uniforms are killing us

[parklandtrauma]

What do you all think of current nursing wear. it kills me to go up to a adult floor and see RN's wearing all these crazy looking tops with cartoons and teddy bears on them. personally i see why some of the public looks down to a nurse and is always wanting the DR. We look terrible. I think all floors should have set colors for each positon. RN's, LVN's, PCA's, it gives a sense of order. just wanted to know how others see it, because i just was looking at a web site for nursing uniforms, and i couldn't help but laugh at some of them.

[MultipurposeRN]

But the onus should not be on the patient to "figure out" who is the nurse.

We have wax boards where the CNA's write who the RN and the aide is for the day, we have photo ID nametags, and we always introduce ourselves as the patients' nurse.

[brattyone]

Glad to have happened across this topic. I'm getting tired of seeing nurses that seem to be totally unaware or possibly don't care about their appearance. There is a difference between patterns. I'm not against different styles, but gaudiness seems to be growing! Am I old school or what? When did dirty nasty shoes come into fashion or are they no longer considered part of the uniform? It grosses me out!

[maryshome8]

You do make some good points in your post. I would go for the one exceptable color that would identify us as nurses. But, does it have to be white? Especially for women, white can be a nuisance at times if you get my drift?

Oh gosh...would you believe that actually terrifies me? Who came up with white to start with?

My mother told me a funny story about a nurse that wore a pair of underwear that had "smartass" printed on the rear...and apparently didn't know it as showing through her uniform.

[Princess74]

Personally I do not mind the printed tops, in fact I like them. I think that the cartoon ones are the best to wear for Peds. It make them less scared of us. I don't think that housekeepers etc.. should be allowed to wear scrubs. JMO

[mamason]

Oh gosh...would you believe that actually terrifies me? Who came up with white to start with?

My mother told me a funny story about a nurse that wore a pair of underwear that had "smartass" printed on the rear...and apparently didn't know it as showing through her uniform.

Now:roll that's funny!

[Lisa CCU RN, RN]

Actually, public opinion polls have shown the opposite. They show that the public favor all white or traditional uniforms. A major reason, that when they are sick, they want us to be easily identifiable. The seriously ill, stressed patient and family members are not any shape to discern attitudes, behaviors or really in a position to appreciate lightheartedness.

Someone that is seriously ill should not have to examine "attitudes" and "behaviors" to feel like we are RNs/LPNs.

I agree that I do not like all white and that old uniforms are impractical. But if you are going to use the idea that the public like prints, please review the larger mountain of evidence that indicates otherwise.

I know that some patients will tell you that they like your print top, but for everyone that does, polls show that there are many others that do not. Much like nurses that have personal cell phones that ring in a patients room. Some patients will say, "Cool ring", meantime thinking the nurse is slack for having the phone on her person, and more will think that she is poor nurse for not having the common sense to turn the ringer off, or not have the cell on her person at all when working.

I agree that we should demonstrate good behaviors and attitudes. And again, I do not like wearing traditional white/uniforms. But the onus should not be on the patient to "figure out" who is the nurse.

I'd think it be easy to figure out who the housekeeper is. Look for the one pushing the broom.

Like others have said, a lot of hospitals have white boards that tell the patient the name of their aide, their nurse, and the phone number to the room. That is how you would know who the nurse is in addition to them introducing themselves to the patient.

Really, different uniforms aren't going to help unless the patients get a full run down on the particular uniforms the nurses, aides, and housekeepers all wear. Who's got time to do that? And what's more important, the patient getting a description of their meds or what color eveyone is wearing?

As far as the opinion polls go, which ones are you reasing because I don't think many would take the time to look at all the variables of trhe issue.

As I said, if there is a formal introduction of who is the nurse at the beginning of the shift and the nurse wears a nametag and writes her name on the whiteboard, then there shouldn't be a problem.

If a patient is too confused to remember that, them they are just as likely to think the trash can is the nurse.

JMO.

