Whites or Colored scrubs?

[UM Review RN]

What do you prefer to wear at work? Please elaborate if you have a strong opinion.

[nigelcns]

I am quite sure that Australian nurses are simply wonderful. There are always things to learn from different environments.

I understand your point, but I believe what one one would consider to look professional is subject to oppinion. Oppinions tend to be colored by personal experiences. What one person was raised to see as professional is not the same as what another would see as professional. I don't see that the top priority of my job is to impress the Jones's with how professional I can dress, but to create an environment that is comforting for my patience. To offer them the best care and attitude that I can offer. If that means coming to work in my pajamas, dressed as a clown or in my boots, so be it. Scrubs offer mobility that a corporate uniform can not offer. If that lack of mobility slows me down, even slightly, then I am doing a disservice to my patient. It is not the clothes that make the man.....or the nurse. It is the strength of his/her character.

from nigel - your sarcasm is duly noted, and your opinion is understood. the statement that corporate uniforms restrict mobilty is completly false. I also don't see how a colourful uniform ca enhance enjoyment for your patients. I agree that the uniform does not make the "man" but it does help with credibility in "Australia". Shallow you might think from your point of view, but then again "it is just a point of view" you do not need to take it personally, because it was not directed at you personally.

Don't woory though, you WILL get over it.

[inava]

When I was in nursing school (Michigan) we wore light blue pinstripe uniforms, dress or pantsuit. That identified us as nursing students. The staff nurses wore white uniforms.

My first job (Texas) was in a surgical ICU where we all (RN's, RT's) wore hospital issue green scrubs and cover gowns which were stocked in the locker rooms. This identified you as being part of the ICU's. Floor nurses wore white uniforms.

My next job in a surgical/telemetry floor(California) required white uniforms. When I became manager I wore my white uniform when I had to cover a shift. It was so much more comfortable to me than dress clothes with a white jacket that I had to wear otherwise.

When I moved to Florida I asked about the dress code when I interviewed and I was told I could wear "anything". I didn't know what to respond to that. When I ended up in NICU I was relieved to discover that once again I was to wear hospital issue scrubs, this time pink!

Over my 18 years at this same hospital I have seen nurses' dress erode to the point that some look like they are coming to work literally in their pajamas. Some would show up in mismatched, stained, faded or wrinkled clothes. Generally unkempt. Even the NICU dress code deteriorated to the point that you can wear "anything".

This same hospital had a strict dress code for unit secretaries, navy blue or white. They were even issued navy blue scrub jackets embroidered with the hospital logo.

Everyone knew by sight who was a unit secretary. Conversely, you could not be sure if you were looking at a nurse, a housekeeper, a lab tech, a Resp tech, etc. unless you were close enough to read the

small print on their badge.

This affects nursing's image. Our dress code should not deteriorate to the point that the housekeeping dept presents a more unified and professional look.

[athomeintexas]

from nigel - your sarcasm is duly noted, and your opinion is understood. the statement that corporate uniforms restrict mobilty is completly false. I also don't see how a colourful uniform ca enhance enjoyment for your patients. I agree that the uniform does not make the "man" but it does help with credibility in "Australia". Shallow you might think from your point of view, but then again "it is just a point of view" you do not need to take it personally, because it was not directed at you personally.

Don't woory though, you WILL get over it.

I truely did not mean it sarcastically. I ment it as a complament. I have heard nothing but great things particularly from Australia's science field as a whole. Being that science does have its' influence in medicine, how much better must the nurses be because of it. That is what I ment by, "I am sure that there are things that could be learned from both sides." As for getting over it.....NO Problems.....I already am. Have a nice day.

[Doubledee]

My biggest concern is trying to find thin long-sleeved t-shirts to wear to cover my tats!

During the winter, my wife got me some of the long sleeved baseball t-shirts. They typically come in 3/4 length but you can find some full length.

[Doubledee]

When I was a CNA, we wore colored tops and white pants. Only nurses would wear all white or solid scrubs. (They didn't allow prints then.) I liked white. It was the sign of a nurse. I was proud to wear white when I became an RN. However,my wife never liked white on me. She said something about the ice cream man. Somehow my white scrubs never came back from the wash. But I always had a good supply of colored scrubs.

Nursing uniforms are evolving. Whites with caps are history. Scrubs are professional and comfortable and are here to stay.

[corpuscles]

white looks really clean on nurses. i personally like wearing white uniforms although it's so hard to maintain their whiteness during my shift. wearing other colors with cute prints is also good because it is visually therapeutic and i can have more leeway in personalizing my dressing style.

[UM Review RN, ASN, RN]

When I was in nursing school (Michigan) we wore light blue pinstripe uniforms, dress or pantsuit. That identified us as nursing students. The staff nurses wore white uniforms.

My first job (Texas) was in a surgical ICU where we all (RN's, RT's) wore hospital issue green scrubs and cover gowns which were stocked in the locker rooms. This identified you as being part of the ICU's. Floor nurses wore white uniforms.

