What color should a nurse wear?

U.S.A. Ohio

Published

I have worked at a hospital for over two years where the staff has always had the choice of wearing one of two colors or mix and matching the two. This including nursing and support staff. Now all of a sudden they want all nurses to wear ONLY white and each support staff will have a designated color. The only problem I have is that nurses should not wear white, any other color except white. I voiced my concerns and was presented with an article that I was told supported the nurses in white. Except the article in my opinion was inconclusive. Has anyone seen any other research into this matter?

Specializes in Cardiac.

Actually according to my manager, there has been a lot of research into what color a nurse should wear. The problem is the only clear winner is that patients want to identify their nurse, whether it be color or a big ID badge, they don't seem to have a preference. It just seems that nurses prefer the autonomy of what they wear to be comfortable, and the facility like passing the cost of identification to the employee. The main reason i chose to work at this facility is because they didn't wear white. Thanks everyone, keep it coming. I'm compiling info to pass along to my managers, it just doesn't seem like they care. I guess i have to go to their bosses.

Actually according to my manager, there has been a lot of research into what color a nurse should wear. The problem is the only clear winner is that patients want to identify their nurse, whether it be color or a big ID badge, they don't seem to have a preference. It just seems that nurses prefer the autonomy of what they wear to be comfortable, and the facility like passing the cost of identification to the employee. The main reason i chose to work at this facility is because they didn't wear white. Thanks everyone, keep it coming. I'm compiling info to pass along to my managers, it just doesn't seem like they care. I guess i have to go to their bosses.

Interesting... I just find that kinda funny that they'd actually *research* something like that... Oh well :)

Frankly, so long as they're paying me good money, I don't care *what* they want me to wear- I'm there to work, not for a fashion show. *shrugs* Color I don't mind being dictated.... Style- I would.... So long as I can find flattering cuts in the color dictated- I'm good.

White pants make my butt look bigg - er . . . :eek:

Seriously - I wear what I want. Navy pants usually. Then different solid color tops with the occasional tropical print top thrown in.

And the truth about white scrub pants and underwear . . . no matter what color underwear (white/nude/peach) YOU CAN SEE IT! And THAT is unprofessional.

Wear a nice big badge that says RN.

steph

In the hospital where I work, the RN wears all white, LPN wear white top and burgendy bottoms, and PCA's(nurses aides) wear all burgundy. The color choice is not too much an issue with me personally, but I believe the elderly alot of the times associate all whites with the nurse since traditionally the nurses wore all white. So it may be a customer prefernce type deal. And yes all whites are see through. But we aren't there to look pretty, so just drag the granny panties on and go to work...LOL:chuckle

Specializes in Family Practice, Mental Health.

I would grab a nice sheet of paper and make a column of "Those For Wearing a White Uniform", and "Those for NOT Wearing A White Uniform".

Pass it along to every employee involved and take a vote. THEN turn it in to your manager, with a cc. to your managers' manager.

The Nurse will have spoken loud and clear.

Best of Luck

Ha! I can't believe anyone would pick a place of employment based on the color of their uniforms. It really sounds like you should take a good look at your priorities and your reasons for becoming a nurse. If every nurse in every facility had to wear white would you have chosen a different career?

Btw, at CCF the color system works extremely well and the patients and their families have an easier time ID'ing staff because of it.

Specializes in LTC, Home Health.

I would not work, at this point, anywhere that would require me to wear white pants. Jobs in this area are easy to find and I can be picky. I hate white especially during my "monthly". It makes me paranoid all day and I keep asking friends to "check my butt" (no I am not kidding). If jobs were harder to find I guess I would have to suck it up but right now I will be picky.

I work in a pediatric hospital setting. The nursing department dress code is white. At one time we were allowed to wear any color and any print for our pediatric patients. Makes sense in an ALL pediatric hospital correct? We do not need to float to med/surg, OR, ER etc. Any thoughts or research anyone can give me supporting color vs. white would be appreciated!

P.S. We are required to purchase and wash our own whites! :clown:

I work in a pediatric hospital setting. The nursing department dress code is white. At one time we were allowed to wear any color and any print for our pediatric patients. Makes sense in an ALL pediatric hospital correct? We do not need to float to med/surg, OR, ER etc. Any thoughts or research anyone can give me supporting color vs. white would be appreciated!

P.S. We are required to purchase and wash our own whites!

Specializes in Med/Surge, Private Duty Peds.
i'm a darn slob and i do not usually ever wear white tops... but i do use white pants for mix and match with my print tops. i do think white is a nice way to identify nurses but for people like me who have the upper shelf syndrome, it's very hard to keep them clean!

try using a product called iron out, you can find it with cleaning supplies at walmart, k-mart. publix and other places. it works wonders on whites, it takes out blood, betidine(sp) and other stains and will brighten your whites to almost brand new white.

i have used it for almost 5 years now and i have some long sleeve tee-shirts that are that old and look brand new.

Specializes in Cardiac.

Since our staff meeting is this Monday, I plan on making a run to the library this weekend to do some proper research. However everything I have found on the web does not show a clear winner of white versus other. From this I plan on drafting a letter to my boss and her boss detailing my findings. If this doesn't persuade them to take another look at it, then I'll take it higher. Hopefully I can post my findings on here. Thanks

PS As for pediatric hospital dress codes, my wife found some research that children respond better to people in street cloths then those in any type of uniform.

Specializes in Pedi Rehab,Pediatrics, PICU.

which is probably why the peds rehab hosp. I worked at had optional dress codes. You could wear scrubs or green tops w/ khaki bottoms. Years before that they were a "street clothes" institution, but had to tighten the reigns. This may be why I am all for freedom of scrubs choice!

:smiletea2:

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