What do you wear?

[Novo]

What does a RN wear in Canadian hospitals, the last time I was in a hospital I thought the nurse was a doctor because she was wearing a lab coat. I think scrubs are sort of feminine but that's my just opinion so and how do you tell the difference between RN, RPN....etc.

[loriangel14, RN]

Usually you can't really tell the difference except my name tag says RPN. I have seen a few variations in what people wear.Most wear scrubs though and I see quite a few that wear lab coats(my sister is an RN and she always wears one).I work with 2 male nurses and they wear scrubs. We can also buy t-shirts with our hospital's logo on them and some people wear them with scrub pants to work.I do see the odd nurse wearing a skirt but not very often.

[Fiona59]

Hey Lori, are you calling me odd????

The only way you can tell the difference between an RN, LPN, and RPN is look at their nametags.

In my hospital the RPNs are usually in street clothes because the Pscyh unit likes to keep it friendly and non threatening. The LPNs and RNs are in scrubs (pants or dresses). The odd nurse of either designation can be found in a lab coat to cover their scrubs and unit secretaries often wear labcoats to protect their street clothes. But having said that some unit managers require their unit clerks/secretaries to wear a uniform as well.

Basically you wind up reading name tags, lanyards, and professional pins.

[loriangel14, RN]

Hey Lori, are you calling me odd????

:lol2: Heck no! You still got the legs for a skirt, go for it!

[RescueNinja]

At all the hospitals I've worked at most people wear scrubs. Lots of nurses around here wear lab coats (especially the "more seasoned" ones - my Mother included). Many male nurses I know wear polo shirts and business casual pants or cargos. Wheb I was at CHEO many of the women also wore nice cargos and CHEO shirts.

There is no way to tell a RN from a RPN unless you look at their badge/ask them lol. Some hospitals have people with different job titles wear a certain color of scrubs (ex housekeeping is gray, aides are navy) but nurses are generally allowed to wear any colour of/patterned scrubs.

[Novo]

what is the dress code for AHS? are you allowed to wear street clothes as a RN?

[NotReady4PrimeTime, RN]

It really depends where you're working. Most of us wear scrubs. I wear my own because I prefer it that way, but most of my coworkers wear hospital-issued scrubs they get from the linen room. We are also permitted to wear polo shirts or t-shirts as long as they cover everything they need to cover and don't have inappropriate images or slogans emblazoned on them. No jeans.