uniforms or street clothes

[nurselearner]

RN's What do you wear at your hospice ? What works well for patient care and comfort.

Thanks

[river1951]

We wear street clothes, though I know 2 nurses who where lab coats over in the home. I think both are fine. I always thought street clothes were better since in our urban area, people think we carry narcotics and street clothes make us safer.

[req_read]

I vote for street clothes. I always felt that since I was going into someone’s home the attire should be informal and avoid giving the impression of being an outsider. Being accepted is harder if you don’t fit in. I quit the old ‘stethoscope-over-the-neck’ look early on. Anyone who did not know me had no idea I was a nurse… which (as previously commented) is wise when you’re in a gang-banger neighborhood and carrying morphine.

[Mandee]

We have nurses who prefer street clothes and others who prefer uniforms. Personally I wear scrubs, simply because it is easier for me, don't have to think about what to wear in the morning etc...I used to wear street clothes but made the change a couple of years ago. I found no difference in patient/family interaction and sometimes the gangsters watch out for the "nurse" Haha! I think it's all what you are comfortable in. :)

Mandee

[aimeee, BSN, RN]

The HHA's usually wear brightly colored scrubs. For nurses chinos and a polo shirt or dress-t works well. You can also keep a cotton/linen blazer to put on if you need to look a bit more formal (project a bit more authority).

[doodlemom]

I wore street clothes for years but then I started doing a great deal of work in facilities and the thought of bringing all of the germs back into my own home made me start wearing scrubs. I leave my shoes in the garage. It's become a much cheaper alternative and scrubs can be washed n hot water and dried. Not all of my street clothes can. It's also a lot cheaper and at our hospice, none of us are making a fortune.

[momcat107]

This HHA wears a combination We are only required to wear scrubs if we are going into a facility. I usually start off my day wearing scrubs During the week,since I have a Mon to Fri in an assisted living facility On the weekend,I have all home care so I wear street clothes. I personally find that families are more relaxed when you are in street clothes. I think as long as you dress respectably ie no short shorts and halter tops!!!. I too have been told for safety reasons to wear street clothes. In my car I always carry an extra set of scrubs and a set of street clothes. You never know what your day may hold.....

[nurselearner]

Great idea about the extra set of scrubs for in the car! We carry so many extra supplies in our trunks just in case........ A change of clothes would be good. Our hospice is supposed to have a new building "someday". Last week after a particularly heavy duty initial home visit in a dirty home with a patient who had not been out of his recliner (that no long reclined) in 3 weeks and was incontinent, I told our manager that I wanted the new building to have a steam shower with lockers and a washer and dryer! She looked very thoughtful and said maybe it wasn't a bad idea.

[luvmy2angels]

I myself am not a hospice nurse, but we have a lot of hospice nurses come into the facilities i have worked in and I don't think I have ever seen one come in a uniform. Usually just very nice business casual wear.

[hospicemom]

We are allowed street clothes, but I wear my scrubs usually.

[suebird3]

Our local Hospice people wear scrubs at the Hospice House AND at my facility. When they do home visits, can wear street clothes OR uniforms; depends on clients.

Suebird :)