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.

[sheanndie]

I like the flexability to choose my work clothing. My tops are mostly printed, sometimes solid. May represent an interest, such as cancer awareness/support. But I always wear white bottoms and totally white sneakers.

I don't think most patient's care what we wear, as long as we take good care of them and answer their call lights pronto. Several times, I've had patients (ladies) comment on a shirt they like, enjoy that they've not seen a duplicate pattern.

For those like myself who 'float' from department to department, I'd hate to be buying different uniforms for each floor/department/section that I work in.

If you have the flexability, I think it's a personal opinion.

[MrsK1223]

I think if anything the non nurses who are wearing scrubs should have to wear uniforms from uniform companies like they used to...like housekeeping, janitors, kitchen people. Or at least have some sort of identifier on the scrub with their dept of employment like the the above mentioned. So there is no confusion as to who is a patient care giver and who is not. Maybe if we brainstorm we can find a another way to differentiate us nurses from other staff.

[obeyacts2]

I look at uniforms as way to express individuality. However, there is a limit- I think tatoos, long fancy nails, multiple earrings are out of place, esp if you work in an area that has a more older clientele. If I worked in a clinic that saw lots of teens, the wilder stuff would be great. On the other hand in LTC conservative whites with a simple jacket might be better. To the older generation white screams "nurse". I take issue with non medical staff wearing scrubs tho, it confuses patients and visitors cant tell how staffed the place is (maybe thats the idea?)

I work in home health and I may be the only visitor a patient has, so I try to wear the bright cheery stuff. My fave right ow has a purple background with bright colored dogs wearing surgical garb and/or stethescopes. Its loud but my pts like it.

Lauura

[nursbee04]

ahhh...printed uniforms...I look forward to the luxury of choice. I look like a bloated marshmallow in my school whites. I don't think most pt.'s care what your taste in scrubs are as long as you're a good nurse.

What really gets me is the perfume. In clinicals I was so surprised at how many nurses wear perfume on the floor, and LOUD perfume, at that. To me, that is a WAAAAYYY bigger crime than spongebob scrubs

[c.wicks]

Before I became a nurse, not too long ago, a white uniform worn in a healthcare setting represented a professional nurse or perhaps a doctor. It is my observation that most professionals can be identified by their manner of dress or uniform. According to Webster's, a uniform is a "dress of a distinctive design or fashion worn by members of a particular group and serving as a means of identification." It is important to me that the public and the clients that I serve can easily identify me as a registered nurse. Make no mistake, I prefer blue jeans and tee shirts any where else, but when I'm working at the hospital I'm always in white.

[Ortho_RN]

Tonight I wore my really bright St Judes scrub top to work, and I had 7pts comment on how nice my top was...

[judy ann]

I see so many comments that the cartoon and funny tops are only appropriate for peds. I have worn them in LTC with very positive comments from residents and their families. I have Snoopy, fairies, angels, etc, but the one I like the most is my Maxine. One day when I wore it, I noticed one of the gentlemen residents standing near me and staring at my "front". He was reading the joke on my scrub top! When I am in a LTC facility, I am in the resident's home, and I am a guest. The residents know me, and don't need a white (or otherwise) uniform to identify me. I have even gotten requests for certain tops when out of town visitors are expected.

[AngelGirl]

I have no qualms with uniforms.

It's the NAME TAGS and lack of INTRODUCTIONS that cause me trouble. I am an ER nurse. I recently had the amazing adventure of being a patient in another ER.

EVERY single person who came in wore either NO name tag, or one that flipped over. Not one person.... NOT ONE... introduced him/herself to me. I felt stupid asking who anyone was (shouldn't have, but I did). Color coding was no help, since I didn't know what it meant.

Even the MD just showed up at my bedside and started talking AT me. For all I knew, he could have been a radiology tech or even the plumber!

I learned A LOT from that experience. I've always tried to indroduce myself. Now I DEFINITELY do. "Hello, my name is ........ I'll be your nurse this evening." Takes TWO SECONDS.

This, I've found puts people FAR MORE AT EASE than the color/style of a uniform.

Thanks for listening.

[Andy S., BSN, RN]

I do not even own a pair of white scrubs, and I think I own two pair of solid color scrubs. I love my crazy scrubs. I wear everthing from pink flamingos to frogs to yellow rubber duckies! I wear a badge that says RN on it and I introduce myself to my patients as such. My clothing says nothing of my skills, but loads of my personality. I have had many patients say how much better they like the colors than all the stuffy white crap. Next thing you'll know they'll want to bring back caps and skirts! LOL, I think I need to get some sleep. I am possibly a little grouchy :chuckle

Andy:D

[KailuaNurse]

I personally love to wear printed tops. I think it adds color and spice. I also work on the peds unit and some of my tops have helped my little patients to open up. I have both pediatric and adult prints.

I agree with other posters that our professionalism should do our talking for us. However, no matter what we choose to wear it should be neat. It absolutely kills me when I see a nurses with an unironed top and pants. Also no long fingernails for me. Talk about scary for the kids.

[angelbear]

I think the prints and characters add cheer and make us look less stuffy and more approachable. Personally, if someone is going to judge me by what I wear instead of how I perform my duties and how I interact with others, that would be their problem not mine.

[welnet66]

Sorry to those who think those printed tops are great. I can't get over the childish, pajama party look of them. Come on guys, how serious can you be taken with baby bunnies jumping all over your lapel!

Catherine