-white patches on her lab coats.

We are asking uniform manufacturers to make these patches available on uniforms they sell to nurses—whether scrubs, whites, or lab coats. AJN will publish the names of uniform manufacturers that do so. Hospitals, long-term care facilities, and home care and other organizations can purchase patches in bulk for their employees. Quantities of 5,000 or more can be ordered from Valley Products Company: [phone] or [email protected]. What a great gift for Nurse’s Week celebrations.

We believe this could be a simple yet elegant solution to nursing’s identity crisis. (Perhaps a similar patch for LPNs could be useful as well.) Help us take it from the grassroots to a national platform: apply the “RN” patch to your scrubs or lab coats, and urge your colleagues to do the same.

http://www.nursingcenter.com/library/journalarticleprint.asp?Article_ID=497822

[TazziRN, RN]

Every hospital I've ever been in, either as a nurse or visitor or patient, has had its ancillary staff in uniforms particular to each department. The direct pt care staff usually has scrubs on, but the ancillary depts either have the same set of scrubs for the dept, or a uniform, or lab coats.

[BSN74]

As a new nurse in the 70's, I wore whites and a cap. And the white hose. Only the RN wore those. The LPN's wore skin color. I remember rushing down the hall looking down at my legs shortly after graduation thinking "I made it, I'm really a nurse!" And the white uniforms were not starched. They were a knit with flattering seaming. They were so comfortable, not like the unstretchable scrubs.

Now that I am old I am starting to be on the patient side of things. Last year I was in the ER with a DVT. I was scared to death. Something about the Spongebob and Minnie Mouse scrubs on the nurses seemed a little like an insult.

Later, not wanting to bother anyone, when a worker came into the room I asked for something for pain. She said "I am here to clean your bathroom."

You say you wear badges so we will know who you are. There is so much info on the badge that the name part has to be written in small type. I can't see it without my glasses, in pain, with the nurse moving around, and the badge often upside down. Anytime someone came in my room I was reduced to saying "what are you?" I felt very rude. All nurses do not introduce themselves and even if they do, who can remember all the new names?

You say nurses cap's went by the wayside because they were an infection control issue. I kept my caps washed. But what about those badges? How often are they cleaned? Often, the picture is of a dark haired woman and the nurse has gray hair. How old is this badge? They say the dirtiest thing in the hospital is the doctor's necktie, but my vote is those nasty badges, I don't want one touching me.

I am so glad I got to be a nurse when nurses had the added advantage of looking good. Little girls today miss out on the dream of wearing that cap. Solid color scrubs look like pajamas. The prints (and why are they always such unprofessional prints?) look like clown suits. Add Crocs and there you go- clown shoes to go with the clown suit.

[BSN74]

Body fluids look just as disgusting on Mickey Mouse as they do on white and you can later bleach the white.

[NurseLatteDNP, MSN, DNP, RN]

I don't like the white scrubs, but I would like if our hospital would have different colors for nurses, techs (aides), houskeeping...

[mom2michael, MSN, RN, NP]

My grandmother was an RN back in her day, wore the white, hose, cap, the entire hilt. When she was sick and in the hospital before she passed away, she would yell at anyone who walked in the room that wasn't wearing white. She didn't want someone with Mickey Mouse on their scrub top touching her, let alone doing anything remotely close to a nursing procedure on or near her. She asked on more than one occassion to see their nursing license because they didn't wear white and she didn't think they were an RN. Even on that woman's death bed, a nurse not wearing white was an insult to her. Finally the staff got it about the 2nd day and one of the nurses wore white that day. Sure she didn't have the cap and hose on, but g-ma was OK with the white. She said...finally a real nurse around here to take care of me.

There is a facility close by that has their nurses wear white, but I've actually seen so many varitions of this dress code, it's hard to tell they actually wear white. They might have on a white top, green pants and a jacket that doesn't match either - but they are following the dress code by wearing white.

Another facility color codes everyone and the departments that actually force the staff to follow the rules - yes - you can tell the difference between the housekeeper, the tech and your RN. But for the departments that do not follow the rules, you can't tell the difference. But unless you are in on the color coding rules, you wouldn't know as a patient that burgandy scrubs mean an RN in 2 of the 18 departments in the hospital and cecil blue means RN in 4 of the 18 and wait...now hunter green means an RN somewhere there.....but which floor????????

