I currently work in med/surg (although I will be moving to the ED in a week ). The hospital I work at has a committee looking into requiring their med/surg RNs to wear "uniforms". Essentially they will tell us what color scrubs to wear, but we will be required to buy and launder our own scrubs, so my thinking is it's really a dress code and not a uniform. Their reasoning for doing this is the claim that MDs can't tell between the RNs and the Techs and the RNs don't look "professional" enough.
Personally I think it's a terrible idea, as do many of the other RNs and techs, but we're pretty much being over ruled by a handful of older RNs and bigwigs. If a MD wants to know if I am an RN they are free to ask me at any time. Additionally, while they have said they will not provide us with scrubs, nor will they give us an allowance to buy them, the currently provide our L&D and OR RNs with scrubs which seems kind of unfair.
So my questions are;
1) Does your hospital require a uniform or dress code and if so, what color, type, etc
Specializes in PICU, NICU, L&D, Public Health, Hospice.
Whites head to toe for nurses, teal tops and whites for CNAs, cranberry tops and whites for dietary.
I prefer whites. Everyone knows who I am immediately.
I had a job which required me to wear whites. I cannot say that I particularly enjoyed it...I have very hard water at home and laundering was a serious issue for me. As well, I found that I was often employing a cover up or lab coat to "hide" the stuff that I got on my whites (I know, I know...not everyone is as messy as me).
I had a job which required me to wear whites. I cannot say that I particularly enjoyed it...I have very hard water at home and laundering was a serious issue for me. As well, I found that I was often employing a cover up or lab coat to "hide" the stuff that I got on my whites (I know, I know...not everyone is as messy as me).
That would be an issue. Had I really hard water, though, I would install a softener just for my skin and hair, as well. I'm a princess.
Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
i have to snicker at the idea of people looking more professional if everyone wears a similar color. trust me, you can put a prada suit or a burlap sack on some of my co-workers and they'd still look like hoochies lol
although you expressed it far more colorfully than i would have, i agree completely. i keep hearing how "all white looks so professional" and remembering back in the days when i had to wear all white, how unprofessional some of my colleagues looked! rumpled and stained don't look good in any color, plus there were the various poor underwear choices, menstrual mishaps, and fit issues.
if the problem is that "patients cannot tell who their nurse is," take everyone but the nurse out of scrubs. i've worked long and hard for my degree, my license and my professional identity. if it's between me and the janitor, i should be able to choose what to wear while the janitor wears a uniform. i suspect that the problem is that nurses have gotten "too uppity" for management and they're trying to take us down a peg.
take everyone but the nurse out of scrubs. i've worked long and hard for my degree, my license and my professional identity. if it's between me and the janitor, i should be able to choose what to wear while the janitor wears a uniform. i suspect that the problem is that nurses have gotten "too uppity" for management and they're trying to take us down a peg.
i agree completely! at the hospitals here the janitors were scrubs, the unit clerk (who sits at the desk 90% of the time wears scrubs, the cashier in the cafeteria & food service people wear scrubs...why?? the number of personnel that wear scrubs needs to be reduced drastically!!
i would hate hate all whites. at least under the navy blue i can wear a cute bra with polka dots or stripey undies....and the nave doesnt get dingy too quickly.
About a year ago our hospital implemented uniforms for ALL employees (except management). Initially I disliked the idea, But now I fully support it 100%. Not only can you immediately identify a RN, LPN, CNA, RT or whomever - but alot the solid color scrubs give the staff a more professional appearence. Hello Kitty and other cartoon scrubs are inappropriate in adult inpatient units.
Patients like it because they can identify who we are .
I have noticed that hospital-wide different disciplines are more patient centered and there is more professionalism overall.
As I said before, Cartoon scrubs are inappropriate in adult patient units - Your credability goes downhill when trying to assess a patient at 0400 with Strawberry Shortcake scrubs
although you expressed it far more colorfully than i would have, i agree completely. i keep hearing how "all white looks so professional" and remembering back in the days when i had to wear all white, how unprofessional some of my colleagues looked! rumpled and stained don't look good in any color, plus there were the various poor underwear choices, menstrual mishaps, and fit issues.
if the problem is that "patients cannot tell who their nurse is," take everyone but the nurse out of scrubs. i've worked long and hard for my degree, my license and my professional identity. if it's between me and the janitor, i should be able to choose what to wear while the janitor wears a uniform. i suspect that the problem is that nurses have gotten "too uppity" for management and they're trying to take us down a peg.
Will they make us go back to DRESSES? !!! HAHA. White Pantyhose, polished shoes. My class in nursing school was the first that didn't have to wear GIRDLES!!!
Actually, I like the idea of each dept having a unified look. And I have worked in places - Neonatal ICU, Acute Hemodialysis, where scrubs were provided. We had real locker rooms, and places to change. So in that sense, the hospital DID do our laundry! Saved me time, and money!
Wow, that is very new to me. Hm, I assume because they don't want you going home with germs. Learn something new every day. A little research and I found that it is true at some facilities, I've never worked or had a clinical somewhere that did that, or even heard of it in my area. Anyhow, I think uniforms should be color coordinated according to one's position in a hospital, but that the style should not be restricted--one color, but any style. Makes it easier for the clients and the staff.
i disagree about cartoon scrubs undermining credibility. many a male MD i see walking around the units (adult hospital too) sports whimsical cartoony ties. noone seems to think them less of a physician but a RN with a WonderWoman pin is less of a nurse? they make patients smile & relax them a little bit. during my 2 years in clinicals for nursing school the hospitals all implemented the uniform policy. i saw firsthand an old man who was frightened of a difficult IV start smile at my instructors smiley face scrub top, he said it was cheery. another elderly lady said the lavender flowers reminded her of home, made her day!
perhaps a different color than navy blue? all white is just impractical but the navy blue is very dark...maybe a pretty red or something a bit brighter? something with a touch of color?
it's very sad, our pediatrician's office is all dark blue scrubs now (secretarys, cleaner, MD, everyone) and my kids ask everytime we go, "how come they don't wear fun clothes anymore?"
). The hospital I work at has a committee looking into requiring their med/surg RNs to wear "uniforms". Essentially they will tell us what color scrubs to wear, but we will be required to buy and launder our own scrubs, so my thinking is it's really a dress code and not a uniform. Their reasoning for doing this is the claim that MDs can't tell between the RNs and the Techs and the RNs don't look "professional" enough. 
tewdles, RN
3,156 Posts
I had a job which required me to wear whites. I cannot say that I particularly enjoyed it...I have very hard water at home and laundering was a serious issue for me. As well, I found that I was often employing a cover up or lab coat to "hide" the stuff that I got on my whites (I know, I know...not everyone is as messy as me).