[DogWalk]

Just a foreigner's point of view here... I didn't even know before that there's a possibility to wear whatever kind of scrubs you like, such as colors, prints... In my country nurses wear mostly white, and the scrubs are ALWAYS provided by the hospital/facility. I was kind of grossed out first that you leave your home on your scrubs and return home with the same (dirty) scrubs on--and wash them yourself... The way it is done in my country is that nurses have changing rooms in the facility and chance the scrubs there and the dirty scrubs are thrown into a laundy basket, which goes into the laundy service of the hospital. About the shoes, we can wear whatever color we like, and open-toe sandals (such as sports sandals, Birckenstocks etc) are the norm. Some use closed-toe shoes too.

So, cultural differences...:) I like the idea of wearing colors, and also the idea of prints... Reading about people disliking prints in adult floors opened my eyes though, to think that maybe it's not the best idea if you want to look professional. Never thought about that. I am gonna start tomorrow (yikes!) and I have a couple of print scrub tops... I guess I have to get used to washing them at home:D

[MS._Jen_RN, ASN, RN]

I didn't get a chance to read all the posts, but I've come to see it like this. We, as a profession, have to fight for all the respect we can get, from the public, our peers, and MDs. Even if it shouldn't be so, first impressions are largely based on appearences. Who would garner more respect, on first glance, the nurse in the strawberry shortcake outfit, or the one in plain blue? Which is more professional? Would you want your lawyer to wear a Spongebob shirt? Your GYN in a pink teddybear top? Appearences count for a lot. If you want to be taken seriously, dress the part.

~Jen

[hopecandles, RN]

The first hospital I worked at was very strict about their uniforms. Oncology Nurse's wore maroon, icu's light blue, ccu dark blue, med-surg wore white. I didn't like it until I went to other hospitals. I finally understood why my mother-in-law would complain that when she was in the hospital, she could no longer tell who was who and that bothered her. After working at various hospitals, I prefer it where I first worked, where everyone wore the same color based on specialty. Personally, I felt it was a little more professional. Only the peds floors could wear whatever they wanted as far as design tops.

That's just my 2 scents:wink2: , since you asked.

[777RNThatsMe]

I'm glad I work at a place where we can choose our scrubs as far as patterns. Sometimes, places rule out certain colors.... but I rarely ever see places where they demand all the same uniform (I'm talking hospitals) nowadays...and I'm glad....

Introductions and name tags are important....and almost EVERYONE looks at my name tag I have noticed...and you know that is a good idea..aNYONE can TELL you they are a doc or a nurse..and not be! So if you have the nametag with picture you need to look at...who cares what you are wearing. I see docs wearing all different kinds of stuff..from highly professional to not as...and to me...a doc is a doc. Truly. But then.... I'm not formal. I can be businesslike ...but I am down to earth and I like it that way! There is my vote. For what it's worth..I once had an ER doc helping my family walk in in cowboy boots...a red plaid shirt..and jeans. And jewelry....alot of it. I didn't think any less of him as a doc and in fact..he was a good one. That was years ago, of course.

[MadamMermaid, LPN]

I think colorful uniforms are fine. We're allowed to have personalities and show them through our choice in attire, just like at any other workplace. I personally only wear patterned tops on days like halloween etc. Patients always seem to responde positively. It makes us stand out and maybe even gets rid of that whole "white lab coat" syndrome for the pt.

As far as being professional, what really matters to me is all the extra stuff. Jewelry (especially rings! dirty dirty!), long ponytails, and fake/long/painted nails must be kept for personal time. What matters most is keeping patients healthy and feeling safe. I look down on a nurse who cares more about her acrylic nails than infecting me. Not the nurse who wants to spice things up with a flower scrub top....

[MIA-RN1, RN]

I am probably in the minority because I WANT TO WEAR WHITE and I can't!

I am on a floor where all the nurses wear lavendar pants and coordinating shirts of either lavendar, white, or print that has the same color as the pants in it. Yuck. Its a post-partum floor, and I spoke with the nurse educator about it yesterday and she said we are not dealing with primarily sick patients here, and I guess the lavendar fits in with our 'theme'. I told her that I thought we should wear at least white pants and then the print shirt or whatever but apparently that would be shot down. the NE said she would like us all to wear khaki pants! ::shudder::