My next job in a surgical/telemetry floor(California) required white uniforms. When I became manager I wore my white uniform when I had to cover a shift. It was so much more comfortable to me than dress clothes with a white jacket that I had to wear otherwise.

When I moved to Florida I asked about the dress code when I interviewed and I was told I could wear "anything". I didn't know what to respond to that. When I ended up in NICU I was relieved to discover that once again I was to wear hospital issue scrubs, this time pink!

Over my 18 years at this same hospital I have seen nurses' dress erode to the point that some look like they are coming to work literally in their pajamas. Some would show up in mismatched, stained, faded or wrinkled clothes. Generally unkempt. Even the NICU dress code deteriorated to the point that you can wear "anything".

This same hospital had a strict dress code for unit secretaries, navy blue or white. They were even issued navy blue scrub jackets embroidered with the hospital logo.

Everyone knew by sight who was a unit secretary. Conversely, you could not be sure if you were looking at a nurse, a housekeeper, a lab tech, a Resp tech, etc. unless you were close enough to read the

small print on their badge.

This affects nursing's image. Our dress code should not deteriorate to the point that the housekeeping dept presents a more unified and professional look.

To me, it doesn't make my uniform look "professional" to have body fluids splattered on it.

This is probably why war nurses didn't wear white. Whites were able to be bleached, which could be why whites were adopted along with disinfectants, but today's white scrubs are completely unsatisfactory and impractical. I can see staffers' underwear right through them.

No way is that a professional look. If you compare the "whites" nurses wore years ago, notice that the key elements were cleanliness AND modesty. Remember, these women were not in temperature-controlled environments, either.

We clean our uniforms well enough and often enough and know enough about germs so that it's not necessary to see if a uniform is dirty; we know that after it's been worn at work, it is dirty.

As far as identifying nurses as opposed to other staffers, I would suggest printing the nurse's title on the scrub top back and front, in large letters. That way those who want to can wear white and those who want prints can still do so.

[JailRN]

BLACK! I'm probably the only female nurse who wears black scrubs, and SWAT boots, but the black doesn't show the fingerprint ink.

[msaulters]

During nursing school, way back when, we had to wear all white including the hat. When I have a group of students at clinicals we do get alot of positive comments on wearing white (yes, even the instructors) but I would rather everyone dress in a colorful scrub. Wearing bright pretty colors makes the students and the instructor happier and a bright uniform may even chear the patient up. :balloons:

[agent66]

white is just so impractical. Would you wear it camping? Patients have often commented on how the bright colours are so cheerful, and they really like the fun prints. Plus it's easier for people to find you, "your nurse is the girl with the cat jacket" Prints also hide alot of "accidents" in the workplace; coffee, blood whatever is thrown your way at the wrong day. Nothing looks more professional than a crisp white top with a big stain down the front.

[StephOScope]

Much to my dismay, my facility went to a mandatory uniform about a year ago, where all clinical staff are required to buy their prescribed uniform from a designated vendor.

RNs may wear Navy, LPNs burgandy, and CNAs forest green scrubs. Because somehow those colors are more professional than others. Your position has to be embroidered (RN/LPN/CNA) on the tops.

RNs fortunately have the "freedom" to wear white pants/skirt of any brand, which is a godsend for me since the vendor only carries horrible pants with high waists and tapered ankles. BUT your pants can't have cargo pockets--Because darn it, having a place to put a couple of spare alcohol swabs and electrodes couldn't possibly be important for a nurse.

Can't wear long sleeve tees/turtlenecks under short sleeved scrub tops--only if you then wear the designated warm up jacket over top.

Have to wear solid WHiTE sneakers/nursing shoes with white hosiery.

No visible tatoos.

Nothing other than ears pierced.

Only nondescript ID holders/lanyards approved by hospital.

No colored nail polish. Clear is okay.

And my favorite part of our lovely uniform policy--faded uniforms not allowed. Not so easy when the scrubs from your crappy designated vendor fade after half a dozen trips through the laundry.

My answer is all colors including white--but not NAVY which somehow has become less appealing after wearing it for approximately 260 of the last 365 days. Boy do I miss my old scrubs.

[Doubledee]

Poor employers, they just can't win.

I guess it is our nature as American individualists, we really don't want to wear uniforms.

Personally, I've spent too many years in a green uniform to really care about it. Besides that, no one ever accused me of being style conscious.

From what I've observed of my fellow nurses dating back to days of white uniforms, people want to be individuals.

One nurse, I remember took pains to accessorize her white dress with a red belt.

When I worked in a facility where we had assigned colors, RNs wore smurf blue, LPNs wore a universally hated caribbean blue and CNAs wore a raspberry uniform which was alright for women. However, it did nothing to enhance the masculinity of the few males who had to wear it.

White many be "professional", but it really isn't practical. Designated colors have merit but you just can't please everybody. Besides, most people I know in this business like some variety in what they wear.

Nursing is a people job. It really allows us to be individuals as we care for the needs of other individuals. Individuals tend to be a diverse group.