We write our names on the board with RN or Tech next the their names. I always walk into the room, tell the patient...I'm so and so and I'll be your RN today. Nancy is your tech today. Please let us know if we can help you. That doesn't work either......Nancy gets asked every time she is in the room for pain meds or various other things that Nancy, the tech can't get. And Nancy is a good tech who says....I'm not your RN, I'll tell her. The patient says....ooooohhhh....that's right sorry. 20 mins. later, still asks Nancy the tech for something she can't do. And oh, BTW, I could be wearing white with an giant RN across my chest and I still don't think my little old man in room XXX would notice. He'll ask housekeeping for pain meds. He'll ask ANYONE within 10 feet of his door for pain meds.

And we have name tags that clearly state our name and title, both front and back.

I don't know what the answer will ever be.........

[DutchgirlRN, ASN, RN]

My grandmother was an RN back in her day, wore the white, hose, cap, the entire hilt. When she was sick and in the hospital getting ready to pass away, she would yell at anyone who walked in the room that wasn't wearing white. She didn't want someone with Mickey Mouse on their scrub top touching her, let alone doing anything remotely close to a nursing procedure on or near her. She asked on more than one occassion to see their nursing license because they didn't wear white and she didn't think they were an RN. Even on that woman's death bed, a nurse not wearing white was an insult to her. Finally the staff got it about the 2nd day and one of the nurses wore white that day. Sure she didn't have the cap and hose on, but g-ma was OK with the white. She said...finally a real nurse around here to take care of me.

Another point of view from another oldie:

Wearing all white and a cap was a real thrill to me when I first graduated. (1976) Quickly I realized it was uncomfortable. The pantyhose were a pain. The uniforms fitted and thick. Everything stained. The shoes were well, ok. I had long hair and had to keep it under my cap which gave me a headache.

I'm thrilled to be able to wear scrubs and birkenstocks. I am comfortable. I recently retired from the hospital nursing. Working in the hospital got increasing more difficult each year. I ran, perspired, got "stuff" on me. Anytime there was a problem I could get a replacement pair of scrubs from the OR. Presto, clean again.

In all those years I never had one patient or family member complain that I wasn't wearing white. I let my professionalism speak for itself. Patients enjoyed my different scrubs. I always got comments. I got many cards from families thanking me for my compassion with their loved ones at their time of passing. In 31 years I've never had one patient complain I wasn't wearing white. Now in home health, the patients seem to enjoy my scrubs.

With todays busy pace in nursing I just don't think there's any place for thick white fitted uniforms, pantyhose, and caps. It may be sad, and I agree, but it is true. Gone are the days where we spent hours sitting at the desk charting, pouring meds, following the doctors around on their rounds, carrying their charts. There just isn't time for that. Nursing has dramatically changed!

[TazziRN, RN]

I am one of those ER nurses who wears scrub tops with pretty, cute, and funny prints. I'm sorry I do not look professional to you, but ya know what? The little girl who was scared to death to even let me take her temperature started smiling when she saw the animals on my top, and she had fun naming them off with her mom. The man who came in last week who was tired and just not feeling good got a laugh out of the comic strip I had on that day.

I think I'll keep my "unprofessional-looking" outfits.

[sunneeRN]

I have to agree with above poster. At our hospital, RN's wear all white. On weekends when my boss isn't around, I wear printed jackets and my onc patients love them. They always make a comment on how a bright jacket is so much nicer to look at than the white all of the time. To me, as long as you look clean and professional, it shouldn't matter what you choose to wear.

[nrsang97, BSN, RN]

I do have to agree with Tazzi. Eventhough some older nurses think wearing cartoon characters and other various prints is "unprofessional" that is your opinion. I have had many patients and patient family members comment on my various patterened tops. I have never had someone not want me to take care of them because I am not wearing white. Wearing white does not signify nurse anymore. Nursing has changed. I would not want to wear all white. Too damn hard to keep clean. I have worked many places where you could wear whatever you want and I always introduce myself as the RN and the tech can walk in and introduce themself and the patient will still ask them for something for pain. We even go as far as to write our name and title on the white dry erase board in the room and still the patient will ask the tech/aide for their pain meds, evening meds etc. So I don't think wearing white will make someone realize who the nurse is. I do work now at a hospital where all staff is color coded. All RN wear ceil blue. All aides wear burgandy/wine. All Nurse externs wear white (why I have no idea why they chose this for them). All house keepers wear purple with "Environmental services" embroidered on them. Of course we can wear a print top with ceil blue or a jacket with ceil blue on them. But there is some less confusion. I like the idea of color coded scrubs. But no way I will wear white. Professionalism is conveyed by how you act and treat your patient not what color your uniform is or isn't.

[sunnyjohn]

I don't mind coloured scrubs. A cheerful top is a pick me up.

Just keep the cartoon prints in the pedi ward!