Uniforms.. color scrubs vs whites

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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.

Specializes in LTC.

This past summer my father was in the hospital having himself a heart attack. Needless to say I wasn’t exactly calm and couldn’t quite put my focus on who was who and what they did. During this I actually found the multi-color scrubs and prints very helpful. I knew his nurse was the lady with the top with multi-color stars. I knew the Dr. was in ceil blue, and the tech was in a combo of ceil blue and navy. I’ll also say the bright red name badges that had a huge RN on them were also very helpful.

I do think that house keeping and secretaries shouldn’t be in scrubs. There are plenty of other more suitable options.

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Specializes in Telemetry, School Nurse.

The hospital I work at has a color coded system. Nurses can wear ceil blue or whites, CNA's wear maroon, Pharmacy purple, Respiratory royal blue, lab techs wear lab jackets, PT/OT wears khaki pants and royal blue shirts.....But guess what....The patients STILL don't know who people are....despite the colors. I always introduce myself as a nurse, even if I am simply helping out another colleague who is busy. But the patients don't remember who wears what colors and what they stand for anyway.

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Specializes in ER, telemetry.

Asking me to wear whites is like asking me to wear my nursing cap and skirts. I don't see too many old school nurses wearing caps and skirts (as is the classic "standard" back in the day for nurses). I will keep my colorful scrubs, thank you.

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When the judge enters the courtroom in robes, when the police appear in their uniforms, the doctors don their white coats, an introduction has been made before these people even open their mouths.

My husband sees his work clothes as a tool rather than a form of self expression.

How about nurses? Are whites a tool akin to the judges robe?

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Specializes in Nephrology, Peds, NICU, PICU, adult ICU.

The days of Nurses wearing all white was some 40 years ago. May patients and many nurses do not even remeber them. sure we've all seen pictures but many have never seen the nurse in all-white.

I think color coding the nurses is a great idea but white is not practical. Where I am some of the nursing students clinical groups are required to wear white pants. On days when the weather is bad they have dirt and mud up the back of their pants as well as you can see their panties through these pants (even if they are wearing white or nude colored panties). I do not find that professional in any way.

I think that house keeping, kitchen staff, secretaries, etc. Should not be in scrubs at all and this would cut down on a lot of the confusion. Which personally I do not see.

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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.

I agree!! I am an individual and want to be able to express that!!!

I can't right now though. I am currently wearing my Ugly white school iniform!! The only thing missing is a DANGER NURSING STUDENT sign flashing over my head

If everyone wore white what would they put the students in?????

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Specializes in Cardiac.

I am only a pre-nursing student right now but about two years ago I spent a week in the hospital. I had a wound debridement surgery on my c-section, was pretty sick from the infection and in quite a lot of pain. Anyways, the hospital I was in pretty much everybody just wore whatever scrubs they wanted. I know for myself, I got a little confused (medicated) when different people entered my room through out the day. But if I needed something, I would just asked who ever was in there and if it was the wrong person they would try to get whoever I needed at the moment. Most were pretty nice about it.

I guess you have to try to look at both sides of the picture. :)

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Specializes in acute care.

I think the idea of having the large RN patch sewn on the scrub top/lab coat is a good one--it's big enough to be obvious to patients but allows us to continue dressing in a way that's practical and individual, within reason (needs to be professional; colorful prints can be nice and very cheerful but the cartoons and the like really are only appropriate in peds). I certainly wouldn't want to be forced to wear the white uniforms--yuck! Especially a dress and stockings--talk about uncomfortable! People not doing patient care shouldn't be in scrubs--they don't need to and it just confuses everyone. They should be issued a different uniform, like a polo shirt embroidered with the department. Leave the scrubs to the nurses/techs, have some guidelines regarding professional appearance, and have patches to put on the tops to differentiate people. It's not that hard.

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Specializes in CMSRN.

I am a student and really do not have much experience in regards to scrubs except what I wear for clinical.

But as a third party looking in, I find I am torn. It sounds nice to have comfortable, white (non see through) uniform. But it is not practical. Tod Colorful scrubs can hide spots and cheer others. Yet do not look as polished.

When I have been a patient, I loved the colors of scrubs. Rooms are bland. If I got a clean professional nurse (or anyone for that matter) with a smile, i would perk up.

Granted everyone has their opinion in the matter.

I would except whatever the facility policy where I am given a job. I just do not want to put much focus on it. I just want to be comfortable and do my job.

I do have my limits though. I would turn down a job that required a stiff/starched dress with hose that was obviously uncomfortable.

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Specializes in emergency.

Ok this might fan some flames!!!!

IMO this is a huge problem!

Nurses at my hospital look like BUMS! they where mixed match scrubs, printed vests of all description, crazy jewelry, last night's hair!!!...what the hell ever!!...honestly if it weren't for a stethascope and the badge I could not tell them apart from half the skids that stroll into the ED!

What does this say to, patients, co-workers, and prospective employees???

1. We are not a team!----when's the last time you saw the chicago bulls stoll out on the court in whatever they please- as long as it is high tops and shorts

2. We are not professionals!---do you ever see trial lawyer's show up in comfy clothes, to fight for thier clients interests!

3. Respect is not really important!---have't we earned the right to wear a Nurses uniform?---try stripping a uniform off a serviceman..or service women

4. The doctors are the only ones who know anything!-- I mean, you are in an intimidating place, at a vunerable time--and you can't tell between the janitor and the nurse?...who do you want to put your trust into?

5. They must not be regulated very tightly?---The fact that our proffession is so tightly regulated is not represented when we present ourselves like this---when you walk into a casino, every single job has its own very distinguishable uniform, it says: this place is tightly run--and we know what's going on, all the time.

On this board I constantly read posts that have a common thread, how we are not respected and treated like the professionals we are. There are many obstacles to solving this problem, and IMO this is step one! I am not saying everyone in the country must be in starched whites,...but ...there needs to be some cohesiveness with our uniforms, for the 5 reasons cited above.

PS. I know that this is not the case for all hospitals and treament centers, but for many it is.

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Specializes in emergency.

Sorry for the typos in the above post, it is late, and this is a sensitive issue for me.

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Specializes in OB, M/S, HH, Medical Imaging RN.
The days of Nurses wearing all white was some 40 years ago

No...I graduated in 1976 and nurses were still wearing all white, caps, and nurses shoes (no Nike's allowed). We quit in the early to mid 80's. When I was pregnant with my daughter in 1981 we were still all white with caps. I remember getting in trouble because I had little blue hearts on my shoelaces! They were called taboo by my manager!

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