Sorry this is so long: Our work is thinking of changing our uniforms to something like all black or all white - a universal uniform for all. I am only asking this question because from a safety standpoint, we are in a rather big city-not like NY or anything. We are one of two hospitals in the area. I guess I am a bit paranoid and I am not worried about myself but I imagine others that work at our job, running to the grocery store after work. Some creep could see their uniform, watch them go to their car and get the make, model and license off it without notice. Then if they are a true creep, could drive around the lot of the hospital that time of night (I mean they know by the time they are in the grocery about when they get off work right?) waiting for one of us. I am just worried. Yes many people stop at a store in their uniforms after work-waitresses etc but they are different. They don't walk and walk out to their car usually-they have a pretty small parking lot to go out in. And everyone usually leaves at the same time-not like nurses who leave at all hours. It isn't like someone going into a store after working at a restaurant in their waitress uniform. Waitresses don't usually have the 4 or 5 lot parking lots we have to hide in. I just don't find it safe to change to such a universal uniform due to this issue. Yes I may be paranoid, or reaching for straws to keep my printed scrubs, but stranger things have happened. It is a large lot and we don't all leave together. There are barely any cameras and would take a while to get a security response from a distress call from the call box. We are trying to get some feedback from other places that have gone to a universal uniform (other facilities) to see the impact on patients. One girl is researching childrens reactions to white, one to brain injuries reacting to all black (looks too much like a police uniform-and sets them off)-we have both peds and TBIs on our floor. I am in charge of asking around about others just simply recognizing where you work. Just a "Oh you must work at ______" from the lady checking you out at the pharmacy, or a "my sister works at ______too." from the fast food cashier taking your money. It doesn't have to have appeared weird or creepy. JUST IF THEY mention they recognize where you work. Thanks! SORRY THIS is SO Long!!! Oh and they recently changed our badges to have big black and white RN badges to solve the problem of all staff looking like nurses. I had suggested back then to put the RN on each side of the badge so that when it turns around there is no question, but they only made the RN on one side. Why change all uniforms instead of just giving us a badge with RN on each side?
