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.

[Buddha]

I work in LTC. I wear the most unusual print tops d/t my wonderful Mom who can sew one in a heartbeat. I let her pick out the print but tell her to remember my patients at work. She has made everything from John Deere and Burma Shave to 60's cartoons. Well I also have SpongeBOB too (I bought that!). When I wear these even the most quiet patient has reponded to my top. I do not want EVER to be placed in a box. Nurses as a profession have come a long way baby to be shut in that box. I agree that we should have good hygiene and put our hair up. I fell sorry for the patients who need R/S from those whom have 9 inch nails OUCH!!! We can agree to disagree but i for one am glad we have the right to wear what we want. I friend of mine was telling me when she had to stand up whenever a MD was present and call Sir this and that. I shutter to think this was just a few years ago.

[gizzy76]

I am glad too that we are allowed to wear whatever color scrubs to work that we desire. I love the colored funky scrubs! I have made a few of my own tops with Mickey Mouse, Stars, and I even made a jacket that's green with pools balls on it. I get a ton of compliments on that one!

What I don't understand is how the hospital I work in can say that the staff are allowed to wear whatever they want to work as long as it is not blue jeans (black, green, red etc are acceptable) and as long as they look professional. Just this morning I got off work and the other RN who came on was wearing beige jeans and an oversized bluish hoodie type sweatshirt. She looked sloppy and terrible but this is okay in our facility. It makes me sad. At the same time, I think that dress clothes should be saved for something like public health nursing for instance. I know that I would not be passing pills or doing beside care in a pair of dress pants and a blouse. It just doesn't seem right.

[PowerPuffGirl]

I'm flipping thru the Jasco catalog, and honestly, there's only maybe 2 or 3 prints in there that I would be willing to wear. I think some of the cartoons would be cute for Peds, but some of the prints are just too cutsey, and some are just unattractive.

[Ortho_RN]

Originally posted by brefni

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

I'm sorry but I don't think the majority of bunny judge your mental ability by your scrubs.... That is just crazy to me... I think the people see your ability when you talk to them, answer their questions, do your skills.. It doesn't have a darn thing to do with wearing Spongebob Squarepants, Rubber Duckies, Bunnies , or anything else... And my scrubs don't look like a Pajama Party... I wear my colored, printed, crazy tops with white pants... And even had comments from the Director of the hospital on how nice it looks...

And for everyone that says cutesy tops belong in Peds... Last thing I remember reading in my Geriatrics books, is that alot of older people end up reverting back to child like states... I think the prints are great for the older people, much better than looking at the Stiff whiteness of those wonderful clinical solid white uniforms..

[Scavenger'sWife, RN]

I wear the "cutesy" tops if I feel in the mood. If I don't then I wear solids. Thank goodness my facility allows us to choose. I have Tinker Bell, a top with turtles on it, a pretty one that looks oriental (white, red, black), an OSU top (red w a block "O" and a buckeye!), a red-white-blue flag top, etc....The top I get the mosdt positive comments on happens to be a Winnie-the-Pooh top that is BRIGHT - orange and yellows and greens. I hear many many patients and staff say what a pretty, cheerful top it is and how nice it looks on me.

I feel it is the REST of the person that says "professional": I iron (and starch, too....so what - sue me..) my unis, I wear minimal make-up, no perfume, short & clean nails, minimal jewelry (wedding rings, one or 2 on righ hand, watch, one set small earrings, sometimes one necklace, esp a crucifix), CLEAN shoes (all white), etc. I ALWAYS introduce myself to the patient and tell them my professional status and how long I will be their nurse ("Good Morning, Mr. Jones. My name is Deb and I will be your RN until 7 PM....Do you like to be called Mr. Jones or may I call you Robert?"

Our hospital enforces a dress code that is pretty much what I just detailed. Our maintenance people wear a specific uni, our cafeteria aides wear a specific uni, and the cleaning staff wears a specific uni. As for nursing, the only unit that wears a specific dress is Labor/L&D/Newborn. Peds as well as ER, Med-Surg, Ortho, Surg, ICU can wear whatever uniforms they want.

I just started Home Health and we can wear professional street clothes OR a uniform. Many wear street clothing with a lab coat over to look more "professional" and to protect their clothing. So far, I have worn both, and haven't formed an opinion about that. Guess I will wear what I fell like for that day based on what I will do that day.

What I hate: Long hanging-down hair (it is against the dress code, but sometimes not enforced), long nail (this IS enforced), and wrinkled, faded out unis. We do have a policy against acrylic nails, but several RNs have short ones (not tips) and go "natural" (no polish), stating they will not get rid of them as long as this particular Nurse Manager has LONG ones PAINTED all kinds of garish colors.

[OntRPN]

I am a Registered Practical Nurse in Charge at a Retirement home

I have tweety scooby doo and YES spongebob and the residents love them.

[Emery]

I think its great that nurses can wear whatever they want. When I become a nurse I would want that option as well. I got a magazine with scrubs in it and what I found unprofessional was the capri pants! I couldn't believe it when I saw them! I haven't seen anyone at our hospital wear them yet, but still! Capri's! Anyway, thats my opinion!

[yannadey, LPN]

the nails, unkept hair, wrinkled uniformed & excessive jewelry just got to go the printed uniform is ok

[emily_mom]

Originally posted by PowerPuffGirl

I'm flipping thru the Jasco catalog, and honestly, there's only maybe 2 or 3 prints in there that I would be willing to wear. I think some of the cartoons would be cute for Peds, but some of the prints are just too cutsey, and some are just unattractive.

I'm not a big fan of Jasco. Their prints are so cookie-cutter and it seems that everyone wears them. I search online for smaller companies. Yes, I pay more but I like looking a little different.

And to all that PM'd me about my shirt that I posted, I'm working on PM'ing you back!

[WalMart_ADN]

http://www.scrubsexpress.com

a personal favorite of mine, just got a delivery from them yesterday...'

also...

http://www.tafford.com

and http://www.lydiasuniforms.com

call me crazy...

[JnJTyson]

Hi everyone! Just wandered onto to here. Glad I found it! I'm in nursing school right now to get my LPN. Of course, we have school uniforms. Burgendy tops, white pants. School patch on the top as well. I love it. Makes it that much easier to do my morning routine.

As far as work goes. I currently have my CNA/HHA. I work through agencies. When I go to a clients home, I tend to wear solid color scrubs. Either same color top and bottom, or white bottom with a color top. Same for the hospital. I do have a few patterned scrubs. My scooby doo top is my favourite! Where do I wear that one? When I work the night shit mostly. No ones really aware that I have scooby doo running around all over my shirt.

I think uniforms are a good thing. But I think individuality is very important as well. But are those black tops with chili peppers all over it really appropriate?

Imagine if you had Dementia, or any other mind altering disease. What would you do if you saw some chili peppers holding a cup of pills headed your way?

Jules

[JnJTyson]

Why is it always me that makes the bad typos on my first post?!?!?! SHIFT Jules...SHIFT!!!! Thank God I don't type like this at school/work!